Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-06-26
ROOSEVELT DECLINES
THE NOMINATION
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high loyalty to all that is loftiest in
American tradition.
Events have shown that the pro-
gressive party in 1912 offered the only
alternative to the triumph of the demo-
cratic party. Moreover, these events
have shown that even the application
of the principles which we then advocat-
ed is even more necessary to this ma
tion than we at the time supposed
1.-THE results of the terrible world
war of the past two years have now
made it evident to all who are willing
to see, that in this country there must
be spiritual and industrial prepared
ness, along the lines of efficiency, of
loyal service to the nation and of prac-
teal application of the precept that
each man must be his brothers. keeper.
Furthermore, it is no less evident that
this preparedness for tasks of
peace forms the only sound basis for
that indispensable military prepared.
ness, which rests on universal military
training, and which finds expression in
universal obligatory service in time of
war. Such universay obligatory train
ing and service are the necessary com
plements of universal suffrage, repre-
sent the realization of the true Amer
lean, the democratic and ideal in both
peace and war.
Loyalty to Party Not Needed.
Sooner or later the national prin-
ciples ehampioned by the progressives
Of 1912 must in their general effect
be embodied in the structure of our
national existence. With all my heart l
shall continue to work for these great
ideals, shoulder to shoulder with the
men and women who in 1912 championed
them; and l am sure that these mel
and women will show like loyalty to
the other, the fundamental, ideals which
the events of the past two years have
proven to be vital to the pernnency
of our national existence. The method
by which we are to show our loyalty to
these ideals must be determined in
each case, by the actual event. Our
loyalty is to the fact, to the principle,
to the ideal and not merely to the
name, and least Of all, to the party
name.
Democrats Adopted idea.
"The progressive movement has been
given an incalculable impetus by what
the progressive party has done. Our
strongest party antagonists have ac-
cepted and enacted into law, or en-
bodied in their party platform, very
many of our most important principles.
Each has been accomplished in awak-
ening the public to a better understand
ing of the problems of social and in
dustrial welfare. Yet it has become
evident that people under existing con-
ditiOns are not willing to accept a new
party. 1t was impossible for us progress
sives to abandon our convictions. But
we are faced with the fact that as
things actually are, the progressive ma
tiOnal organization no longer offers the
means whereby we can make these con-
vietions effective in our life. Under
such circumstances, our duty is to do
the best we can and not to sulk because
our leadership is rejected That we our
selves continue to believe the course
we advocated was in the highest inter
est of the American people is aside from
the question. 1t is unpatriotie to re-
fuse to do the hest possible merely
because these people have not put us
in position to do what we regard as the
very best. 1t remains for us, good
humOredly and with common sense, to
face the situation and endeavor to get
out of it the best way it can be made
to yield from the standpoint of the in
terests of the nation as a whole.
Roasts the President.
"This was the situation at the open.
ing of the present year. 1t was clearly
evident that unless cataclysm occur
red the presidential election would re-
suit in the choice of either the repub-
lican or the democratic nominee. The
present administration, during its three
years of life, has been guilty of short
cOmings more signal than those of any
administration since the days Of Blu
chanan. From the standpoint of nation
al honor and interest, it stood on an
even lower level than the administra-
tion of Buchanan. No administration
in our history had done more to relax
the spring Of the national will and to
deaden the national conscience. With
in the republican party conflicting
forces were at work There were men
among the organization leaders who ad
vOcated a course of action such as off
fered no improvement upon the demo
cratic position, and advocated the
nomination of candidates whose election
would have represented no improvement
on the continuance i'm office of Mr.. vii.
son. If such course were followed. it
would obviously become our duty to run
a third ticket But it was plainly our
duty to do everything honorable in or
der to prevent such a necessity, to do
everything short Of sacrificing our most
sacred convictions in order to secure the
alignment under one leadership of the
forces opposed to the continuance in
power of Mr. Wilson and the demo.
cratic party.
"Under these circumstances the pro-
gressive national committee at Chicago
in January outlined our duty to seek
common action with the republican
party, using the following words Our
people are seeking leadership.
Leadership Of the highest order and
most courageous character; leadership
that will draft TO itself for the coun.
try's benefit the unselfish and patriotic
services of its ablest citizens. The
correct way to secure for our country
the required leadership will be by hav-