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Show THE CHICAGO ROBBERY. That the independent papers of the country fully understand what took place at the Chicago convention is made evident by the following fol-lowing from "Successful Farming," one of the big agricultural papers: pa-pers: It all camo about because an ambitious fighter bad raised a Question of morals In political circles. For a generation politicians had played tho gamo Just as they played it this timo In the Chicago convention. But everyone Beems to have taken It for granted that all is fair in love and politics, and no defeated candidate had ever raised a row over the stealing steal-ing of a nomination until Mr. RooBevelt got into the gamo and crlod thlof at the "steam roller" engineers of tho national Republican conention in June. He right then and there started a political revolution. It Is not our purpose to state our views on tho motive or the merits of Col Roosovelt, but to state the case as It stands and let the voters do somo thinking fron now until November. Tho Republican convention was a farce. The delegates might as well have stayed at home so far as their halng any part in the nomination. The whole matter was settled by the national committee, and the program was pulled off JUBt as that committee had previously arranged. There wor ninety delegates Bitting In the convention, who, according to Col. Roosevelt and his friends, had no right to seats. These contested contest-ed delegates were Judge and jury on their own coses. They voted on the Question "Shall these delegates take part in tho preliminary proceedings proceed-ings of the convention'" They votod Yes. And they the ninety contested con-tested delegates voted for the committee of credentials that was to review re-view their cases to see If tho national committee had been Just, These black sheep of tho convention picked a committee favorable to themselves them-selves and thus retained their seats These ninety then voted to accept the report of the credentials committee that was favorable to them. They voted down tho minority report which was adverse to them. The "steam rollor" engineered Big Business and the Taft crowd has Ignored the just demands of Col. Roosevelt and friends that the6o ninety contested delegates should not vote until tho convention had passed on their cases. For this moral reason thero was a political revolution started with Col. Roosevelt leading. The Roosevelt delegates sat through the convention but took no part in it by voto. The name of Col Roosevelt, the choice of tho Republican state that Bent tho delegates to this great , convention, was not presented. And be it to the everlasting credit of Senator A. B. Cnmmins of Iowa, his name was not presented either, simply sim-ply bocause thene ninety contested delegates had a part In the convention. Col. Roosevelt and Senator Cummins felt that a nomination at the hands of a tainted delegation would be empty honors after tho fight they had been making for honesty in politics. I But it Isn't a question of party. Any party will become boss-ridden if tho people will stand for it. Tho same "steam roller" that operated In Chicago was loaned to the Domocrats the next week in the national convention. con-vention. But W. J. Bryan had oat In the Ch.cago convention as a newspaper news-paper man and had learned a few things. He went to Baltimore with a grim determination to smash tho "steam roller and he did! Though revolution is In the air, don't get excited. Tho Democrats put a progressive platform and nominees In the field. The Republican revolutionists revo-lutionists promise to do tho same tiling. The danger 16 In splitting the progressive forces wide optn and giving the victory again to Big Buslnoss and tho conservatives of "steam roller" fame. Think this matter over. Don't dpcide too soon whom you will vole for. Remember men regard-loss regard-loss of party when you want to see progress In national affairs. This suroly is a trying timo for politicians and office holders. They "must line up one way or another aoon and face the consequences of their choice. You voters can afford to wait and watch. |