The Mena weekly star., 1916-07-20
CALL ISSUED FOR
 CONVENTION
Parker Urges Patriotic Men and Woman to Meet August , to Name New Candidates-Admires Both
 Wilson and Hughes

New Orleans. La. July l5.-A statement and call ~to patriotic men and women of Ameriea" to hold national convention of the Pro- greSsiye party in Chicago August , Co nominate candidates for presi- dent and vice president, and Co con- tinue the partys existence as dis tmct political organization, was is- sued here tonight by John NJ. Park CT, vice presidential nominee of the Progressive convention held in Chi eago last June. He urges the Pro- gressives to eternally bury the Bull Moose, who led his loyal fol- lowers into the Wilderenss, and to adopt in it's place the American eagle as the emblem of the party.
 Mr. Parker does not mention Lol- onel Roosevelt or any other Pro- gressiye leaders CT candidates by name He declares however that the Pr0gressiyes had as supposed leaders 'red biOoded' Americans, who promised with their life blood to stay with the party to the finish, bat that the party had heen desert cd by a large part of its officers, who could not stand the acid test. He charges the leaders, for steam roller reasons. have elected Co be steam rolled, and that the time has come when every party working for human welfare and the future of America should unite against both dominant parties
 In criticising the Republican par ty the statement indirectly refers Go Charles E. hu~hes, Republican candidate for president, as "a splendid man. selected by the Re- .pahlicarfs as the mask behind which they hope to again secure control of state and nation.
 Mir Parker declares that he does not want office, and announces his willingness to withdraw as the Pro- gressive candidate for vice presi- dent and labor in the ranks and on the stump to prove his loyalty to Progressive principles. His inclus- ion of women in the call is taken to mean that the party is to be unre- seryedly pledged for woman suf- frage and that the women voters in the suffrage states are invited to join the Progressive party and work for it's success in the coming elec- tions.
 Announces His Stand.
 Mir Parker, in commenting to- night on his statement, declared he will not support either Woodrow Wilson or Charles E. Hughes for the presidency
 My statement and call for a sec 0nd national Progressive conven- ton, he said, was actuated not only by my own convictions of the necessity of maintaining the Pro- gressive party's existence but also by the belief of many Progressive workers from all parts of the coun- try. expressed to me personally and in hundreds of letters since the Chicago convention and national committees action.
 Dissatisfaction over the attempts of the Republican party. abetted by the Progressive National Committee. to swallow our organization and voters has been widespread among Progressive leaders who have re- mained loyal, and by the rank and file who have resented being turned over bodily to the Republicans.
 Admires Wilson and Hughes.
 For President Wilson and Mir. Hughes, as individuals. 1 have the highest regard and admiration, but considered as leaders of the parties whose machines are the actual fac tors to be reckoned with. I could not conscientiously give them my support or acquiescenee in turning over to either of them the entire loyal membership of the Progress siye organization who have advoeat- ed and who have worked for many things the Democrats and Republic ans have refused t0 support.
 T long have believed in the jus tice of giving the ballot to the wom- en of the country. and my appeal to the women to join in naming q national Progressive ticket is made with the idea of the Progressive party making a clean cut declara- ton. short of all political buucombe and chicanery for woman suffrage turnout the nation"