Progressive Party

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

an American political party that figured very largely during the presidential election of 1912. The origin of the party came from the group of Progressive Republican senators and congressmen who opposed President Taft's attitude toward the tariff and the conservation of natural resources, regarding his position as too conservative and reactionary. In the pre-convention primaries of 1912 this group of Republicans persuaded ex- President Roosevelt osevelt to become their leader and to again become a candidate for the Republican nomination. Due largely to the forceful personality of Roosevelt and his vigorous campaigning he was able to win sweeping victories in every state where presidential preference primaries were held and came to the Republican convention with nearly half of that body pledged to his nomination. The conservative leaders of the party by the use of the national committee decided all of the contested delegations from the south in President Taft's favor, and thus were able by a narrow margin, to control the convention and re-nominate the President. Roosevelt and his fellow progressives denounced the action of the leaders as fraud and decided to form a third party which should embody in its platform their principles and nominate their leader. Accordingly in August, 1912, the Progressive party was formed at a convention held in Chicago and Roosevelt was named for President, and Governor Hiram Johnson of California, for Vice- President. The platform contained the creed of the Progressives. It declared in favor of the direct election of Senators, presidental preference primaries, the initiative and referendum, maximum safety and health standards for laborers, prohibition of child labor and night work for women, minimum wage standards for women, woman suffrage suf, and the recall of judicial decisions. judicial decisions. The convention of the party was characterized by a high note of idealism and an almost religious fervor. Although not expected to be much of a factor in the race, the popularity and personality of their candidate and their excellent organization made them formidable competitors. The Progressives expected to draw many votes from the Democratic as well as the Republican party, but the nomination of Governor Wilson, himself regarded as a progressive by the Democrats, largely confined the Progressives to dissatisfied Republicans and moderate Socialists. During the excitement of the campaign, an attempt was made to assassinate Roosevelt. Although he ultimately recovered in time to close the campaign, it took him out of the race at a critical time. The result of the election was that although the Democrats won the election by an overwhelming vote in the electoral college, the Progressives polled a larger popular and electoral vote than the Republicans. After 1912, the enthusiasm for the new party steadily waned, President Wilson's policies uniting the Progressives and Republicans in opposition. In 1916 the conventions of the two parties were both held in Chicago at the same time, and the Progressives, under the leadership of Roosevelt, decided to support the Republican candidate, Justice Hughes. Although quite a few Progressives were dissatisfied with this merger, they were not numerous or influential enough to carry forward the new party.