The Tucson citizen., 1902-03-12
ROOSEVELT The POLITICIAN.

Those who looked ON President
Roosevelt as one OF the statesmen who
would yield practical consequences to
ne urgency of idealism in political life
are daily becoming better informed.
1t. probably. is true that the civil sery-
Ice reformer has grown no less insIs-
tent in his attachment to the merit
system. but at least. he is much less
insistent in his expression of attach
ment for It, There is but little disposi-
an intention in that behalf may be
entertained to sacrifice practical con-
siderations to the assertion Of ab-
stract principles,
The offer Of the assistant postmaster
generalship to Harry New of Indiana,
first. and when declined by him, to
Graeme Stewart OF lllionis. was All
right as a stroke of practical politics.
Senator Fairbanks, OF Indiana, Is an
avowed candidate for the Republican
Presidential nomination and Senator
Cullom of Illinois has been hoping that
Presidential lightning would strike
him, for 10. these many years. The
militant civil service reformer in
the White House has not done any
thing in that line that Is neater since
SG ,,F d.. ~
eral, unless, perhaps. 1t might be his
selection OF Secretary OF the Trea-
sury and his adroit disposal OF Secre-
tary Long, than his flank movement
on Fairbanks and Cullom.
President Roosevelt is after a re-
nomination to his present office. He
evidently knows how to get after it.
No politician, who has ever sat in the
Presidential chair, had the art of work
ing the otuces for all they are worth
down finer than has the strenuous re-
former now in the White House.
Let justice be done him. He is NOV
ing on the enemy position in full
force, and confident Of his ability to
win He has the soldierly quality in
his political conduct. His attack on
Fairbanks by his complimentary offer
to Fairbanks enemy, New, and his
careful cultivation OF Senator Beva-
ridge, was not regarded by some people
as good politics, but if the future ac-
tiou of the Indiana machine Is closely
observed it VIII be seen that Roosevelt
knew what he was about
The appointment of Payne as Post
master General was inspired by the
same idea. 1t was a master stroke that
reached far out beyond the limits of
the State of Wisconsin, 1t snuffed out
any pretentions that Spooner might
have in the direction OF the Presi-
dency, while making a faithful ally
of the man who was next to Hanna in
influence in the Republican national
committee. Shaw of Iowa, was regard
ed as a Presidential quantity. No one
thinks Of him In that connection any
more. Roosevelt quietly eliminated him
as a serious menace when he put him
in his Cabinet. Row the selection of
Stewart, the national committeeman
from Illinois and the master of the
machine in that State. leaves Cullom
without a base of operations.
There are a good many bridges to be
crossed and blown up before the Rubi-
con Is reached. But Roosevelt is on the
march. and is burning his bridges and
destroying the base OF his opponents
daily. From present indications, at
least, II Roosevelt cannot find Cabinet
station for all probable Western candi- F.
dates, he will have so crippled them
within a few years that his capture of
the next national convention will be I
easier than whipping Spain.