The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-09-28
RUSH FOR BAND WAGON
The East All Swinging Into Line
for "Teddy."
OTHER CANDIDATES ELIMINATED
look Seems Bright for the
Republicans.


events OF the last three weeks have set TO
rest much of the speculation concerning
the next presidential campaign which
would otherwise have furnished standing
topic for discussion for the next three
years. These events have seemingly made
the political future much clearer than be-
fore. for although It looked three weeks
ago as If Roosevelt would be the republi-
can nominee in 1904, and has looked so,
in fact, ever since the Philadelphia con-
vention, the expectation has now nearly
approached a certainty. Barring some
extraordinary mistake, which few persons
expect, the nomination in 1904 will go to
Roosevelt without opposition. His
strength lies in so many quarters as to
make his position unassailable.
The west, the south, and the east, will
in a peculiar sense be his, barring the
unexpected. His popularity in the west
has long been notable 1t was conspicuous
at the Philadelphia convention, and dur
ing the campaign which followed his ap-
pearance on the stump through the Mis-
Gnbounded enthusiasm, and no doubt re-
suited in bringing a great many votes to
the republican ticket. Gov. Merriam Of
Minnesota, now director of the census, re-
marked to friends several weeks ago on
his return from home visit that the peo-
pie of the northwest were everywhere
committed to Roosevelt for 1904, and this
has been the prevalent testimony Ilh-
nois is a great Roosevelt state. The evil
dent desire of Governor Yates to attach
his vice-presidential candidacy to the
Roosevelt star is proof of prevailing SEN
timent as he viewed it. The rural press
of the upper Mississippi valley has long
shown the same tendency. Now, Roose-
velt's actual induction into the presiden-
tial Office, barring the possibility of Sc
rious mistakes, will not lessen this hold
upon the west 1t practically eliminates
Spooner, Shaw, Fairbanks and Hanna.
The south, which furnishes nearly one
third OF the delegates to a convention,
has been from time immemorial with the
wing Of the party in control at the White
House, and no exception is likely to arise
this time. Particularly is this true in
view of Mr.. Hanna's extraordinary per-
sonal hold on the southern politicians,
independent of political favors actual or
expected Mr.. Hanna would not now care
to use his strength in the south to antag-
onize Mr.. Roosevelt for a denomination,
even If he were now able to overpower
him there, which is improbable. The
way the new president has started in as
trustee Of the Mckinley policy and Nc
Kinley influences has made Mr.. Hanna
one of his most devoted supporters and
the comprehensive administration for the
benefit of the whole party and country
which Roosevelt has started out to give,
will bring to him without question the
Hanna influence south and north. And
1t was the possibility of throwing this in
huence against him in some sort of COM
bination that alone threatened Mr.. Roose-
velt's candidacy in 1904.
With the west and the south settled,
there would be no need of the east, Mr..
RooseVelt's own section. But unless all
signs fail that section is moving his way
very strongly. Governor Odell was the
only other eastern candidate and his hold
of the people outside of New York was
very small compared with that of Roose-
Yelt He has already withdrawn. He early
took occasion to notify the new president
OF his purposes. There are now no great
schisms in New York republican politics
as in Arthur's day, and with Odell out of
the race, its vote will naturally fall on
Roosevelt's lap. New England has al
ways been friendly to him. His Harvard
college associations count for something
there.
1t thus appears as if Roosevelt would
be nominated by acclamation in 1904
Whatever happens between now and that
time, it is well to note that his presi-
dency opens with this apparent prospect
To be sure, much may happen in the re-
naming three years but political specu-
lation concerns itself with probabilities
rather than remote possibilities. The
new president finds his party in splendid
shape, without factions or divisions. and
strongly intrenched at both ends of the
capitol. 1t could never have made. in
taking account of stock, a better showing
than to-day.
With the election that is to follow the
conventions of 1904 the present outlook is
almost as bright. The democratic party
has not as yet discovered an issue upon
which It's leaders can agree and as for
candidates, the discussion of almost year
mas reNealed no man or real strength. The
talk of Washington" continues to be of
such worn out leaders as Hill of New
York and German of Maryland, neither of
whom has ever stood for anything that
was winsome to the independent voter or
which made any appeal to the sentimental
enthusiasm of the country. The time has
passed when any opposition party can get
into power on mere negative issues 1t
must have some earnest affirmative ap-
peal to which the public is compelled to
listen before it can overthrow a compact
and we'll established organization
The revision of the electoral college as
a result Of the last census contributes to
this requirement. Illinois has become al
most democratic necessity, with the new
alignment of political issues. Connecti-
cut, formerly a democratic reliance, has
as result of Organism gone so far over
into the republican column that it can
hardly be rated as more than a doubtful
state. The tendency is only less true of
New Jersey, and even New York. Mary
land and the border states which were
formerly regarded democratic must be
now rated as only doubtful In brief. it
would take an appealing issue and
rousing candidate in 1904 to shake the re-
publican party in its entrenched position.
unless all signs fail. Such an issue and
candidate have not yet appeared To be
sure, they may come but it takes some
time to build up opinion in a country as