The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-10-24
A SOLDIER HIMSELF,
HE ADMIRES PEACE
President Embddies Pro
gressive Ideas-Sig-
nificant Interview

who Is we'll known throughout the
state In business and soldier circles,
declares in favor of the reelection
of President Wilson and will vote for
him at the coming election.
The attitude of Col. Hunt has much
significance and is reflex of that of
many people who occupy the same
position as does the colonel.
Col. Hunt was an active partici-
pant in the civil war, having served
for four years. His long service en-,
titled him to membership in the I'm
ion Veteran Legion and he became
affiliated with that honorable organi-
zation of war veterans. He devoted
much time to promoting the interests
Of the organization and in due time
was honored by becoming National
Commander, the head of the organi-
zation.
UP to four years ago Col. Hunt had
voted the Republican ticket regular
ly, having cast his first vote for Abra-
ham Lincoln. In 1912 he withdrew
his allegiance to the Republican
party because of the reactionary pol.
icy that pervaded it and aligned him.
self with the Progressive party and
took very active part in the cam
paign of that year in behalf of the
newly-formed party. He was the
Knox county manager of the Pro
gressive campaign and was promi-
nent in the state and national coun-
CHS of the organization.
At the Progressive national con-
vention at Chicago last June, Col.
Hunt was delegate from this dis
trict, and through the many days
sessions of the convention was an
attentive attendant and prominent in
its deliberations. Col. Hunt was of
that element in the party which, be-
ing strongly imbued with party prin-
ciples, contended that a ticket should
be placed in the field to battle for
what they considered the right, and
therefore Joined hands in making
Roosevelt and Parker the nominees.
When Roosevelt forsook the Pro
gressives and attempted to lead the
members of the party into the Re
publican fold, Col. Hunt was one of
those who would not be led.
In the circumstances there was
but one thing for man with CON
science to do, and that was to line up
for President Wilson. This Col. Hunt
did.
In an interview with representa-
tive of The Banner, Col. Hunt talked
freely and plainly defined his atti-
tude.
Il had been a lifelong Republican
prior to four years ago." said Col.
Hunt. 'T loved the Republican party
and gloried in Its many achieve
ments, but when 1 began to realize in
more recent years its tendency in re-
dictionary directions; that its control
had fallen into the hands of stand
patters and the interests dominated
it, both in legislation and in admin
istrative action, l began to feel it
was abandoning the principles that
gave it birth.
"Being a strong believer in pro-
gressive principles, l could no longer
endure the party to which / had stood
Loyalty by for so many years when
could plainly see how it had degen-
Grated into party of favoritism for
the few as against the many, so four
years ago l was early among those
who organized the Progressive party.
/ gave my best efforts to the success
of the new party during that cam
paign and when that fight was over
looked to the future for the fruition
of our principles.
81 had the honor of representing
the Seventeenth district in the Pro
gressive national convention at Chi
cago last summer, and it was very
plain to me the sinister influence that
was at work to break up the Pro
gressive party and tie us all to the
coat-tails of the reactionaries who
had maintained their control of the
Republican party. The action ol
Roosevelt in going back on those
who had stood by him left me with