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Show WHY WILSON IS BEING DESERTED One of the admirers of Woodrow Wilson, who spoke woll of him prior to the Democratic convention, but who is now supporting Roosevelt, explains his position, and the explanation so nearly fits the mental attitude of thousands of independent voters who have joined the Progressive movement as to be worthy of repetition. When last spring Taft's rcnomination seemed assured because of no opposition and when the Democratic race was shaping up as a brace-game with Clark, Tlarmon and Underwood combined against the New Jersey man. the independent voters saw in Wilson the most desirable candidate of all. But Baltimore put a new face on things, even as Chicago did in the other party. Wilson was not the willing nominee of a party in sympathy with his recent professions. His candidac' was' wrung by force from a reactionary convention. Then the question arose as to whether Wilson was enough better than his party to deserve the unqualified un-qualified support of Progressives. He soon answered that. The. pilgrimage to Sea Girl began, and the New Jersey governor's admirers were saddened to see him gr.c.et, not with formal courtesy' but with effusiveness, the party bosses. None got a more cordial reception than Roger Sullivan of Illinois. It was Sullivan's boss-chosen and boss-controlled delegation at Baltimore that broke the deadlock and made AVilson's nomination possible, with Murphy's help. And what was the impression made on the candidate? Shaking the hand of Sullivan at Sea Girt, Wilson said: "I cannot forget the part Illinois played." Will any candid person say that the greeting . did not fairly wan-ant Sullivan's holding the impression that Wilson thought well of him? So he greeted Taggart and Mack and Fitzgerald; Fitz-gerald; so he men Clark, whose alliance with the interests was as clear in the last campaign as the sheep's skin on the wolf of the fable not in performance of necessary amenities, but with effusive welcome. Four years ago nobody seemed more -a Progressive than AYilliam n. Taft. but he succumbed to the exigencies in which'he fell. Wilson, by his writings a reactionary but by later stump professions a convert con-vert to Progressivism, seems to be showing a Taftian disposition to trim for expediency. He has not rebuked a boss or shown his disapprobation dis-approbation of the mean attacks made by Clark, Hearst and others on Bryan. It is true he is in a hard position, but the times call for ' courage and frankness in leaders. We read in today's report on Wall Street lliat Publication of Governor "Woodrow Wilson's speech of acceptance confirming con-firming Wall street's expectations that his utterances would be conservative conserva-tive -with regard to tariff revision, control of the corporations and regulation regula-tion of the money powers of this country. Imparted new life to the stock market today. Standard issues closed in the midst of an upward movement move-ment with gains of from one to two points throughout the list. Apparently Wood row Wilson is at heart what his books would prove him to be a reactionary;. but in politics he is a puzzle. |