The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-03

and the politicians that Theodore Roose-
welt desires a presidential nomination
from his party next year The people
seem to have taken it for granted that
the nomination will come without a
/ fight, as indeed it may But there is
/ only one axiom that never fails in any
emergency in public life 1t is that
4 nothing is certain in politics till it be-
4 the probabilities in his favor, much may
/ happen in a year. The things that
! threaten Roosevelt are little things: the
negro problem, an outbreak in the Phil
[ ippines caused by the economic cOndi-
tiOns there that are becoming alarming,
/ factionalism in the states a scandal in
/ some branch of the government remote
I from presidential inspection, and the in
! trigues of politicians. The politicians do
4 not like Roosevelt He and his friends
may well face this, and the people,
/ who admire Roosevelt. should be fore
warned. The politicians IN the Repub
lican party would leave the president
for Hanna in ten days if Hanna would
but pass along the word. Or if another
Republican should be cast up by the
wave of some big events the profession
al politicians would swarm over him
like flies then if any one of those little
things just noted should become ag-
grayated, Theodore Roosevelt would
have to fight for his political life, and
that too handicapped by the fact that
he would only fight fair, whereas his
enemies aided by unlimited financial
fabrication from Wall street, would ride
him down ruthlessly with the automo-
bile of defeat. In a big f1ght-a fight
so big that the politicians would risk
making it-Theodore Roosevelt would
lose the south and much of the east,
perhaps even New York: his nomination
would have to come from the country
west of Cleveland and north of the Ma
son and DixOn's line. These are things
which the people should bear in mind.
For the people are with the president,
anna ~l.F@
clans. The men who are hurrahing and
waving flags and talking most excitedly
about the impregnable position of Theo-
dore Roosevelt in the fight of nineteen
four are the men who would desert him
at the drop of a hat.
Roosevelt's social entertainments are
particularly to his credit. If he chose
/ he might save his salary. He is COM
paratiVely a poor man, and he has d
/ large family. When he goes out of Of
flee he viii have to support himself.
"A matter of a hundred thousand dollars
saved from his salary would be pleas
ant help. But instead of saving part
of his salary, President Roosevelt is
using it all; he is doing SO, not from a
desire to spend for instinctiVely he is
a frugal man. Probably he believes the
salary of $50, 600 a year is given to him
to maintain the dignity of his office,
I and not that he may be able tC leave
that office well-to-do The entertain
ments that the president and Mrs.
Roosevelt give are many, but they are
simple and not extravagant-
The dinners have been notable for
their dignified simplicity of fare, and
for the distinction of the guests, not
merely in official circles, but in every
walk of life and from every part of the
land. Wealth has not been the distin-
gushing mark of these guests; the one
characteristic which has marked all,
who We're not there perfunctorily, has
been achievement. 1t IS the man or
woman who has done things that at
tracts President Roosevelt as II attract
ed Roosevelt the man before he came
to the White. house
In no other way than in purely So
cial way may the president of this
country get at the sentiment Of the
people And in no other way than IN
a social way may the people of tha
country know the real heart of their
executive. Naturally but small pei
cent of the people may reach the pres
ident in person, but II this per cent is
well chosen it will reflect the people OF
the home communities and carry back
to these communities the truth about
the head of the nation More than this
it carries from the White house as tbs
White house is managed today an abld-
ing sense of sincerity in social relations
? ana Of democratic good taste in enter
tainment that cannot but have strong
educative effect. If the president cares
; to spend his own salary in these ways
and for ends that are not required O
his except by his conscience, his enc
mics who scott at him for these thing
must have little else to pick at; but Oh
! the other hand, when a man is thirsti
for trouble he never has to walk fal
to a spring.
, In the coming Is months the Americas
people may be put to test; there canno
1 be the slightest doubt that there Is at N
head of this nation man schooled
practical wisdom in practical life; braV
and efficiently brave, as he is wise. earn
, est direct shamhating Yet passionate
: " patient IN great crises. and above all
man erect, bowling to ne master, abJee
, only to his conscience This is a man ate
! the fashion that the people have create
/ in their heart as an ideal f.
thirty years-and found him ou1
in their hopes Such man Is
sure to cross the purposes of men who liv
!, by devious ways as a n1erclleSs fire is SUI
} to burn finder. No diplomacy no tact, 2
kindness of heart. no Christian charity ca
I save him from giving offense to those VII
; live in darkness. ana II he should PIT
peace, even party peace or peas
I in the nation, above dirty, he woul
? sink to the mediocre level of skilllui 20
ftician The test VIII come 10 tbs Amer
{ can peoDie when the rupture comes Opell.