Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-06-30
SQUARELY FOR HUGHES
Declines Progressive Nomination
for the Presidency
Roosevelt Arraigns Administration
Says 1t Has Stood ON an Even Low
or Level Than That of Buchanan.

Col. Theodore Roosevelt, from hi,
nome Ill Oyster Bay, sent Monday tC
the Progressive national committee in
chicago his formal declination of the
nomination for the presidency rendered
MN by that party at the recent con
Vontlon The statement is lone
one, i'll which he gives great credit
10 the Progrcsslvcs, saying that
the platform of 1912 was the most
important public document promul.
gated III the country since the
death of Abraham Lincoln. The Pro.
gresslvcs, he states, have forced the
other two parties to adopt many of the
principles for which the Progressives
fought four years ago. lie says in
part;
1t is impossible for us Progressivcs
to abandon our convictions. But we
are faced with the fact that as things
actually are the Progressive national
organization no longer offers the means
whereby we can make these convic-
tons effective in our national life. I'm
der such circumstances, our duty is TO
do the best we can, and not sul< be-
cause our leadership is rejected. That
we ourselves continue to believe that
the course we advocated was in tho
highest interest of the American 1cople
Is aside from the question. 1t is umpa-
tnotic to refuse to do the best posi-.
Die merely because the people have net
put us IN position to do what we re
gard as the very best. 1t remains for
us, good humorcdly and with common
sense, to face the situation and en-
dcavor to get out of it the best that il
can be made to yield from the stand
point of the interests of the nation as
Il whole
The present administration, during
its three years of life, had been guilty
OF shortcomings more signal than those
OF any administration since the DAYS
OF Buchanan. From the standpoint of
national honor and interest, it stood
on an even lower level than the admin
lstratlon of Buchanan. No administers
ton i'll our history had done more to
relax the spring of the national will
and to dcaden the national conscience.
In my judgment, the nomination OF
Mr.. Hughes meets the conditions set
Iorth In the statement of the Progress
slVc national committee issued lastl
January, and in my own statements.
Under existing conditions, the nomina-
ton of a third ticket would. in nv
Judgment, be merely move in the in
terest of the election of Mr.. Wilson.
/ regard Mr.. Hughes as a man whose
public record is guarantee that "he
VIII not merely stand for program of
clean-cut straight-out Americanism
before election, but will rcsolutelv and
i'll good faith put it through if elect.
ed. He is beyond all COMPARISON
better fitted to be President than Mr..
Wilson, 1t would be a grave dctri-
nent to the country to re-clect Mr.1
Wilson. ! shall, therefore, strongly 3,
Import Mr.. Hpghes.4 SUCH, ,Reing,gthel :
use, 1t is unnecessary to say that
annot accept the nomination on Y
here should be a third ticket. believe !.
hat when my fellow Progressivcs
DOLLY consider the question they will
,or the most part take this position. i.
lhey and | have but one purpose-thc !
purpose to serve our common country.
It IS my deep conviction that at this
moment we can serve it only by SUP.
porting Mr.. Hughes. 7
Mr.. Hughes has shown in his career
The instinct of efficiency which will
guarantee that, under him, the gov
1rnment will once more work with
'lgor and force. He possesses that hab- {
It of straightforward thinking which
means that his words will be CORE '
ated with his deeds and translated |
INTO facts. His past career is the war J
ant for our belief that he will be the 7
lnfaltering opponent of that system 6
II invisible government which finds '
expression in the domination of the
'arty boss and the party machine. e
lis past career is guarantee that t
whatever he says before election will f
,e made good by his acts after cleo T
ion. Morally, his public record shows q
lim to be a man of unbending integ- v
ity; intellectually, it shows him to be 7
man of original and trained ability. t
Ne have the alternative of continu- Il
ng in Office an administration which c
las proved a lamentable failure, or o
# putting into Office an administration II
which we have every reason to be-
ieve will function with efficiency for b
he interest and honor of all our peo- a
lie. | earnestly bespeak from my fell b
ow Progressives their uagrudglng r
Import of Mr.. Hughes.