Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-01
SPOONER'S CANDIDACY
Supported by an Influential
Element of the Party.
OPPOSING. ROOSEVELT
PREFERRED BY THE "WALL
STREET INTERESTS.
Possible Embarrassing Effect Of the
Friendly Attitude of the President
Toward the Wisconsin Senator.

The attitude of President Roosevelt to-
ward the campaign in Wisconsin is placing
some republican leaders who do not favor
the nomination of Mr.. Roosevelt for the
presidency two years hence in an embar-
RAISING position. The efforts of Mr.. Roose-
welt have all. been toward republican har-
mony, and Senator Spooner has been bene-
flied by this influence as far as it has ex-
tended. 1t is yet to be seen to what extent
Mr.. Spooner will be materially assisted by
anything Mr.. Roosevelt has done or may do.
If he should feel that Mr. Roosevelt has
rendered him any valuable assistance in
maintaining his political power in the state
it may affect his acts to such an extent as
to upset the plans of his friends.
Regarded as Candidate.
Senator Spooner Is very high in the esti-
nation Of a very influential element in the
republican party and is being looked to by it
as a promising candidate for the republican
nomination two hence hence. This Is TIE
element of the party that does not indorse
Mr.. Roosevelt and his attitude toward in
dustrial questions. 1t includes what Is
known as the wall street interests 1t
Is made up of those business men who de-
clare that Mr.. Roosevelt is not a safe
man. and who claim to be in constant Tear
that he may commit some rash act that VIII
precipitate a panic or at least upset the
business interests of the country to such an
extent as to do harm.
1t is this element of the party that is
looking toward Mr.. Spooner with hopeful
eyes. They appreciate his great ability and
his personal popularity not only within his
own party, but with practically every one
who comes in contact with him. They say
his ability as lawyer cannot be queS-
toned, and point to the fact that his
speeches on all the great questions that
H., hafn uyhil he hn
been a member of the Senate have been
models of logical thought, and so sound on
all legal matters that they have been &C
cepted as authority on the subjects treated
To get Spooner to advocate a question has
been half the battle in many a congress
sional fight This has been true because it
is we'll known that he is slow to throw him
self into debate unless his heart is in it.
AS strong party man he is cautious about
opposing his party in Congress, and usually
manages to secure concessions that will al
low his approval of measures without max
ing an open fight in the Senate.
spooner's Independence.
But with all his inclination toward reg
ularity in party matters Mr.. Spooner Is
looked upon not only as a man of indie
pendent ideas, but as one who cannot be
influenced to advocate any measure against
his better judgment. These are all qualiii-
cations that commend him to his friends as
d
dency. They say that even if it Is known
and proclaimed everywhere that he has the
Endorsement of the trusts as the pubic
like to call Wall street interests, or of tie
business interests" as the men who form
that element like to call themselves, yet he
wifi retain the entire confidence Of the pub
lie because of the firm belief that he cannot
be used by any one whether he Is inside
or outside of'the White House.
The thing that Mr.. Spooner's friends have
feared more than anything, except the
widespread popularity of President Roose-
welt evidence of which is constantly
sprnging up among the people at large, is
the fact that his hold on his own state has
been very precarious during the past year.
They know that it is hardly reasonable
to expect a convention to indorse a man
for the presidency who has not his own
state back of him. And now while they
are still in that dilemma President Roose-
welt exerts his influence to encourage har-
monv in Wisconsin, which simply means
to assist Spooner in maintaining his hold
on affairs there. Political favorS are soon
forgotten but still with a man like Senator
Spooner it is said such matters are apt to
be extremely influential. While he IS am
bilious politically, and prefers politics with
small salary to the law with big fees, he
has his own ideas about such matters.
Dependent on Hanna's Withdrawal.
The talk of Spooner for the presidency
has received more attention in private and
influential circles than it has in public dis
cussions. 1t has grown since q general
impression has gone abroad that Senator
Hanna will not enter that fight on his own
account because of the condition of his
health. Senator Hanna, when the national
convention meets to name its candidates
for the presidency, will be sixty-seven years
of age. Mr.. Spooner will then be sixty-one
years old. 1t is believed that Mr.. Spooner's
nomination could hardly be brought about
If 1t can be brought about at all, without
the help of Mr.. Hanna, and this involves
the voluntary declination of Mr.. Hanna of
all such hOnors. :
All in all, the greatest Lneasiness is being
created among the friends of Senator Spoon
er lest anything should occur which will
make 1t apparent that Mr.. Roosevelt has
rendered him any service without which he
would lose control in Wisconsin. Many of
them would look upon any such service as
merely perfunctory on the part of the Presi-
dent. and say that a republican President
would be expected under all circumstances
to promote harmony in his party, and that
any such action on his part cannot be
brought up to affect any individual who