The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-11-04

imam nomination.
Mr.. Roosevelt's nomination by the
republican party has for twelve
months or more been popularity viewed
as a strong probability; has been
grees of confidence. The causes of
confidence are easy Of explanation.
Tradition and sentiment and popular
qualities have combined to further his
candidacy.
Mr.. Roosevelts popularity" his per-
sonal appeal to the people, has been
the strongest force behind his ambi-
ton. Therein lies his first strength.
1t was this upon which his presi-
Dental aspirations first seized. 1t is
chiefly this upon which his candidacy
has rested. Whether his popularity
is as substantial now as it was twelve
months ago is matter of doubt.
Whether, indeed, Mr.. Roosevelt is as
highly esteemed now by the mass of
people as he was at the conslusion of
the Spanish war is doubtful.
Just before his nomination to the
vice presidency he rode high on the
popular wave. Thrust into the vice.
presidency, however, he melted from
view. With his attendance to the
executive post the popular hero was
suddenly rehabilitated. Then after a
time his appeal to the people waned,
his popularity reaching it's low ebb
Immediately after the congressional
election of 1902. Enthusiasm was in
measure restored by his frank seek
ing of the nomination and his Wes-
ern tour in the spring of this year.
Mr.. Roosevelt has made several mis-
fakes in the interim since the last
flare of enthusiasm. The difficulty
of the department scandals confront
from the West; and he failed to do
what he should have done-to mani
fest a strong bare hand instead of
temporizing with the scandals. His
mistaken policy in federal appoint
ments and his door of-hope casuistry
have been patent. Obviously he err
red in the Russian incident. In the
Beirut affair he has been made to ap-
pear nothing less than ridiculous
but it should be fairly acknowledged
that a portion of the press behaved
unjustly toward him in this instance.
Other mistakes, none Of them vital,
but all of them conspicuous have
rather detracted from than added to
the strength of Mr.. Roosevelt on the
popular or personal side.
Whether his weakness for urging
the undisputed moralities has affected
his standing with the masses is diff
ficult to judge. Safe to say, however,
most people had heard of the Ten Com
mandments before Mr.. Roosevelt dis
covered them and most people already
possessed settled convictions upon the
subject of babies, old maids, bachelors
divorce and various other questions
more or less related to the flreSide;
and it is more than possible that his
moral dsquisitions have seemed a bit
trite and unnecessary; and more
over that while he gave his time to
these things a good many immediate
and important problems affecting the
nation were being neglected.
1t is not easy to gauge enthuiasm
or popularity now. Nothing has Oc
CURED recently which would afford
test. There has been no occasion for
manifestations of expressions from the
people. In the air." nevertheless, are
slight Indications That something
which we know as the political atmos-
phere tells us story of declining
favor.
Whether these considerations have
belief that Mr. Roosevelt may be beat
en- for the nomination is a political
question of the hour. Hanna is adj
mittedly one of the ablest men who
ever filled the position of chairman
of the republican national commit
tee and news comes that he has de-
cided not to serve in that capacity in
the coming campaign. A reason he
must have, a powerful reason; and a
fair supposition is that he intends to
come out against Mr. Roosevelt
Should he do so the nation will wit
ness a wire pulling contest of heroic
proportions, for the president him
self is a practical politician of no
mean caliber and in two short years
has built up a considerable machine
strength.