Omaha daily bee., 1922-04-14
Abanioned!


Island last December 10 organize new political
party. They ielt bound together by ties oi com.
mon opposition 10 conditions which they deemed
evil and oppressive. conditions which they
though, nmiea to the political. social and eco
romie welfare OF the mass OF the people. They
declared the necessity OF remedying these eond-
tons through a new political organization be-
cause they believed the existing parties lacking
in foresight, in wisdom or in willingness TO solve
the problem.
There third party" was born and by these
men chris,ened the progressive party. There
its platform was built, with definite program
OF reform.
The platform OF the new party outlined GER
tain evils and proposed certain definite remedies.
Il advocated government ownership and opera
ton OF all means Of communication 1t favored
a nationwide presidential primary. the recall OF
national officials the application Of the initiative
and referendum to national legislation, including
declarations OF war. 1t approved the state own
crship and operation OF water power projects, the
limitation OF rentals, the extension OF the CO.
operative movement and in case that should not
be effective to check alleged prohteering, the
competition of the state in industry. Further. It
recommended the issuance of currency by the
government direct instead Of by the federal re-
serve bank
That was the program of the progressive
party That was what its members believed to
be necessary to combat the evils which they
thought oppressive That is what they proposed
to do and what they directed their officers to
promote. That is what they expected their can
didates to stand for
The third party has never rcconsdered this
program it still stands as the will Of the party.
But, in the light OF recent events at Lincoln and
elsewhere, members Of the party may we'll ask
themselves if indeed it does not also stand still
very still.
The leaders of this party have arranged
fusion with democrats. Its candidate for gov
crnor has transferred his aspirations to the
United States senate, avowedy to make room
for the candidacy of Mr.. Norton. Mr.. Norton
accepts candidacy not in the progressive but
in the democratic party and publishes state
nent of his own personal platform in which he
makes not even a mention of the progressive
party and subscrbes to no essential part OF its
Grand Island platform. In this, both Mr., Nor
ton and Mr.. Wray, now the candidate for the
senate. have the support, in fact acceded to the
expressed wish, Of Mr. Edmisten, the chairman
OF the third party 4
Mr. Charles w. Bryan says Of this maneuver:
1T takes the third party out Of Nebraska politics
as factor this year." Mr.. w. J. Taylor OF
Merna a valiant battlcr for reform during many
campaigns, writes the chairman Of the third
party: "No set Of brigands ever scuttled fairer
til L a1ALs s.~Sar LA
adds: "My language seems intcmperate, but
these are terrible times for us farmers and the
laboring men; our confidence in this new party
and our trusting to you was as deep as our dis
tress."
That is the situation in which the third party
finds itself. 1t is a tragedy. 1t is a tragedy
more poignant than any drama because it is
tragedy OF real life, affecting the hopes OF men
and women who feel that their very livelihood
and happiness from day to day depends upon
the program of this party which now is forsaken
by those to whom they looked for guidance.
Their votes are still wanted by the leaders and
candidates; the principles of their platform are
iorsaken and forgotten. Their Moses has led
them into wilderness and to path which leads
only to support Of the very men and the very
machine which they organized to oppose.
At no time has The Bee approved the full pro-.
gram OF the progressive party; however much it
was impressed by the sincerity of those who
drafted it or however much it sympathzed with
their belief that certain conditions should be
changed It recognized in the rank and file Of
the new party men and women conscientiousy
striving for their own and the states improve
mcnt, whose zeal and independence were inspir
ing, who deserved fairer consideration than to
be abandoned in midstream.
The Force of Heredity.