Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 October 1916 — PROGRESSIVES TO SOPPORT WILSON [ARTICLE]

PROGRESSIVES TO SOPPORT WILSON

Speaker Says He is Entitled to Re-election TALKS TO ALL PROGRESSIVES Says That Wilson has Enacted the Entire Progressive Platform Into Good and Beneficial Laws. Hon. John F. Geckler of Indianapolis, who was the Progressive candidate for state senator from Marion county in 1912, spoke in this city Monday night to an audience that filled the main floor and part of the balcony of the Ellis opera house. k Mr. Geckler has been suffering with a bronchial affliction and spoke under great difficulties, yet he made clear his stand for the re-election of Woodrow Wilson to the Presidency from a Progressive standpoint. Mr. Geckler still believes in the principles of the Progressive party, but says that the need of that party continuing has vanished since the present administration has enacted into law all of the essential planks of the Progressive platform. A few of these measures for which the Progressives stood and which he discussed were the good roads legislation, workmen’s compensation act, child labor law, new currency bill, rural credits bill, seamen’s bill and the new tariff schedule. He declared that each of these measures were in line with what the Progressives advocated and that they should therefore support Woodrow Wilson for re-elec-tion. Mr. Geckler stated that Mr. Hughes’ declaration at Indianapolis wherein he said he was proud of the fact that he had always been a Republican, proud of that party’s old record and its old ideals, placed him exactly where William Howard Taft stood four years ago, and that Progressives could not and would not support him; that every Progressive vote he received, he would receive under false pretenses. Mr. Geckler, in reviewing the Mexican situation, read a stiitement made by Charles W. Fairbanks some two years ago, which we print in full on another page, and added that Mr. Fairbanks spoke at that time as an American and from the depths of his heart, and had he not since become a candidate would speak the same today. Mr. Geckler spoke last night at Wheatfield and tonight will speak at Remington. The Democratic band rendered several pleasing selections Monday night and will also appear at Wheatfield and Remington. •