The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-08
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT As A
LEADER.

The recent elections furnish unmistakable
evidence of President Roosevelt's popular
ity and of his strength as a party leader.
When he succeeded to the office there were
some who, on account of lack of age and
experience in national politics and his
somewhat sanguine and impulsive tenn
permanent, feared that ne might not prove
a safe leader and might fail TO carry the
party with him. He has not only shown
that this fear was groundless, but he has
exceeded the expectations Of those who
best knew his sound judgment. his political
sagacity and his instructive gifts of leader
ship.
No President has succeeded I'm winning
popular confidence to a greater extent in
the same length of time than President
Roosevelt has done, and none has ever had
more hearty and loyal support from his
party. This is saying much, for the Re
publican party has had some great lead
ers. both among it's Presidents and others.
In this respect 1t affords a striking con-
trast to the Democracy, whose only Presi-
dent in forty years is charged with having
wrecked the party. and whose candidate
for President in the last two elections led
it to defeat and has now been repudiated.
At the present time that party has no
leader who commands the confidence of
all it's elements or who could possibly lead
it to victory.
Very different were such leaders as Lin
publican senators who might be named.
President Roosevelt seems likely to take
his place in the same class, for while his
career has not yet closed he has shown
that he possesses in a high degree the
qualities of popular and successful leader
ship. The recent election was clearly an
Endorsement of his administration and poll
cies. No campaign in an off year was ever
made more distinctly on national issues,
and the strongest argument of Republicans
everywhere was stand by President Roose-
velt.' At the time of his death President
Mckinley was idolized by Republicans. II
President Roosevelt had signalized his &C.
cession to office by appointing new Cabi-
net or by making new departure in poll
tics and talking about my policy" as
Andrew Johnson did, he would have excited
distrust and aroused opposition. In this
regard he pursued the wisest possible
| course. and it was the more effective be-
cause 1t was evidently his personal choice
| to do so. Thus he held the party together
| at a critical time and established at once
| q feeling Of confidence that has continued
to grow. His public acts have inspired con.
fidence In his craftsmanship. and his
speeches have added to his popularity. Hi.
] interference in the coal strike, risky thins
| to attempt, but characteristic of the man
has proved to be one of the most popular
acts of his administration.
Other causes contributed to the recent Re
| publican victories, but there can be n,
doubt that President Roosevelt's persona
| popularity and the desire to give him Z
vote of confidence was potent one. Witt
weak, a vacillating, an untrustworthy OF
| an unpopular man in the presidential chai
the Republicans would have lost the Hous,
of Representatives and some States the,
have carried, and would now be facing GER
tain defeat in 1904 instead of almost certain
victory. Great credit and honor are du,
to the able party leaders for the recent vic
tory, but they could not have achieved any
thing like the success they did but for thu
personal popularity and wise leadership O
President Roosevelt.