The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-11

"BE EAGERNESS of certain
politicians to force the vice
Il. presidential nomination on
Governor Roosevelt has a
number of explanations. One ic that
he Is very popular man. whose APP
pearance on the ticket with Mckinley
would enthuse the young men of the
United States, especially in the coun-
try west of the Mississippi river, intro
duce ginger into the campaign in
the very locality where William Jen-
nings Bryan is strongest, and thus
help 20 bring out votes for the con-
gressional. state and local Republican
candidates. Another is that it would
remove from New York state politics
a factor not wholly pleasing 20 the
large corporations, whose valuable
franchises Roosevelt insists upon tax
ing, or to the trading politicians WHO
have been accustomed TO deal In leg
!slative exemptions and special privi-
leges upon the principle that to the
victors belong the spoils. a third is
that those who have ambitions con-
sion after Mckinley which the nom
ination of Roosevelt in 1904 would not
crafty would be glad to put the vice
presidential damper on the hero of
San Juan under pretence of confer
ring great honor upon him.
Those who really admire the stren-
uous qualities and practical honcsty Of
Theodore Roosevelt do not press his
nomination for the vice presidency for
they recognize that, worthy as he is
of all the honor that the country can
give him, he is not fitted for the vice
presidency nor is the vice presidency
fitted for him. Under the conditions
which exist in our government today
and which are too secure to be over
turned by the superabundant energy
OF any individual, the office of vice
rresid lent is essentially diplomatic and
advisory. 1t calls for a high quality
of tact, finesse and the genius Of con-
ciiiation, qualities which Colonel
Roosevelt does not pretend to possess,
and il offers almost no field whatever
for the exercise of the militant, go.
ahead characteristics which are the
sum of his impetuous and determined
nature. If he were elected vice presi-
dent he would be imprisoned in an at
mosphere of inactivity and conven .
tionality as distasteful and awkward
to him as would be his strenuous life
TO the man whose temperament in
cllnes MIN to retirement and renose.
To borrow a simle more expressive
than elegant, he would be like a fish
out of water
Nor would the misplaCing of RoOsa-
welt be justinable on the score of party
necessity. There is no such necessity,
The Republican party Is rich in ma
terial fitted to the requirements of tie
vice presidential Office and not so Door
In popular confidence that it has q
employ extraordinary expedicnts tc
increase its electoral vote. As cam
didate for reelection to the governor
ship of his own great state Colonel
Roosevelt can make as effective use
of his energies during the campaign
as ii he We're on the national ticket;
and if he shall succeed i'm carrying &c
completion some of the ideas which
he has partially developed in the course
Of his gubernatorial career, the gair
Will be national in it's educa tiona
scope.
Let Roosevelt alone. He is all right
Where nc is. The square peg does moi
fit into the round hole.
Wharton Barker has at last got hi,