South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-09-11
Utah Congressman
Finds Progressive
HaUenmDemocracy

. bit VI tire L"o SNattS winch III AeA
save its electoral vote TO Pres't
/ Taft
He was originally a republican.
He became a progressive and rs
sisted in the organization OF that
/ party. being sent from Utah as a
/ delegate to the first national con-
vention, held in Chicago in 1912. by
which "a platform entitled "A Con-
tract with the People was adopt
I ed.
In a speech delivered in congress
August %, 1916. he gave at some
length his reasons for supporting
Pres't Wilson in this campaign.
His change from a republican TO
"a progressive was due he stated to
"a long process of education from
which came the "unwelcome convic-
ton" that that party was controlled
by interests who paid for. demand
ed, and received an undue share of
the country's wealth and pros
perity." As asserted by men high
in the party cOunsels, II had be-
come the agency through which the
interests grown by special privilege.
operated TO further exploit the peo-
pie"
Speaking of the attitude of pro-
gressives I'm this campaign he said:
They will represent a larger body
of Independent voters than ever be-
fore exercised the franchise in any
campaign. They are not to be con-
trolled by the old-time prejudices
or traded TO any party at the dicta-
ton OF any seif-appOinted boss.
/ These people we're sincere and OF
high average int, lligence. They were
intensely patriotic and deeply in
terested in the welfare of the hum
BILE people Of moderate means and
those unfortunate people without
any means. They were students of
economic conditions. They adopt
ed "a platform which for clearness of
expression of humanitys needs has
rarely been equaled.
Distrust The Bosses.
THE rank and file of that party
firmly believed in the necessity Of
the enactment Of those principles
and promises into legislation. They
still believe so. They still distrust
/ the bosses and representatives of
the interests who ruled the republic
can party in 1910 and 1912, and
rule it now with even more arrog-
ance and self-assurance. What will
/ the progressives do? An answer to
that question decides the election.
Early in this session of congress,
/ having occasion TO visit New York,
was invited TO call upon the finan-
cial head of the progressive party.
The conference disclosed to me that
/ this gentleman was so much in
/ terested in such corporations as the
| United States Steel, the Bethlehem
! Steel the Harvester Trust and was
so DESTROYS of a large preparedness
program, and incidentally was SO
| tired of financing the progressive
/ party that he was ready 10 accept
practically any candidate the re-
| publicans would nominate and en-
/ ter into an agreement to sell and de-
/ liver the progressive party 20 the
republican like SO many sheep and
| cattle.
His sole objection offered 10 the
! duInliASAi dAAOil was It's AtiAANAiNg "
! place some limit upon expenses for
/ the naval and military stablish-
ments and for failure 10 go into war
/ with Mexico. This war has made
many millions for himself and as
4 sOciates, and he was willing TO real
/ ize many millions more. He be-
| lieved the republicans TO be better
/ friends-mOre subservient friends
/ to the vast enterprises in which he
! was so .deply interested.
4 then let il be known that I had
I Joined the democratic party because
+ the obituary of the progressive par
/ ~ seemed only postponed for trad
/ ing purposes and because not a SOli-
/ tary ray of hope appeared OF RENE
/ dial legislation from the republican
party in the interests of the people
and because the democratic party.
under its leader, the president, had
! been offering convincing proof of its
! sincere interest in the general good
/ by putting on the statute books a
/ program of wise and wholesome leg
/ islatiOn."
Wilson's Achievements.
D Mr.. Mays tnen TOOK up the pro-
/ gressive platform of 1912. and read
\ ing its various planks showed that
in every instance Pres't Wilson
/ and the democratic congress had
rallied TO progressive principles and
enacted into laws progressive poll
\ CieS
The Payne-Aldrich tariff bill had
I been radically revised downward;
+ the pay envelopes OF labor had been
= increased. tariff commission had
/ been established the trusts had
been curbed; conservation both Of
human and natural resources had
+ been accomplished: rural credits.
good roads, better business methods.
\ the establishment OF an office of
markets. all had been achieved. In
I vincible government had been eX-
PEELED. the federal review act pass
/ ed the Clayton antitrust law; So
cial and industrial justice succeed
ed.
] should NOT the nroureSsiyas sus-