Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-07-04
The Trend Of Partyism.

1t seems that Roosevelt is an
avowed candidate for nomination for
the Presidency in 1904 He delights,
it is said, in talking Of his chances,
aud seems intent upon spreading his
sails 30 "A. to catch the benefit Of all
fayOring gales. He was not that way
Il while ago; or, rather. he was not so
guarded in his conduct. 1t seems he
ran up against one or two decidedly
cold currents of popular opinion, and
they have served to arrest the strenu.
osity OF even the hot head he has
shown himself to possess.
The trusts have never favored Roose.
welt for President. 1t was the tarthest
thing from their thoughts that cir
cumstances might place him in the
Presidential chair when he was, they
fondly imagined, placed on the shelf
by his election to the Vice Presidency.
lie realizes the frigidity of their ma
ture towards his ambition, and i. too
positive a man not to return dislike
with interest. He does not favor the
trusts. but it is not so much from
principle, as that the trusts do not and
never have, favored him. They have
not taken any stock in his political
ambition, solely for the reason that
they ran too much risk in doing so.
He is not safe man for any syndicate
to tie up to, or combine to bank upon
not from excess of mental power, but
an excess OF positive individuality, ex.
pressed by the word that has become
so inseparably connected with his
methods" strenuosity." Though he
may be right on any given proposition
to-day, there is no knowing where he
may stand tomorrow. and when he
takes a notion to change position,
there is no power, unless it be brute
force, that can stop him. Reason will
not do it and he is the farthest one off
from all that partakes of cajolery.
The dawning fact that Mr.. Roose.
welt will bring all the patronage of his
high Office to bear, two years hence, to
be his own successor, has created con.
sternation, and brought about some
material charges in party trends. A
reelection of the man in the saddle
would be to enable him to give free
rein to his impetuous methods. So
that eminently safe and reliable old
fossil - Grover Cleveland lis taken
down from its honored niche in his.
tory, carefully busted and placed upon
one of the squares OF the political
checkerboard, ready to move towards
the king-row, where his usefulness
stands chance OF being doubled.
The "plutocrats"-as the Pops
call them-cars very little through
which party they operate, so that il
it possesses enough conservatism" to
keep it steadily anchored to the money
bags OF Wall street; but for the same
reason that they will not trust Roose.
welt, they have no use for Socialists,
Dowieites or Pops. It was a belief
that the Democracy had drifted from
its moorings, which made it possible
for Hanna to try many millions of
4" fat" out of corporations to beat the
issue Of bimetalism; not because it
was undesirable, as a monetary princi.
pie, but that the party could not be
depended upon - . stable aid to CAPT.
tai in yielding the possibly unusual
and unexpected demands that might
be made upon it. In Mckinley the
wealth absorbers had . safe ally; in
Cleveland they would have just a. re-
liable an aid. In Teddy and the con.
tentious factions they can see nothing
but trouble ahead.
That was what made the Tilden
Club banquet 90 off with popping oil
champagne. followed by bravado and
bluster. The "Stuffed Prophet" ID
wiser, however, than the Broncho.
Buster" in not announcing a cam.
paign two years short Of the goal.
Cleveland would rather be limned a. q
dark horse than parade,l Is the spec.
trail white horse OF forlorn hope that
may be so impetuous ~ to trot out
their animal so prematurely that be.
fore he can be Of any use he will b
spavin-jointed.
Tpv,cr Er~rrm