The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1916-10-13

uation precisely, while the home and
some others are lost for the time
being.
Acting upon principle, l separated
from the Republican and participated
in the organization of the Progressive
party because my conscience forbade
that l should longer affiliate with the
party used as an instrument OF gov
eminent in behalf of large interests
enjoying special privileges at the e x
pense Of the whole people. The move
ment for a new party not only APP
pealed to my judgment, but 1t aroused
an enthusiasm within me to a degree
which / had never before experienced.
l was chairman of the first state con
vention in Missouri and with the la
mented Col. Nelson Of the Kansas City
Star attended the national convention
as a delegate-at-large. At Chicago |
was made a member OF the committee
on platform and co-labored with the
excellent men Of that body formulat-
ing what l regard as the greatest dec
laration Of principles and policies
given forth by any political assem-
blage Of my day. On my return to
Missouri / was unanimously chosen as
the candidate Of the new. party for
Governor, and after a short campaign
of the state we polled 125, 1000 votes.
Many of us we're entirely sincere n
embraced the u for the better
ment Of conditions generally with
lofty motives and purity Of purpose. l
was one of this number and believed.
for | was given to so understand, that
we were engaged in building a per
manent party that should go forward
and upward in the task Of retaining
the powers Of government from the
great interests Of the country, and
lodging them again in the hands of all
the people, where they justly reside.
In u contract with the people we
not only declared our purpose not to
further aid the continuance of invisi.
Bile government in its maneuverings
through such men as Penrose, Smoot'
Barnes, Crane, Guggenheim and oth'
ers, but we solemnly agreed to de-
throne It, that the peoples govern,
ment might be administered by and
for them.
Having enlisted In this splendid
cause. /, for One, was politically happy
for the first time in my life, and this
too. though It wal we'll understood
that we would not be able to come
into office and power until the old Re
publican machine was completely de
stroyed and the new party established
on the ruins Of the old, but in accord
with the spirit Of Lincoln. All OF III
shared the promise that the men anC
women thus gathered togetnel
would never be abandoned" 1t ma!
be regarded as certain, according Il
the thought Of candid persons every
where, that those Of US who affiliated
with the new party in good faith Weri
justified in believing, at least, tina
we would not be abandoned on tn
very center of the field when the fla!
was floating high and the bugle ca
but sounded. But, be this as It may
the fact speaks for itself. Histor
win record and characterize 1t. A
chairman of the Missouri delegation
I was present at the passing of tn
party and witnessed 1t with solemnit
and sadness similar In degree 70 th
feeling of happiness experienced at II
birth.
Here | found myself a political O
phan, recognizing no obligation to an
party but owing an allegiance to m
country which, according to CO.
science, compels me to function, as
citizen somewhere and somehow.
II IL obvious that the same crowd
reactionary leaders constitute u
works Of the Republican party now
before. In 1912 these men were fores
to steal delegates to control the K
publican convention, and IN 1915 q
P~rogressives having moved out, th'
controlled the situation without OPP
sition, for all were Of one accord.
this situation It devolved upon the
to nominate a candidate who wou