The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-07-05
Says Neither the Republican
Nor Democratic Parties
..- Can Be Trusted
SENDS OUT MESSAGE
Declares that Platform Of
Both Parties Unacceptable
to PrOgressives

Tor progressive poIltical dctio', ue-
clared in part:
"In the most momentOus crisis
which has confronted the nation in
our time, you have called upon me to
accept the leadership in national
political campaign to wrest the Am
erican government from the preda-
tory interests which now control it,
and to restore it to the people.
9" realize this summons comes to
me in no sense as mere personal
tribute The American people are
thoroughly awake to the real issue
with which they must deal, and re-
cognize the failure of the two domi-
nant parties to meet them.
"They know that the principles in
than any individual or any political
party. 1t is only insofar as my rub
lie record squares with those princi-
ples and meets those issues that
can be of any substantial service in
the progressive movement.
81 conceive it to be the first duty
candidate to state plainly and specl-
fically to the American people the
terms upon which their suffrage is
invited. The Republicans and Demo
cratic parties have failed in this obli-
CATION. The progre ssives must zeal
honestly and openly with the people.
'After long experience in public
life and painstaking consideration of
the present state of public affairs, l
am convinced that the time has come
for a militant political movement. in
dependent of the two old party or
carnations, and responsive to the
needs and sentiment Of the common
people.
II should be unwilling to partici
pate in any political campaign at
this time which would imperil the
steady advance Of the progrc ssive
movement or diminish the number of
true progressives, nominally elected
as Republicans and Democrats, who
are now serving the public in the
house, the senate and in many OF the
state governments, The ground al
ready won must not be abandoned.
We must consolidate our present
gains and press forward, without
compromise or surrender.
1.-THE necessity for an independent
progressive movement lies in the
failure of the two old parties to
purge themselves of the influences
which have caused their administra-
tions repeatedly to betray the Amer
lean people.
"The rank and file of the member
ship Of both old parties is progress
sive. But through vicious and un-
democratic convention system and
under the evil influences which have
been permitted to thrive at Washing
ton, both party organizations have
fallen under the domination and con
troll of corrupt wealth, devOting tho
powers of government exclusively t.
selfish special interests.
IAN analysis of the platform:
adopted by the two old pa:ties vii
show that the real issues have beef
ignored and that the candidate o
either party, if elected, will go int
b. office with no specific pledges what
soever binding him to the people
while he will be under the most i'm
mediate necessity and obligation O
serving the party bosses and plcda
tory interests to whom he owes hi
nomination and upon whom he mus
rely for election.
"The Republican convention a
Cleveland scornfully rejected the onl
progressive platform offered 70
adoption and nominated a candidat
who is the frank defender Of tn
present system Of government in tn
interests of organized wealth.
"The Democratic convention wa
forced, out of consideration OF poll
teal expediency, and through the et
forts of sincere progressives with
the party, to take less openly reae
tionary ground, but the platforI
adopted at New York does not NEE
the demands of the progressive mi
lions of the nation. The fact tn:
the resolutions committee at tn;
convention, controlled by proven r
dictionaries and trusted agents I
organized wealth, accepted the pla
form declarations on domestic issue
without a dissenting vote on an
plank, is sufficient testimony to Il
character of the Democratic platfor
as an evasive and dishonest 0oc,
ment.
but even if both Republican ar
Democratic conventions had adoptt
thorough going progressive pla
forms, the American people hay
learned that neither party can
trusted to keep its promises. Pot
parties within the last quarter Of
century have regarded their pla
forms, as they regard them tcda
not as contract with the Peep
and program of action, but as d
vices to catch votes and to ga
POLITICAL office, with all its oppo
tunities for personal aggrandizen.e1
and private profit for those who n
willing to betray public trust.
ITO break the combined power
the private monopoly system over Il
political and economic life Of Il
American people is the one par
mount issue Of the 1924 campaign
"If the progressives will but uni
With single purpose to meet tn
issue fearlessly and squarely tn
may rely with entire confidence up
the support Of the plain people vi
are the victims Of the present sy
tenn and who hays the right and q
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