, 1924-10-15

Will not De a really good place for
any of us to live in If it is not n
reasonably good place for all of us
to live in" 1t never woke in his
mind a deeper, surer vision than in
his long and effective struggle
against the menace of social, econ
omic and industrial cleavage"
During recent months multitudes
or Americans we are sure, have
felt as eve before the loss of
Theodore R~oosevelt's comradesnio
and counsel; have wished as never
before that the problems confront
ing the nation might be Illuminated
by his shrewd common sense anu HIS
patriotic vision. Yet ian any,,rn ac-
quainted with his life and character
doubt what his attitude IN the main
issues of the hour would be?
Certainly it needs no argument to
show hat if he were living today
not even Senator LaFolletta would
have had the hardihood to purloin
the title of Progressive for his ant
Progressive movement. It there any
more doubt that if Roosevelt could
UNI oPtoh " Ilo SOtHtIN nl%Il
today, his first act would be to ex-
press with characteristic vigor his
detestation of the misuse of the
title?
He would be SC reused by the de-
ception, we imagine, that he would
make it the theme of one of his
great speeches. This message he
would address, we think, especially
to the middle west-prohably at a
meeting in the Coliseum at Chi"Ggo;
it would be like him to irdict the
fraud upon Progressive from the
platform where he received The Pro
gressive nomination and took fp the
fight against the reactionary
ticket which LaFollette then sup
ported. In addition to the 10000
persons who would storm tha build
have a radio audience of millions.
and the readers of the published ad-
dress next day would comprise rir-
tually the entire literata population
of the United States. And thereafter
there would not be in this land a
Progressive who could vote for La
Toilette without being aware that
by so doing he would betray the
Progressive cause and dishonor its
leader.
In such a speech, we confidently
assume. Roosevelt would never fall
into the error of relying upon the
weapons of abuse or ridicule. He
would recognize the ability and cour-
age of Senator LaFollette. and would
treat him with the respect due to a
resourceful and formidable oppon-
ent. He would perceive in the Wis
consin radical qualities which make
him dangerously effective as leader
of a movement aiming to arouse
class prejudice and antagonism-
qualities of personal entegrity, tire
less industry, unusually wide know
ledge of economic facts and skill
in utilizing them to promote his
own views.
Roosevelt would find in LaFoi-
lette's career much to commend, in
Guiding support of many MEASURE
approved by Progressives. But he
would recall how the senator had
opposed and denounced the Progress
sive movement and allied himself
with its reactionary enemies. He
would show how the Wisconsin, lead
er became more and more radical
until, at 81 years of age. in order
TO satisfy a lifelong ambition to be
come a candidate for the presidency.
ne had made an open alliance with
h Socialists and other groups of
radicals and revolutionists.
In analyzing tine LaFollette pur-
pose. Roosevelt would not fail to
quote the tributes to the candidate
uttered by the Socialist leaders, Vic
tor Berger and Morris Hillquit and
Eugene Debs. He would show that
the third party campaign is not n
progressive movement, nor a La
Toilette movement, nor a farmer
movement, nor a labor
but essentially a revolutionary, anti
American, anti-democratic move
ment, dominated by Socialists and
others whose aim is the incitement
of class war. And he would show
Moreover, that it is a movement
which in the curse of nature can
not long be directed by Senator
LaFollette; that his candidacy and
prestige are merely Observation-Disclosures
used to mobilize forces which in the
future' will be commanded by en-
emies of the existing social order
and American institutions. Then
he would take up the I.aFollette
platform and show thats the sound
measures it advocates mask Social
istic and other radical schemes,
the ultimate aim of which is to dis
place democratic, representative gov
eminent, and set up class rule.
Although Theodore Roosevelt is
no lnnnar hnrn tharo u ro...L4