Evening star., 1924-09-25
Use of Word Progressive" Stirs
Comment on La Toilette Party

The proclamation of some so of the
prominent supporters of Theodore
Roosevelt in 1912, in which they ex-
press their resentment lat the at
tempt to arrogate the name of Pro
gresSive' for the movement represent
ed by the candidacy of Senator La
Toilette" is being widely discussed.
Most editors agree that the Roosevelt
and La Toilette ideals and purposes
are different yet some feel that the
Bull Moose leaders have little cause
for grievance since the Progressive
party is no longer active. and that
the term Progressive" might be in
terpreted to mean many things.
LAS to what constitutes a pro-
gressive definitions may differ" in the
opinion of the Cleveland Plain Dealer
(independent Democratic) but lit
must be clear that if progressive
were the best word to describe the
political doctrines of Theodore Roose-
welt it is not the best word to de-
scribe the policies of La Fol-
lette." 1t seems very clear to the
Birmingham News lDemocratic) that
although the La Toilette crowd have
sought to label themselves with the
name and ideals of the party which
rallied around the patriotic and de-
voted Roosevelt, the remains of that
modern crusade for ideals disavow
and repudiate the move, the leader,
the aims"
The La Toilette movement, the
Boston Transcript independent Re-
publican) insists "in so far as II is
not a public danger, is a humbuE.
though il would be hard to say which
of these factors predominate in its
composition" The old ProgreSsiveS,
the Indianapolis News independently
believes "do we'll to assure the coun-
try of their complete detachment
from the La Toilette movement, and
to declare in the name Of Roosevelt
their opposition to it,"
But what's in a name. anyway?
asks the Albany News Gndependent
Republican,, which is inclined to feel
that La Toilette can use any name he
might select because the Progressive
marty of 1912 has gone out of exist
ence, and after all La Toilette could
not call his party the radical party.
That would not do. Progressive is
good name, it has an appeal to many
But it might mean many things any
thing that it's users might wish to
interpret it to mean" The Spring
field Union (Republican) neverthe-
less hopes the action of the protest
ers will put an end to the attempts
OF LA EOllette pdilASdhS ~ PoioAS
behind the Roosevelt mask
+ r r
The Chicago Daily News Grde-
pendent) believes the signers of the
protest make out a strong case, ex-
cept on the point OF judicial power
for il recalls 'the fate of Col Roose-
velt's fatuous advocacy of the recall
of judicial decisions by the voters at
referendum elections" which pro
posal was superficial and whimsical
and 1t was quickly dropped" After
all, the Lexington Leader (Repubi-
CAM is sure "it requires no argument
to show that the La Toilette move
ment is in no sense identical with or
related to that which received its
sanction and its impetus from Theo-
dore Roosevelt" because the candi-
dacy of Mr La Toilette is personal
one, and the party. if such it can be
called, which is behind him. made up
of utterly diverse elements with no
permanent bond OF union or common
fund of ideals, but for his PERSONAL
ity would have no existence"
Tho Baltimore Sun Independently
adds further that Roosevelt and La