Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-06-26
ROOSEVELT COMES
OUT FOR HUGHES
Progressive Leader Issues Statement Urging Party
Members Support Republican Convention
Nominee in Forthcoming Election.

To the Progressive National Com
mittee: Gentlemen-In accordance
with the message l sent to the progress
sive national convention as soon as
had received the notification that i,
had nominated me for president, l now
communicate to you my reasons for de-
Ginning the honor which l so deeply APP
preciate. Since the adjournment of the
convention, l have received between
two and three thousand letters and tel
egrams from men who had supported
me for the nomination, the majority eX
pressing the desire that l would refuse
to run, while a minority urged that
should accept the nomination. AS it Is
a physical imposSibility to answer these
letters and kilograms individually,
beg Of the courtesy of the senders that
they will accept this public statement
in lieu of such answers.
Must Be Prepared.
Events have shown that the progress
sive party in 1872 offered the only alter
native to the triumph of the democratic
party Moreover. these events have
shown that the application of the prin-
ciples which we then advocated is even
more necessary to this nation than we
at that time supposed.
The results of the terrible world war
of the past two years have now made i
evident to all who are willing TO see,
that in this country there must be spir-
itual and industrial preparedness, along
fire lines of efficiency. OF loyal service to
the nation. and of practical application
OF the precept that each man must be
hie lie E'lyt II
is no less evident, that this prepared
ness for the tasks of peace forms the
only sound basis for that indispensable
military preparedness which rests on
universal military training. and which
finds expression in universal obligatory
service in time of war. Such universal
obligatory training and service are nee
essary Compliments of universal SUI
frage, and represent the realization OF
the true American, the democratic,
ideal in both peace and war.
Third Party Not Wanted.
The progressive movement has been
gwen an incalculable impetus by what
the progressive party mas done. Our
str ongest party antagonists have &C
cepted and enacted into law, or en-
bodied in their party platforms, very
many of our most important principles.
Much has been accomplished in awak-
ening the public to better understand
ing Of the psoblems of social and in
duStrial welfare.
Yet 1t has become entirely evident
that the people under existing condi-
tons are not prepared to accept a new
party.
It remains for US, good humoredl!
and with common sense, TO face th'
situation. and endsavor to get out of i
the best that 1t can be made to yielt
from the standpoint Of the interests
of the nation as a whole.
Wilson's Shortcomings.
THIS was the situation at the open
ing OF the present year. 1t was clear
" evident that unless a cataclysm &C.
Cured the presidential election would
result in the choice Of either the re-
publican or the democratic nominee
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 ma
tlonal honor and interest. II stood or
an even lower level than the admins
tration Of Buchanan. No administra-
: tfon in our history had done more tC
relax the spring Of the national vii
and to deaden the national conscience
Within the republican party conflicting
ferces were at work. There were mer
among the organization leaders who
advocated a course Of action such a.
offered no improvem upon the dem
ocratic position and advocated tbs
- -,-ho al
ton would have represented no i'm
proyement upon the continuance in Of
fee Of Mr.. Wilson. If such a course
were followed, II would obviously be.
come our duty 10 run a third ticket
But it was plainly our duty to do ev.
erything honorable in order to pre-.
vent1such a necessity: to do everything
short Of sacrificing our most sacred
convictions in order to secure th'
alignment under one leadership Of TIL
forces opposed TO the continuance il
power of Mr.. Wilson and the demo
cratic party.
Hughes Meets Conditions.
At the time many of the republican
leaders asserted that my statement
were no. made in good faith that
really intended to insist upon my owl
nomination by the republican conven
ton: and that if was not so norni
mated. I intended to accept the pro
gressive nomination and run on a thir
ticket. OF course my fellow progress
ives were under no such error. The,
knew that I spoke in good faith an
meant exactly what said They kney
that my utterances were to be accept
ed at their exact face value as mean
ing that II the republicans nominate
d man whom we could conscientious
support we would support him. Tn
progressive convention came togethe
knowing my public statements an