Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-26
BACK HUGHES, COLONEL ROOSEVELT
URGES PROGRESSIVE PARTY

least to any liking Tor Mr. tuBnes' Du'
solely to their antagonism to me-
Most Americans of German ancestry are
loyal citizens, he asserts. but the profess
eional German-Americans ARE acting purely
in the sinister interest OF Germany
In his tribute to Mr. Hughes the Colonel
says:
we have the alternative Of continuing
in office an Administration which has proved
lamentable failure or OF putting into Office
an Administration which we have every
reason to believe will function with efli-
cheney for the interest and honor Of all our
people,
CoLoNEL's LETTER.
Mr. Roosevelt's letter follows;
To the Progressive National Committee:
Gentlemen--In accordance with the mes-
sage I sent to the Progressive National Con-
ventlon soon as had received the noti-
ncation that It had nominated me for Presi-
dent, now communicate to you my reasons
for decllnig the honor which l so deeply
appreciate. Since the adjournment of the
convention l have received between 1000
and 5000 letters and kilograms from men
who had supported me for the nomination.
the majority expressing the desire that
would refuse TO run while a minority urged
that should accept the nomination. As il
is a physical impossbliity TO answer these
letters and kilograms Individually, 1 beg OF
the courtesy of the senders that they will
accept this public statement in lieu Of such
answers.
Before speaking of anything else / wish
TO express my hesrtiest and most unstinted
admiration for the character and services
of the men and women who made up the
Progressive National Convention in 1916. /
can give them no higher praise than TO
say that in all respects they stood level
with the men and women who in 1919
Joined at Chicago to found the Progressive
party These two conventions, in character
In disinterestedness, in vision, in insight in
high purpose and in desire to render prac-
tical service TO the people typined exactly
what such bodies ought to be in great
self-governng democracy. They represented
the spirit which moved Abraham Lincoln
and his political associates during the dec
ade preceding the close Of the Civil War.
PLATFORM OF 1912
The platform put forth in 1912 was much
the most important public document pro-
mulgated in this country since the death of
Abraham Lincoln. 1t represented the first
effort on a large scale to translate abstract
formulas of economic and social justice in
TO concrete American nationalism the ef-
fort to apply the principles of Washington
and Lincoln to the need of the United States
in the goth century No finer effort was
ever made to serve the American people, in
O spirit of high loyalty to all that is loftiest
in the American tradition.
Events have shown that the Progressive
party in 1919 offered the only alternative
to the triumph of the Democratic party.
Moreover, these events have shown that the
application of the principles which we then
advocated Is even more necessary to TINS
nation than we at the time supposed.
PLEA FOR PREPAREDNESS.
The results of the terrible world war OF
the Inst two years have now made 1t evident
to all who are willing TO see that in this
country there must he spiritual and indus-
trial preparedness, along the lines of ehi-
cheney, of loyal service to the nation and of
practical application of the preCept that
each man must be his brothers keeper. Fur
thermore, 1t Is no less evident, that this pre-
paredness for the tasks of peace forms the
only sound basis for that Indispensable
military preparedness which rests on uni
versal military training, and which finds eN-
preston in universal obligatory service in
time OF war. Such universal obligatory
training and service are the necessary COM
plements OF universal suffrage, and repre-
sent the realization of the true American
the democratic, ideal in both peace and
war.
Sooner or later the national principles
chRmploned by the PFORressiyes of 1919
must in their general effect he embodied
I'm the structure of our national existence.
With all my heart / shall continue to work
for these great ideals, shoulder to shoulder
with the men and women who in 1912 cham
pioned them and am sure that these men
and women will show like loyalty to the
other. the fundamental, ideals which the
events of the last two years have proved
TO De vital TO the permonenCy OF our ma
tional 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.
The Progressive movement has been given
an incalculable impetus by what the Pro-
gressive party has done. Our strongest
party antagonists have accepted and en-
apta1 fut law aD1bO1ia1 "a r,or rtt-
platforms, very many of our most important
principles Much has been accomplished
in awakening the public TO a better under
standing of the problems of social and in
dstrial welfare
Yet 1t has become entirely evident that
the people under existing conditions are
not prepared to accept party.
1t Is impossible for us PrOgressives to
abandon our convictions But we are faced
with the fact that as things actually are
the Progressive national organization no
longer offers the means whereby We can
make these convictions effective i'm our ma
tiOnal life. Under such circumstances our
duty is to do the best we can and not to
sulk because our leadership is rejected.
That we ourselves continue TO believe that
the course we advocated was in the high
est interest OF the American people Is aside
from the question. II Is unpatriottc to re-
fuse to do the best possible merely because
the people have not put us in position 70
remains for us, good-humOredly and with
common sense. 10 face the situation and en-
deavor to get out OF it the best that II
can be made to yield from the standpoint
of the interests of the nation as a whole.
AssAILs WILSON ADMINISTRATION.
This was the situation at the opening of
the present year. 1t was clearly evident
that unless a cataclysm occurred the Presi-
Dental election would result in the choice
OF either the Republican or the Democratic
nominee, The present Administration, dur
ing its three years of life. had been guilty
OF shortcomings more signal thaa those of
any Administration since the days of
Buchanan. From the standpoint Of ma
tional honor and interest, ii stood on an
even lower level than the Administration OF
Buchanan. No Administration in our his
tory had done more TO relax the spring Of
the national will and to deaden the ma
tional conscience Within the Republican
party conflicting forces were at work.
There were men among the organization
leaders who advocated course of action
such as offered no Improvement upon the
Democratic position and advocated the