The Oskaloosa herald., 1916-06-08
PROGRESSIVE MEET
OPENS At CHICAGO
National Convention Is Called to
Order: -
MORE THAN 1000 DELEGATES
Robins Elected Temporary Chairman
-Warns Republican Prosressives
Not to>Surrender Principle
Lauds Roosevelt.

Il Chicago, June with a seeming
determination to stand fast by the
principles they enunciated in 1912, the
Progressives on Wednesday opened
their national convention in the Audi
torium. The big theater was beauti-
fully decorated and the presence of
many handsomely CARRIED women in
/ the galleries, and even among the dele
gates, made the scene especially
gay.
i Though the authorized number of
! delegates was 628. so many states OBJ
tanned permission to increase their
representation that the delegate body
consisted OF LOIS men and women,
and the alternates numbered 776.
Ohio, Michigan and New York sent
the largest delegations. with Illinois
next. Pennsylvania was fifth with 40.
While the Auditorium was filling up
with delegates and spectators, there
was patriotic music by band and the
great Pipe organ.
Promptly at twelve o'clock Victor
Murdoch. chairman of the Progressive
national committee, called the conven-
ton to order and Bishop William f.
Mcdowell of Chicago invoked the d.
vine blessing on it's deliberations. The
reading of the call followed, and Ray
mond Robins was then elected TEN.
porary chairman and introduced by
Mr.. Murdoch
Chairman Robins Address,,
Mr. Robins reviewed first the origin
and progress of the Progressive move
ment and declared the need of pro-
gressive thought and leadership and
courage Is even greater in America to-
day than it was in 1912. The domi-
nant problem today, he asserted, is to
protec. and preserve our government,
and the people cannot be reused to
| protect and preserve a government
that is not of and for all the
! people.
In this critical hour of our history"
continued the speaker, only men who
| have the vision of nation that shall
be truly great, as. well as powerful and
wealthy. can speak for all the people.
7
to the wrangling voices of selfish mar
row groups. to spokesman of geo.
graphic divisions, social divisions,
race, nation, color and creed divisions
of people. who seemed to have for
| gotten that they had a common des-
tiny-'that they must go up or down
! together their first and neces-
! sary allegiance was to the common
welfare Of a single citizenship FRO
tecting and protected under one flag.
! So raucous and insistent have these
voices been that for time it seemed
that half-breed Americanism would
| rule discordant, disunited people to
the ruin of a nation.
Courage of Roosevelt.
But through all these weary
! steadfastly, courageously, without q
! shade OF compromise, without a note
of indccision, calling upon our people
| to reject the counsels of division and
! rally to the one common cause of
America. 1t was not strange that this
was the voice of our leader of 1912. 1t
was not strange that he spoke out
when the lesser statesmen feared to
whisper, uncertain as they were alike
| Of their own convictions and of the
! feelings of the crowd. 1t is not
] strange that we who followed him four
years ago muster once again in an.
;wer to his brave and faithful
,all."
| Mr.. Robins declared that the con-
vention should reaifirm the principles
IF the covenant with the people draft
cd in 1912, and also should demand a
program for national preparedness and
lior social and economic security in
time of peace. He spoke with sympa-
thy of the efforts to reunite the Re-
publican party, but issued this warn
ing to the leaders of the odd guard:
I'VE would solemnly warn all those
Of an easy and accommodating poll
teal virtue that we will not surrender
principle nor make unworthy compro-
mise to gain meaningless and selfish
political victory. We would rather
! face possible defeat fighting for our
'
cause than to seek assured victory
Through moral treason to those high
| principles and heroic souls that COM
bined to make us the second party OF
/ this nation in 1912. The 100000
voters who followed our leader and
espoused our cause can be augmented
to majority perhaps more easily un.
der united banners, but If need be the
Progressive standard will go forward
alone We cannot believe that,a rule
or ruin faction will dominate the poll
tical machinery Of the historic party
OF Lincoln. and that they will prefer
personal defeat and national degrada-
tion to acceptance OF the foremost
leadership in the nation. But IN this
day and hour It should be made plain
that the choice is In their hands and
that the Judgment OF the people will
| be upon their heads"
| When Chairman Robins concluded
ilkt. a1drooo ~ tho anfhueiaoflo a.,