The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1916-12-19
UNION WITH
COP. IMPOSSIBLE
IDAHO PROGRESSIVE CHAIRMAN
SAYS ORGANIZATION CANNOT
MERGE WITH REPS.

NEW YORK-That there is little
chance of a reunion of the Progress
sive and Republican parties, but that
a union of all the Progressive ele-
ments into one organization is in wi
table, is the opinion expressed by Col
onel James NJ Ingersoll of Idaho in
letter to the Evening Mail Of this
city. The Mail has been gathering
I opinions from leading Progrelsives of
the country in regard to what the at
titude of the members Of the Progress
( sive party will be with reference TO
the future.
Mr.. Ingersoll says:
The results of the campaigns of 1912
and 1916 seem to have demonstrated
that the Republican party is already
too well organized That it is all or
ganization, no heart or common cause.
That the sO-called leaders have &C.
generated into party bosses is proven
by the fact that the "Old Guard" pro-
ceeded to re-nominate President Taft
in 1912 with the votes of the delega-
ton from the south who were never
known or expected to send single
Republican elector to the eiactor col
lege They did this when they knew
that a majority of the delegates from
the Republican congressional district
from which the Republican electoral
votes must come, Gf their candidate
be elected) were solid against Taft
The result was eight electoral votes
for their candidate They refused In
profit by this dearly bought lesson,
and with bull-headed determination
came down to Chicago in 1916 deter
mined to nominate their candidate.
when they knew that the Progressive
Republican delegates who represented
the voters who sent 81 presidential
electors to the electoral college in 1911.
solid against Taft, were as strenuous
~ opposed to Mr.. Hughes. In other
words, they said to the Progressive
voters. You who had 81 electoral
votes IN 1912 to your credit must Law
down to us who had only the old or
ganizatlon OF the Republican party.
You ask, How can the leadership of
the Republican party be established so
that 1t will be responsible to the voters
of the party?"
Easily, If all Progressives of all par-
ties unite under one banner. While
the reactionary element in the Repub-
llcan party should unite with their
reacuonary brothers in the Democratic
and other parties, and be compelled to
rally under one banner.
Inc TWO great issues-national pro
hlbltion and national suffrage for
women, and other beneficial reforms
VIII be important factors in every ma
tional campaign until they are settled
right '''0l
The voters in the west are not vot-
ing the old party tickets because their
grandfathers did, as they realize that
the parties changed leadership and
policies, and that many of the old ma
tlonal issues are things of the mast
And if their grandfathers were living
today they would refuse to be hound
by old party lines for obvious reasons
In Lincoln's time, the Republican
party advocated a government nv fine
majority of the people. The reaction
airy leaders of the Republican party of
'ouay Delleve in a government by a
representative class; in other words
minority class-a ruling class
me doctrine advocated by the Taft
hughes faction and the other reaction
aries of the Republican party of To-
day is exactly the reverse of Iincoln,s
doctrine. The doctrine of the "Old
Guard' in the Republican party of to-
cay Is the reverse of the doctrine ad-
vocated by the Progressives.
'hese two divisions of the Rendition
party are as wide apart as the no1es
ana there is no common ground WbiIe
certain faction of the Propreesi,,e
leaders may be willing to meet = cor
tain faction of the "Old Cuard@ "a
agree upon plan to work together
ior campaign purposes only. the ranl,
ana lille among the voters of tho two
iactons, whose hearts are in t,e
ship. ""o'e leauer-
The reactionary element in tba Do
uohcan party should immediatelv
unite with their brother reaction rio
~ .he Democratic party. so thew can
De happy ever after while they 1ietan
10 the siren song Of the big monon-
ollstic combines and the invisible GOV
press. 'u'Siui~eu
me Progressives of all nartias
should organize under an entiraI,, d,s
ierent banner. WI
Very truly yours.
JAMES M. INGERSOIJ.
progressive Party National Commit
teeman for Tdoho =