The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-04-15
FUTURE.

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RoosEvELT's FUTURE.
Minneapolis Journal: It appears
that there is being formed in Wash
} ingtons a sort of local opinion that is
adverse to- President Roosevelt. Wash
lngton is a town of oflceholders and
their families, and any president who
does not run things in accordance with
the rigid notion of the of1ce-holding
caste is likely to find himself in poor
repute in Washington. It is the only
city in the country where yofice-hold-
ing opinion is public opinion, and
where public questions are viewed in
the light of the eternal fitness of
things as it shines upon the man. who
esteems himself possessed Of a divine
right to office.
1t is therefore good for the presi-
dent to have men like State Auditor
Dunn call en- him and assure him that
he is strong with the people and that
Washington opinion is no more Ameri-
can national opinion that Bismarck
opinion is North Dakota opinion. In
formation of this kind will strengthen
him in his purpose to do right at all
times without too much consideration
of %vitiating political expediency.
Aside from Washington opinion the
president may be deceived to his great
injury by the attitude of the leading
politicians towards him. He is dis
tinctly not the man the political lead
er likes. Not only is he too much Of
a leader himself, but he probably takes
less satisfaction in political maneuver-
ing than any other president. He is
too fond of direct methods to cooper
ate with men to whom the very es-
sence of life is shrewd scheming.
Moreover there is very little in the
president for politicians. He is too
independent. He can't be reckoned as
a certain quantity in setting up the
patronage pins.
Yet it would not be strange that
with use the attractions of the presi-
dency should grow on him. It has
been asserted that the president keen
ly enjoys being president and that he
takes a solid satisfaction in despatch
ing business and welding the impress
sive powers the constitution and the
statutes confer upon the office. In
Us the desire for a second
form urnUc J1r0n -hiro ho L@ |
tempted to recede from his superb
independence and concede something
to the leading politicians, fearing that
it may after all be in their power to
defeat him.
Right here again is where the pres
ident needs a direct line of communi-
with the people. They are en-
phatically for him. They are so firm
ly convinced that he is a thoroughly
sincere president with the highest
of the duties of his high office
and thoroughly imbued with true pa
triotism, that they will accept with
out great displeasure many Individual
acts of which they do not approve.
If he only understands how strong
he is with the people the president
can go right on as he has been going
without the least concern as to a Sec
term. If he keeps up the high
grade sort Of public service he has
been giving us not all the politicians
N the world can beat him. The peo-
pie themselves will turn politicians
.or the nOnce for the satisfaction of
the professionals if they find
hat the latter are against the presi-
lent.
At Philadelphia Governor Roosevelt
vas nominated for the vice presidency
because the delegates-the rank and
ile-were bound to have him, regard
ess of the party's sages and leaders.
President Roosevelt can even more
easily have the republican nomina-
ion in 1904 if he just keeps on doing
what his conscience and his judgment
approve as right.
PERILS OF INSPECTION.
Chicago News: Investigators of
hot oI1opod Dr;+;ch 49, w.,