The Washington times., 1902-08-02
BoonS Mr.. Roosevelt as
the Logical Candidate
of Party in 1904.
HIS LETTER TO IOWA EDITOR
Secretary of the Treasury Believed by
His Friends, However, to Have an
Eye Upon the Presidency in 1905
His Campaign Plans.

Until President Roosevelt selected
rotary of the Treasury. it was expected
by the Republican party leaders gen.
orally that Mr.. Shaw would be a can
didate for the Presidential nomination
in 1904.
Less than two years ago Senator ALI
son, of Iowa. himself long talked of as
the choice of his party for Presidential
honors, said that his candidate for the
nomination in 1904 was Governor Shaw.
1t was more or less evident until the
death of President Mckinley, that Mr..
Shaw would receive the backing of the
Iowa delegation in the Republican Ma
tional Convention of 1904 for first place
on the ticket. and this probability was
not entirely destroyed by the accession
of Mr.. Roosevelt TO the Presidency.
Movement Kept Up.
But it was supposed that when Mr.
Shaw accepted place in Mr. Roosevelts
Cabinet his friends would cease to men
tion him In connection with the cam
paign of 1904. small movement in
his favor was kept up. however, and
Secretary Shaw found it necessary on
May rs last TO write the following let
ter to certain Missouri Republican edi-
tor, whose name is withheld:
MY Dear Sir-I am in receipt of
your letter of May %, and while l de-
sire to thank you for the kind words
you have been pleased to say, and for
the hopes expressed and the pledges
made. l desire TO say: Please do not
connect my name with 1904.
Praise for Roosevelt.
mo man has ever given this country
more thoroughly honest and con-
scientious administration than it is now
receiving at the hands of President
Roosevelt. He came TO the office in the
most unfortunate manner. He did not
desire the nomination 10 the Vice Pres
idency, but took it ct the solicitation of
his friends, and now it seems to me
there should be no other thought in the
mind of anyone than his denomination.
Il wish you knew the President as
well as l do. He is not only prince
among men. but peer OF statesmen.
Again thanking you for the friendship
expressed in your letter. l am. yours
sincerely, L. NJ. SHAW"
Looking to 1908.
Although Secretary Shaw has thus dis
posed of all doubt regarding his ex-
pectations for 1904, his friends will not
deny that he is ambitious to run for the
highest Office in the nation. The year
1908, they believe, will not be too late
If the Secretary lives until that year
he will be only sixty years old on cleo
tion day. since his birthday was on No
vember q
AS an evidence of his intention TO con-
tinue his political activity in campaign
time, he recently made visit to Maiue,
where he addressed the Republican State
convention. Yesterday he accepted an
invitation delivered by Representative
Foster of Vermont to make a speech at
lHdl state next lueEtlT
evening in the interest of General Nc
Cullough. the regular Republican candi-
date for governor.
Secretary Shaw expects to go on the
Western trip with President Roosevelt
in September. and will certainly make
some political speeches on that occs.-
sion. He may also travel with the
President through New England in the |
latter part of this month.
His Boom in Iowa.
The country newspapers in Iowa and |
some of those in the larger cities of that |
State have been discussing Mr.. Shaw as |
a Presidential candidate for the last two
years. and the discussion is not less ac |
tive now that the ex-governor is a
member of President Roosevelt's Cab
met. The Republican papers generally.
however, assume that the Secretary IS
too loyal TO his chief TO allow his name
to be used in connection with the cam
paign of 1904, although they were boom
ing his candidacy for that year prior 10
his acceptance of the Cabinet place.
One OF these newspapers daily printed
for a long time in a conspicuous place
on its editorial page the injunction
Keep your eye OH Shaw" and at the
same time published editorials booming
his candidacy for 1904
The placard still appeared in the pa
per for some time after Mr.. Shaw be-
,ame Secretary of the Treasury. Late
asst winter the editor Of the paper was
N Washington. and one OF the Iowa
of Congress laughingly advised
lin TO discontinue The Keep your eve
IN Shaw notice.
He explained that since Mr.. Shaw had
,ecome the nominal guardian of all the
unds OF the United States Government.
he injunction to keep your eve on
;haw" might be misunderstood.
MORE SCHOOLS CLOSED.