Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 August 1912 — BEVERIDGE CUTS OLD PARTY TIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BEVERIDGE CUTS OLD PARTY TIES

declares, in letter to w. h. DYE, THAT TRUE PROGRESSIVES MUST OPPOSE REACTIONARIES. g 1 . _ -r'** SOUNDS CALL TO ARMS AGAINST INDIANA BOSSES Former Senator Believes New Organization Will Remove Evil of Sectionalism.

Indianapolis, Ind. —Former Senator Albert J. Beveridge, in a letter to William Holton Dye, formally announced severance of his relations with the regular Republican organization and allied himself with the Progressive party. Mr. Beveridge, who wrote the letter from Seal Harbor, Me., declares that during his entire public career he fought for the welfare of the people and that the present crisis demands that all voters who believe in a program of progressive legislation for the benefit of thq people must do likewise. His letter, in which he discusses many phases of the present situation, follows: William Holton Dye, Esq., India'napolis, Ind.: • “My Dear Mr. Dye—This answer to you must serve as an answer to others who have written me from many other states as well as from Indiana. Roosevelt Not Changed. “As to Mr. Roosevelt: Those who supported him before the Chicago convention have all the reasons for sup-

porting him now that they had then, plus the frauds perpetrated against the people at that convention, by which Mr. Roosevelt's nomination was prevented. Mr. Roosevelt has not changed; he is the same man,- with the same record, standing for the same ideals and policies as before. “As to Mr. Taft: Those who opposed him before the Chicago convention have all the reasons for opposing him now that they had then, plus the frauds perpetrated against the people at that convention, by which Mr. Taft’s ‘nomination’ was accomplished. Mr. Taft has not changed; he is the same man now that he was then, with the same record, standing for the same things and backed by the same men and influences as before.

“The argument of party regularity would weigh with party men in Mr. Taft 8 favor if he had been fairly nominated by a lawful majority of delegates honestly chosen. But he was not 80 nominated. Therefore, party regularity can not be invoked in his favor. More Important Factor. “But the question before the country is far more important than the career of any man. We ought to have two political parties in America, through which men who believe alike can vote together and be sure of having their votes express their real opinions. So there should be a genuinely liberal or progressive party and a genuinely conservative or reactionary party.

“But, at present, we have two parties, neither of which is wholly liberal or progressive on the one hand, nor yet wholly conservative or reactionary on the other hand. So there is a large membership of each party which believes in liberal or progressive policies and also a large membership of each party which believes in conservative or reactionary policies. Yet reactionary Democrats and progressive Democrats are asked by Democratic politicians to vote the Democratic ticket notwithstanding the utter antagonism of their views; and likewise, reactionary and progressive Republicans are asked, by Republican politicians to vote the Republican ticket notwithstanding the utter antagonism of -their views. Apparent in Congress. “This illogical condition is seen even in Congress. Democratic and Republican senators who think alike on great national policies that affect the whole nation find it difficult to vote alike because of the differences of their nominal party membership. This prevents thfe people’s representatives who believe in the same policies from working those policies out into logical, comprehensive laws; permits such special interests as wish to profit at the expense of the public Welfare to get what they want more easily; fosters the party boss system through which these

. - - Interests work —a system unknown and impossible under any other free government in the world. “This boss system is now fastened on both old parties. Notorious bosses are in the'saddle in both Democratic and Republican parties in various important states. ’ Indeed, this Black Horse cavalry is the most effective arm of the Republican and Democratic forces in the practical work of the present campaign. Of course such jpen do not work for the people’s welfare. They do not work even for the welfare of their respective parties. They work only for the nonpublic powers behind them. The boss system is bipartisan and, in its very nature, hostile to the people. Requires United Action.

“The present crisis, then, requires that all progressives of all parties shall act together through ah organization of their own, with a plainly stated progressive program and at open war with the evil partisan boss system. Ultimately, and soon, this will force all reactionaries to act in the same way through a separate organization of their own, with a plainly stated reactionary program. Thus, all of us who, as a matter of conviction, believe in progressive principles can act together; all of us who, as a matter of conviction, believe in reactionary principles can act together; and the boss system will be unnecessary to either. “Another reason is even more weighty. The nation is divided politically into two geographical sections. This is wrong, illogical and dangerous. Yet, so long as the two old parties remain as they are now* this sectional division will continue. The real problems which the American people face are national and economic. They concern the living of the people and a more just distribution of our common prosperity; They have to do with the more direct control of the people’s government by the people themselves. And so these problems appeal to men and women of all sections in the same way. Yet political sectionalism prevents them from voting as they think on thesq national questions.

Serious Problem in South.

“The South has as earnest Progressives and as determined reactionaries as any other section of the country. Yet, for well-known reasons, practically all of them feel that they must vote, not fpr the Democratic party, but against the Republican party. Everybody knows that this serious condition can not be changed by the two old parties. Thus, not only is our nation geographically divided by this hurtful partisan condition, but the nation does not get, in its fullness and freedom, the best thought of the brilliant and constructive minds of the South in solving our national problems. “Only a truly national, nonsectional party, which will permit Americans of all sections who believe in the same things to act and vote together, will dissolve this wicked and dangerous sectionalism, and thus unite the nation in very truth. This great end is alone worth the utmost effort of every patriotic man and woman in the whole republic.

“So far as Indiana is concerned, it is plain that our state should destroy the two ,party machines which rule both old parties. If the Progressive movement in Indiana does no more than end this evil' condition in our state it will have proved the greatest blessing to our commonwealth within a generation. If, in addition, we Progressives in Indiana shall aid the national Progressive movement to destroy sectionalism and make a frankly liberal or Progressive party and a frankly conservative or reactionary party, we shall have helped do a greater thing for the republic than has been done since Lincoln’s time. Points to Precedents.

“In doing this, we shall be acting in the same spirit that inspired Jefferson to found a new party to meet the needs of his time and Lincoln to found a new party to meet the needs of his time. Abraham Lincoln was a Whig; but he Vas more an American than he was a Whig; more a patriot than a partisan. That is the test which searches out the heart of every man today. Do we think more of the nation’s welfare or more of a party name? Is the mere habit of voting an inherited partisanship as important as the duty of voting our present convictions?

“During my public life in the Senate I fought for those things which I believed right and good for the whole people. This often required me to battle with powerful men and interests within my own party, aided by equally powerful men and the same interests in the Democratic party. This was because neither party had a sincere legislative program, distinct from the other party; and thus evil interests, Operating through the boss system of both parties, w’ere able to mutilate or defeat needed and righteous laws and even to enact bad and unjust law’s. Appeals for Unity. , “In the spirit, then, of Jefferson and Lincoln, let all Progressives stand together that Progressive policies may be carried out in good faith; that the present illogical and insincere party alignment may be broken up; that the hurtful boss system may be overthrown, and that sectionalism may be ended forever in this republic. “Yours very truly, “Albert J. Beveridge.” Seal Harbor, Me.

Edwin M. Lee, state chairman of the Progressive party, expressed his pleasure after reading the letter. “I am very much pleased that Mr. Beveridge has seen fit, after weeks of careful thought, to ally himself with the Progressive movement,” he said. “Mr. Beveridge’s decision was reached after cautious consideration and deliberation. His position is consistent with his past record of service to the whole people and will mesn much to the Progressive party movement not only in Indiana but the entire naProgressive leaders "were elated over Mr. Beveridge’s announcement and declared that it will prove of material assistance to the success of the movement.

ALBERT J. BEVERIDGE.