Evening star., 1916-06-26
Efforts for Harmony.

Cnder tneSe circumstances the pro-
gressive national committee, at Chi
cago, in January. outlined our duty
TO seek common action with the re-
publican party, using the following
words: Our people are seeking
adership-leadership of the high
est order and most courageous char
acter; leadership that will draft 10
itself for the country's benefit the
unselfsh and patriotic services of
its ablest citizens. The surest way
TO secure for our country the re-
quired leadership will be by having
If possible. both the progressive and
republican parties choose the same
standard bearer and the same prin-
ciples"
Six weeks later. March 9, in my
Trinidad statement. l asked for a
similar combination against the
democratic party. on a platform of
"clean-cut. straightout national
Americanism.' and for candidate
who will not merely stand for such
program before election. but will
resoiutely and in good faith put it
through il elected"
This was, in effect. the same state
ment that / made in my telegram to
ex-senator Jackson. pending the
convention. which ran. in part, as
follows; Can we not, forgetting
P@SN NiiNtA 'hNtSs ilo" JUN Tor lNf
safety and honor of our country, to
enforce the policies of genuine
Americsnism and genuine prepared
ness? surely we can afford to act
in accordance with the words of
Abraham Lincoln when he said, May
not all having common interest
reunite in common effort to save
our common country? May we ask
those who have not differed with
US 10 join in this same spirit toward
those who have? AS far as my own
soul is known TO me IL is in this
same spirit that at this time I make
my appeal TO the republicans and
progressives assembled at Chicago"
Col. Roosevelt's Attitude.
In addition 20 these public state
nents 1 had also stated my own at
titude verbally. and In letters, dur
ing the weeks Immediately preceding
the convention, 10 scores of leading
progressives from all parts OF the
country. including many OF the lead
ers at the convention. To these men
= ] expressed my earnest hope that
the republicans would so act as TO
make possible for the progressives
70 join with them. stated to them,
however. that in view of the atti-
tude Of some of the republican lead
we should he put in a position where
our highest duty, our fealty 10 the
country. our sense OF what patriot
ism demanded in great crisis
would make it imperative upon US
10 run separate ticket: and that
whether in such event IL would be
necessary for me to head that ticket
could not be determined in advance
j stated In these interviews and in
, these letters, with the utmost en-
phasts, that the decision of this point.
Ike the whole matter of running a
separate ticket, would have 10 be
determined BY what the interests Of
the country derna nded in view of the
action finally taken by the conven-
tion at Chicago.
At the time many of the republi-
can leaders asserted that my state
ments were not made in good faith:
that ! really intended to insist upon
my own nomination by the repub-
lican convention. and that IL was
not so nominated. / intended to ac-
cept the progressive nomination and
run on a third ticket. OF course.
my fellow progressives were under
no such error. They knew that /
spoke in good faith and meant ex.
!. ectly what l said. They knew that
my utteranceS were to be accepted
at their exact face value as mean
:. ing that IL the republicans nomi-
I, mated a man whom we could con-
: scientiously support we would sup
: port him. The progressive conven.
ton came together knowing my
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