The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-21
The PRESIDENT AND THE REPuBLl
CAN STATE CONVENTION


The refusatso the Nebraska republican
convention to take any action upon the
Communication of. the Nebraska senator's
iustifying their insurgency IN the matte'
of Cuban reciprocity, and the prompt
adoption of a strong resolution endorsing
the president and making special rerer-
ence to his Cuban reciprocity policy, mas
resulted in good deal of speculation
among the leading republicans OF this
state as to what the Minnesota repuhh-
cans will do. - s5-S;. . -
Amy predictions as to what the conven-..
tion will do T g Journ a would not
care to hazard at this time, but it is much
interest ed in the current speculation as'to
what the outcome may be. 1t has pup
ished collection Of opinions on TINS
subject showing remarkable preponder-
ance of sentiment favorable to the pres
ident in this connection, and it.. is in
formed by leading republicans that the
state convention will not fail to give ex-
preston to an endorsement of the presl-
dents policy. And by leading repuoll-
cans is meant men who are active and IN
huentil in a very pronounced degree IN
the councils of the party in this state
They seem to regard such an endorse"
ment of the president as the proper thing
for the convention to give expression TO-
not only because it seems to be the over
Whelming sentiment of the republicans OF
the state. but because 1t is customary for
state conventions to endorse national ad-
ministrations, and because failure to-do
so may have an unfavorab1e influence
upon the state ticket itself. Candidates
for state Offices are not less interested in
this proposition than the members of the
Minnesota delegation, who, for reasons
which are no doubt satisfactory to them
selves, have taken a position of hostility
to the president, and have been leaders
In the insurgent movement -. VT
1t is suggested by some, who favor. an
endorsement, of the presidents position,
that failure on the part of the state con-
vention to endorse the presidents policy
(Which being that of the president and
majority of the members in congress,
must be regarded as party policy will
to attack the republican party of the state
and make effective use of the. palpable
evidences of inharmony between the state
and national administration, If such an
endorsement Of the president should be
wit hheld Such an attack would be un-
usually effective in this instance because
1t must be admitted that in most re-
markable degree the people generally be-
lieve in Theodore Roosevelt It is often
remarked of him in political circles that
no president since Lincoln has stood
closer to the people or has commanded
more completely their confidence their
sympathy and their enthusiastic support
his personal characteristics and how
much to his statesmanlike ability need
not be discussed in this connection. The
fact remains that such belief in him ex-
lists and it is dangerous for party lead
ers here or anywhere to ignore the fact
that: in the minds of the people to-day
Theodore Roosevelt stands for honesty
courage and fidelity to duty in the minds
gilmore people than any other man living
Any failure on the part Of republican
leaders to follow him must carry with II
demonstration to the satisfaction of the
public that he is in error, and certainly
in the matter Of Cuban reciprocity nc
such demonstration has been made.
T h Journ al is making no effort to
influence the action of the convention On
the other hand, it is not political organ
and shall not hesitate to express it's own
convictions with regard to the declara.
tions of the republican convention on this
as4on any other topic, no matter wha,
they may be.