Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-25
progressiyes for Wilson

a MAZEMENT felt and shown by Repub-
a lican leaders, over the refusal of Pro-
! gressives of all degrees Of prominence to de-
! liver themselves up i'll accordance with the
Chicago contract, is almost ludicrous. AS
our Washington correspondent said vest erday,
| no leader in the Republican convention
seems to have dreamed for moment that
the Colonel would or could lose his grip upon
! the Bull Moose following
While the Old Guards discontinue is
funny enough, it really ought not to startle
the country, familiar through recent expert
ence with the mental deficiencies of these
eminent statesmen and sages. The truth is,
as was shown at Chicago in 1912 and again
this year. they have no understanding what
ever of modern political thought. They still
think in terms of Mark Hanna and sc. They
are all perfectly sure that if Roosevelt had
kept hands off four years ago Taft would
have been elected. although as matter OF
fact Wilson would have defeated Taft alone
quite easily as he did Taft and Roosevelt
together.
Reasoning along old lines. the Old Guard
considered that all that was necessary this
year was TO corral the Colonel, whereupon all
the Bull Moose herds would come trotting
peacefully back to the reservation. Time has
brought Il rude awakening.
There was--and this is what the Old Guard
forgot--more than one kind OF Progressive.
There was first of all the jealous and sourcd
Republicans, whom more successful faction
had driven away from the trough. There
was a sprinkling Of dissatisfied Democrats.
There was Roosevelt's own personal follow
ing. There was a collection OF cranks and
radicals of all sorts and descriptions-long-
haired men and short-hared women who
thought they saw a chance to stand at
Armageddon and battle for the Lord" In
addition to all these, however. there were
tens Of thousands-perhaps hundreds OF
iIDlSa n
folks. politically independent, WIG believed
both the old parties needed a rebuke, who
were earnestly and really progressive in prn-
ciplc and who felt they could impress their
opinions more successfully on new political
organization.
1t is this completely Of personnel that now
Is responsible for the Roosevelt Perkins Finn
Inability to deliver the goods The soured
Republicans and the dissat isicd Democrats
for the most part returned TO their idols long
ago, although some of the Republicans hung
on long enough 10 try to make the deal at
Chicago The cranks are scattered to the
winds, which is to say among the Socialists
the Prohibitionisis and the new Woman's
party The honest and convinced Progress
sivcs. who had conferred on the organization
its responsibility standing and intelligence
remain, and they not going TO knce al
the crack Of any ones whip.
For the most part they feel, with Balm
bridge Colby. Francis J. liency and n host of
other leaders, that tho Democrats under Will
son have contributed more progressive and
constructive legislation to the statute books
oil the nation III three years than the Repub-
means ana IN hity. They recognize that in his
whole policy. foreign as we'll as domestic the
President has stood firmly for human rights
Being entirely sane. they understand the adj
vantagcs OF peace and prosperity even to the
altrust, and they are unwilling to risk dis
1urbanee III other words. they are sup
porters of President Wilson. and there are
enough oil them 10 render his reelection
assured