The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-06-26
WILL WORK HARD FOR
HUGHES ELECTION
Roosevelt Issues Statement
in Which He Thanks the
Progressives but Declines
to Run for President-He
Lashes the professional
German Americans

1UICdEOs buUt -ts~~-i NGbtlolt IVoct-
velt to-day formally declined the Pro
gressive party nomination for president
OF the United States and announced his
intention to work foT the election Of
! Charles Evans Hughes, the Republican
nominee. Roosevelt addressed state
ment TO the Progressive national com
mttee in which he thanked the Progress
sive party for The nomination but de-
cared that the movement to defeat VIII
son would require united opposition.
His statement is as follows:
To the Progressive National Committee
Gentlemen In accordance with the message
sent to the Progressive national convention as
soon as / had received the notification that II
had nominated me for president, ] now com
municatc to you my reasons for declining the
honor which | so deeply appreciate. Since the
adjournment of the convention, have received
between two and three thousand letters and tel
egrams from men who had supported me Tor
the nomination the majority expressing the de-
sire that would refuse 20 run, while minor
hy urged that should accent the nomination
As II is a physical impossibility to answer these
letters and kilograms individually, beg Of the
courtesy of the senders that they VIII accept
Before speaking Of anything else, | wish 10
express my heartiest and most unstinted admi-
ration for the character and services OF the
men and women who made up the Progressive
national convention in 1916. / can give them
no higher praise than to say that in all re-
spects they stood level with the men and won1- |
who in 1912 Joined at Chicago TO found the
Progressive party These two conventions, In |
character. in disinterestedn in vision, in |
insight in high purpose, and in desire TO rem |
der practical service to the people, typihed eS-
actly what such bodies ought TO be in a great
self-governing democracy. They represented
the spirit which moved Abraham Lincoln and |
his political associates during the decade pre- /
cedinR the close Of the Civil war. The platform /
put forth in 1919 was much the most important |
public document promulgated in this country
since the death OF Abraham Lincoln. II rep
resented the first effort large scale To
translate abstract formulas of econcssic and
social justice into concrete American national
ism the effort 70 apply the principles of
Washington and Lincoln TO the need of the
United States in the twentieth century No
fine effort was ever made 10 serve the Ameri-
can people. in a spirit of high loyalty TO all
that is loftiest in the American tradition.
Events have shown that the Progressive par
ty in 1912 offered the only alternative TO the
triumph Of the Democratic party. Moreover. |
these events have shown that the application OF
the principles which then advocated is even
more necessary TO this nation than we at the
time supposed.
The results Of the terrible world war OF thet
who are willing TO see, that in this country
who are willing 10 that In this country
here must be spiritual and industrial prepar-
sdness along the lines of efficiency. Of loyal ,
,ervice TO the nation, and Of practical applica-
ion Of the prscept that each man must be his
1rother's keeper. Furthermore. u is no less
,vdent. that this preparedness for the tasks
II peace forms the only sound basis for that
military preparedness whth rests
N universal military training and which finds [
Expression in universal obligatory service in a
ine Of war. Such universal obligatory train :
he
4 universal suffrage. and represent the reali- i
alton Of the true American, the democratic, I
deal in both peace and war
Sooner or later these national principles q
hampioned by the ProEressives Of 1912 must J
n their general effect be embodied in The i
tructure Of our national existence. With ell :
ny heart | shall continue 10 work fnr these 7
-reat ideals shoulder 10 shoulder with the men
nd women who in 1919 ehampioned them Il
nd I am sure that these men and women will .
how a like loyalty 70 the other. the funda- |
Mental ideals which the events Of the past s
,vo years have proven 10 be vital 20 the per .
lanency Of our national existence. The meth !
by which we are 20 show our loyalty to i
hese ideals must be determined IN each case by /
he actual event. Our LOYALTY is to the fact 70
he principle. % the ideal and not merely 20 .
he name. and least Of all % the party name +
The Progressive movement has been given n
icaleulahle impetus by what the Progressive [
nists have accepted and enacted into law. or
mbodisd IN their party platforms, very many
our most important principles Much has
cen accomplished in awakening the public 20 II
better understanding Of the problems Of So i
al and industrial welfare ."
Yet Il has become entirely evident that the "
rople under existing conditions are not pre- r
lred % accept new party. Al
II Is impossible for us Progressives tn absn- -
ln our convictions But are faced with hi
ie fact that as things actually A. the Pro Al
-essive national organization no longer offers
10 means hereby We make these convic- II
ons elective in our national life Under such
rcurlsta nces our duty Is 20 do the best We
IN and not to sulk because our Leadership is
5ected That We ourselves continue 70 BE-
rve that the course advocated was in the 81
CHEST interest Of the American people is aside
ON the question L is unpatrioti- 70 refuse
Do the best possible merely becE=se the p.o-
r have not put us in the position 20 do what
? regard IS the ven best IL remains for us. 10
ID huuro~eSly and with common sense. % n
&c th- situation and sndearor n get out of u 4
. hesf that Il can b made % yield from THE y
sndpoinf of the interests of Tire nation n
hole IM
mis- was the situation ~ ths orrninE Of ths -
raswt vear II was clearly evident that un- u
% cstscylsu occurred the presidential slec-
N would result in the rhoice - e5thsr tkc
.putIiran Or tire Dernocratic nominee TIE
sseut administration. during ifa three year.
life Rad h-rn guilty # shorfrrrninEs -rnrs A
.maf thar those cf any atrnintstrs fisr Stree
; asrs cF Barharsn. Prem the standpoint q
tf5nal horrr ard interest f stood on en-
sn .orer level thar tre aaHlinistrs'ion 81
-Fr~sn No afrniristrafirn in cur hisfsFT M
Z s--r rrure g rslsr ths rrrinr 81 ths ns- 90
rai wF8 anH to dsadcu ths nsticnz' fnn-
cree Within fhs Eerublirsn party rnuHicf- p
vi
fCcntinusd On fourth Psgsl on