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THE “BEATEN PARTY”:“WE STAND UNFLINCHINGLY BY OUR PRINCIPLES”
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ROOSEVELT,THEODORE.Typed Letter Signed, with a few holograph correc-
tions, to Edwin A.Van Valkenburg (“Dear Van”), outlining his strategy for the Progressive
Party after the dismal results of the 1914 Congressional elections. 2 pages, 4to, personal sta-
tionery, written on two sheets; horizontal folds, faint edge toning, minor paper clip staining
at upper left. (TFC)
NewYork, 23 November 1914
[2,000/3,000]
“
. . . [I]f the meeting is held, all that should be done should be an announcement that we stand
unflinchingly by our principles and will never abandon them, that we stand for the entire Progressive
platform and that events during the past two years have made it clear beyond possibility of doubt that
the social and economic measures we have advocated are entirely right and that, for example, the only
possible way of satisfactorily solving the tariff and trust questions will be the methods we have outlined
and that . . . with the adoption of these methods should go the adoption of Women’s Compensation
and Child Labor laws.
“
As a matter of fact, what we now say is of very small consequence. Immediately after an election is a
poor time for the beaten party to expect to be listened to . . . . A year hence it may be that our words
will carry great weight, and then we will be pointing out what has been done . . . . I personally like
[George] Record and [Amos] Pinchot and I should treat them with all possible courtesy but I would
also frankly say that in view of their attitude we are bound to feel that all they are anxious to do is to
damage the Progressive party . . . . [Pinchot] says that we have lost by not being radical enough. As
we have lost not to the Democrats but to Penrose and Barnes, this statement is equivalent to saying
that people, because they thought we were not radical enough, turned and voted for . . . the ultra-con-
servatives and reactionaries everywhere. Such a statement is too nonsensical to discuss and we dignify
Amos Pinchot needlessly by giving the slightest heed to his antics.”
Published in
Letters of Theodore Roosevelt
, ed. Morison, vol. 7.