Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-05-31
WHY is A PROGRESSIVE?

edge Of the past inspires him t
strive Tor a better and a nobler tu
ture. He sees the happiness anC
hope of mankind in perpetual evo
Iutionary improvement of the con.
ditions of life. But let us take Z
more vital and vivid description
than we can frame. We find it il
the phrases of that robust writer
and fighter and incorrigible pro,
gressive, William Allen White, o.
Kansas:
am a progressive because
believe in the continuous
orderly growth of human in
stitutions: that the world is
not bundled up for immedia-
ate delivery into the millen-
iuin, and that only as we give
OF our lives in the effort to
replace human wrongs by hui
man rights do our institutions
grow. / am a progressive be-
cause [ believe that institu-
tions grow only as they de-
velop greater depths of fell
lowship among men in our
laws and in our customs; that
fellowship deepcns only as
those who enjoy LIE more
abundantly than their breth-
rem surrender their special
privileges in the JOY Of service.
/ am a progressive because l
have seen men of high quail
tiles give and give, and grow
in giving, while the world
waXed better for the gifts 1t
got. .
Pharaoh and Moses, plate
and Christ, the Medici and
Sayanarola, Charles and Crom-
we'll, King George and Wash
ington, Douglas and Lincoln!
Gains sons always ON the job.
Abefs forever on the move. SO
the simpler world becomes
more complex, and progress
follows the lure of justice.
Now we have the standpatter
and the progressive of today
the one resisting change and
holding his perennial office,
the other in politics or bust
ness or religion wrestling
with the machinery about him,
political, commercial or relig-
ious merely as means TO ends,
caring little for the counters in
the game, but greatly inter-
ested in the stakes. Altruism
in politics is ephemeral, but
its results are immortal. The
progress of the world-for at
least during the 1000 years OF
the Christian era-has fol-
lowed the crucifixion of eX-
allied minorities who We're will
ing TO fail for the success of
their ideals. These m,norities
have scared the daylights out
of the sluggish majorities. and,
though the minorities have
passed, their phalanxes hrok-
en-, their legions scattered, the
things they have stood for
have prevailed
That is the spirit of progressive
SIN. A stirring picture, some one
nay say, but skctched in glitter
ng generalities. Well, let US
dance at the practical results.
2rogressiveism did not become a
political factor in this country I'M
il about 1906 and did not find ma
ional party expression until 1912.
But consider its achievements, as
listed by White in his article in
he Saturday Evening Pest:
The program advocated by
the progressives provided for
taking the burdens of acct
dents in industry off the back
of labor and putting them
upon capital; for the support
Of dependent mothers; for the
taxing of incomes, the regula-
tion of rates of public utili-
ties, safeguarding bank de-
posts and providing for flex-
ible credits; readjustmept of
the tariff; the taxing OF inher-
itances; legal recognition of
the eight hour day; prevent
ton of child labor and en-
forcing juvenile education;
making of public sanitation a
public affair; abolishing the
saloon; regulating competition
under the Sherman act; con-
serving the sources of water
coal, timber and minerals for
the public use and benefit; os-
Enlistment of the direct pri-
mary; election of United
States senators by direct pop
ular vote; the initiative. ref
erendum and recall in cities
and states, and the enfran-
chisement of women. How
mild 1t all seems, now that 1t
has been really established
But what gosh lawful horrors
the standpatters expected to
fall upon the land If the pro-
gram was achieved! If ever a
cause was triumphant, that
gala revolution Of the first de-
cade of the century scored
SO per cent.
The point is that the progressive
party went down to defeat, bu
triumphed. Through
LH6 NlSiOI anu lSeluti Ship VI
and the loyalty and en-
thusiasm and devotion of a mul
titude of William Allen Whites thu
things which sensible, far-seeinf
wanted got themselve
The progressive i
no dreamer alone, but doer, too
And if he has the true progressive
fiber in him he is not discounted
by defeat, because he knows tina
the cause he fights for ifresistibl!
advances. His Is the joyous spiri
that White celebrates:
btI It's a short life and merry
one in reform politics; but
speaking for one who has en-
joyed the game and it Is eager
for the next FREELY carnival, L
know of no career that offers
more temptation to a young
man about to enter politics
than to join the death squad
in some exhuberant minority
and jam the fear of God down
the resisting windplpes OF a