Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-01-20
THE PRoGREssIvEs' "DEMANDs'

THE PROGRESSIVES' "DEMANUS'
The Wichita Eagle, Victor Muir.
docks paper, prints summary OF
the action of the national Progress
sive committee of which Mr.. Muir
dock Is chairman and sets forth the
terms on which the Progressives
will return to the Republican par
ty. Says the Eagle:
ain the Progressive national
platform of 1912 were demands for
the short ballot, the initiative, the
referendum and the recall. The ma
tional committee, as basis for an
agreement with the old party, agrees
on behalf of the Progressives to
relegate these Issues to the various
states, where, for the time, they
belong, though in the end, they will
become national issues"
The Republicans always contend
ed that these were matters for
state issues and that the country is
not prepared for national legisla-
tion on these matters. The Progress
sives have evidently come to the
same conclusion. The Eagle goes on:
"These matters eliminated, what
are the Progressive demands for
the national platform? Briefly sum-
married., they are:
"Protection of American rights,
both at home and abroad.
Regulation rather than attempt
ed destruction of business.
Replacement of the pork barrel
by budget system of expenditures.
"A non-partisan tariff commits
sion, together with the immediate
revision OF certain schedules made
necessary by the war.
Equal suffrage
THE dethronement OF the invis-
ible government.
IAN adequate merchant marine.
These then are the things the
IIOBISbblFoS ueudHu ludJ TIC |
Republicans shall endorse. Let us
look at them.
1.-THE Republican party has al
ways stood for protection of Amer
lean rights at home and abroad"
and 1t Is for 1t now.
The Republican party has always
stood for regulation rather than
attempted destruction Of business"
and is for 1t now. The country never
has been prosperous except under a
administration.
The Republican party has always
been for a budget system Of expen-
ditures. 1t is true that pork barrel
methods have been followed at times
but never so outrageously as
under a Democratic administration.
It has never received the approval
Of the members of the Republican
party in the nation and does not
now.
The Republican party was the I
originator of the idea OF a nom |
partisan tariff commission. Taft {
would have had 1t If the Democrats {
had not fought it and in the end {
'obbed the plan of every vestige of I
,ower without which It is nonentity. q
Such a commission cannot be Great
ID without careful legislation to
protect it from imposition on the Y
me side and partisanship on the [
,ther. i
Equal suffrage is favored by 1
nearly half the states-so far as \
Kansas Republicans are concerned r
hey are for national equal suf- c
rage. v
1t is not clear just what the de Il
hronement of the invisible gov r
means, but If 1t means 2
hat there should be legislation for t,
II the people without unfair or b
lrongful influences from the out q,
ide everybody is for 1t and there IL
as certainly been more direct rep -
esentation of the people under Re- -
than under Democracy p
for particulars read the history ia
the past three years. bl
All parties are for IAN adequate 1t
lerchant marine"-if by that is
eant a development of American ro
tipping. That we have not built up is
IT merchant shipping in past years II,
not to the credit of the nation Nj
1T the country is awakened to the
.ed now and tbera sbou1d ha Gonna