The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-06-26
N RINGING STATEMENT


the actual event. our loyalty is to
the fact, to the principle, to the ideal.
ana not merely to the name. and least
OF a to tho party name.
The Progressive movement has
been given an incalcuiable Impetus
by what the Progressive party has
donO. Our strongest party antaBOn-
lists have accepted and enacted into
law. or embodied In their party plat
forms. very many Of our most Import
ant principles Much has been nc
cOmpllshed in awakening the public
10 a better understanding Of the pro-
bloms OF social and industrial vel
fare.
Yet It has become entirely evident
that the people under existing CON
ditionH arc not prepared to accept Il
new party.
II Is impossible for us ProgrsBslves
to abandon our convictions. but VIC
are faced with the fact that as things
actually are tho Progressive national
organization no longer Offers the
means whereby we can make these
convictions effective in our national
life. Under such circumstances. our
duty Is to do the best we Gun, and
not to sulk because our leadership is
rejected. That we ourselves con.
tinue 10 believe that the course we
advocated was In the highest Interest
Of the American people IL aside from
the question. II Is unputriotic to re-
iuse TO do the best possible merely
because the people have not put us
In position to do what we regard as
the very best. II remains for US,
good humOredly and with common
sense. to face the situation and en-
deavor TO get out Of II the best that
II can be made to yield from the
standpoint Of the interests Of the
nation as whole.
This was the situation at the open
Ing Of the present year. II was
clearly evident that unless a cat
aclysm occurred the presidential cleo
ton would result In the choice OF
either the Republican or the Demo
cratic nominee. The present admins
lstratiOn. during its three years OF
life. had been guilty OF shortcomings
more signal than those OF any adj
minlBtrRtlOn since the days Of BuCh.
annn. From the standpoint of ma.
tional honor and interest, II stood on
an even lower lever than the admin
istratiOn OF Buchanan. No admin
istratiOn in our history had done
moro TO relax the spring OF the ma
tIOnal will and to dCnden the nation
al conscience. within the Republic
can party conflicting forces were at
work There were men among the
organization leaders who advocated n
course Of action such az offered no
Improvement upon the Democratic
position, and advocated the nOmina-
ton of candidates whose election
would have represented no improve
ment upon the continuance in office
Of Mr.. Wilson. II such a course were
followed. It would obviously become
our duty to run Il third ticket. But
It was plainly our duty to do every
thing honorable in order 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 DEM
OcratiC party.
Under those Circum stances the Pro
gressiVs national committee. at Chi
CaGo. in January. outlined our duty
to seek common action with the Re
publican party, using the following
words: Our people are seeking lead
ership-leadership OF tho highest or
der and most courageous character:
leadership that will draft to itself
for the cOuntry's benefit the unseltlSh
and patriotic services OF its ablcst cit
liens. The surest way to secure for
our country the required leadership
will he by having. II possible. both
the Progressive and Republican par
ties choose the same standard bearer
and the same principles"
Six weeks later. on March 3, in my
Trinidad statement asked for a
similar combination against the Dem
ocratic party. on platform of clean
cut, strniGhtOut national American
ISM" and for candidate who will
not merely stand FOR such n program
before election. but will resolutely
and in good faith put it through II
elected
This was. in effect. the sam" state
mcnt that ! made In my telegram to
ex-senator Jackson. pending the con-
ventlon, which ran in part as follows:
Can we not, forgetting past differ
ences, now join. for the safety and
honor Of our country. to enforce the
policies OF genuine AmDricanism and
genuine preparedness Surely we can
AFFORD to act in accordance with the
words OF Abraham Lincoln when he
said: May not all having comm on
interest rsunite in a common effort
to save our common country? May
we ask those who have not differed
with us to Join in this same spirit
toward those who have?' AS far as
my own soul is known to me II "a in
this same spirit that at this time /
make my appeal to the Republicans
and Progressiyes assembled at Chi
caEo"
In addition to these public state
ments had also stated by own atti-
tudc verbally. and in letters. during
the weeks Immediately preceding the
convention. to scores Of leading Pro-
gressives from all parts OF the coun-
try. including many Of the leaders
at the convention. To these men l
expressed by earnest hope that the
Republicans would so act as to make