Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 September 1914 — Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 [ADVERTISEMENT]

PROGRESSIVE PARTY COLUMN. All matter appearing under this head Is paid for at advertising rates, and The Democrat assumes no responsibility therefor.

Convicted Themselves. Republican workers are convicted out of their own mouths of the fallacy of any statement that the republicans will poll as many votes this year as they did two years ago in Indiana. This argument of the third party leaders is based upon the assumption that with Theodore Roosevelt cut of the race this year there may be a slight breaking of Progressive linen in Indiana. But the totals of the Indiana election two years ago show that Albert J. Beveridge was 4,000 votes stronger in the state than Mr. Roosevelt. It must be granted, and it is granted even by the most stubborn reactionaries, that Mr. Beveridge is stronger in the state this year than he has ever been before.. He will be stronger as a candidate for t'nited States senator than he was for office to which he aspired two years ago—because the people are acquainted with his eminent service as senator and recognize his fitness for the office, as demonstrated by the signal achievements of his twelve years of official work at Washington. He always has had a large independent following because of his own independence and his adherence to what he believed to be right and proper and in the interest of government by all the people. That independent following is larger this year than it ever was. In addition to his own standing in the state, Mr. Beveridge is stronger by comparison with his present opponents than he w*as two years ago against his oppopents of that time. It is demonstrated, for example, by tbe political drift in Indiana in the last year that as an opposing candidate Benjamin F. Shively, the democratic nominee to succeed himself, is considerably weaker than Governor Ralston was two years ago. in the first place the operation of the Democratic machine in Indiana, with its fiascos in the last legislature. its subservience to a few bosses, its Donn Roberts sub-machine and the overshadowing influence of the Taggart-Fairbanks element, has made the Democratic party thousands of opponents within its own party ranks. In 1912 the Democratic party of