Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-08
ONLY ONE CANDIDATE
Any Other Than Roosevelt
Would Split the Party.
MR.. ADMINISTRATION
BELIEF OF SENATOR PLATT OF
CONNECTICUT.
Declares That the People Want Just
Such a Man as the President-Ad-
mission of His Opponents.

candidate for the nomination. and If it
were possible for any other candidate to
wrest the nomination from President
Roosevelt, believe he would be defeated
at the polls"
Thus spoke Senator Platt of Connecticut
in an interview dictated by him.
In those words the senator voiced SEN
timent which frequently is expressed
among republicans at the Capitol. He ut
tered truth which is realized by the
Presidents opponents as well as by his
we1l-wishers. Senator Hanna himself has
said to people recently that the defeat of
Roosevelt in the convention, after a con-
test, would cause a split in the republican
party which would result in disaster at the
polls next November.
Senator Platt, in his interview, went on
to say:
THE murmurs against Mr.. Roosevelt
which we hear come from politicians, cap
italfSts, spectators and labor agitatorS
who cannot control him. President Roose-
welt is a great man. He does what he
thinks is right, without fear or favor and
the people want just such a man for Pres
ident.
View Of the Politicians.
In that expression Senator Platt again
called the turn on the situation as 1t is un-
derstood by politicians in Congress. 1t
would not be frank to claim that there is
no opposition to Mr.. Roosevelt in his own
party. There is a great deal of d1ssatis-
faction among men who are popularity de-
nominated party leaders,. 1t can be
heard any day in private conversation, and
on rare occasions some man such as Sen
ator Scott Of West Virginia comes out
openly for another candidate.
orfy
more concerned in the success of the re-
publicans at the polls next November. the
election Of a republican House ana re-
publican legislatures in close states than
In q snub in convention to the man they
dislike. They know the sentiment OF the
people at large and realize the resent
ment which would follow the infliction of
defeat upon Roosevelt by the hostlle SEN
atorial clique and the party leaders"
BY that token they admit that the Pres
ident will be renominated Every day the
inquirer can hear murmurs and fault
finding about Roosevelt, and in every
case the conversation winds up with the
admission. well. he will have to be NOM
mated. and guess he will get 1t"
Feeling in Massachusetts,.
Mr. James B. Reynolds, secretary Of the
republican state committee Of Massachu-
setts, is in town today. Mr.. Reynolds Is
feeling pretty we'll these days-much better,
in fact. than he pretended to feel when he
was down here just before the campaign
in Massachusetts became hot, seeking spell
binders from the cabinet and Senate.
The reason for his complacency Is found
lican vote in the November election. There
was no apathy in Massachusetts, to speak
of, judging from the returns. Mr.. Reynolds
attention was directed by a Star reporter to
the statement N the anti-Roosevelt ed1to-
rial of the Cincinnati Commercdal-Tribune,
claiming the existence of party discomfort
in Massachusetts,.
II cannot imagine what are the murmurs
of party discomfort in Massachusetts, to
which the Cincinnati paper REFERS said
Mr. Reynolds. Perhaps at the distance OF
Ohio they mistake the sound Of Roosevelt
enthusiasm for another tone. 1t is not the
first time that the Ohio atmosphere has not
been good conductor of sound. The facts
make a different showing from the edi-
torial.
Massachusetts for Roosevelt.
s'The republican state convention of this
year indorsed in its platform the present
administration and pledged to President
Roosevelt the support Of Massachusetts, in
the national convention. This Endorsement
and this pledge were one Of the issues Of
the campaign.
at was announced from the stump that
q republican victory was a saying OF
amen to the President; 1t was declared by
the democratic orators that the policy OF
the administrator was 1HVOlFeu III t1lo clcC>
ton The issue was laid down and ac-
cepted, both sides Of the case wero present
ed to the voters, and the voters declared
for President Roosevelt In fashion SO
hearty and enthusiastic that the sound
should have reached every editorial sano-
tum in Ohio.
''The republican vote was larger than It
was last year, when representatives were
to be elected. For almost the first time III
the history Of the state the republican vote
In an off year was larger than the vote in
the congressional year that preceded 1t.
Gov. Bates, standing on a platform that
the support Of the republican party Of the
state, was elected by a plurality of $4,000,
and that in spite Of a splendidly filled dem
ocratic campaign chest and the most Wig
orous campaign that united and resource
full democracy could wage.
No Disaffection in the Party.
Massachusetts will keep it's pledge and
will send a delegation to the national con-
vention solid and enthusiastic for the Pres
ident. The party there Is all for him, lead
ers, workers and masses alike If the dis
content In other states is like that in Mas
sachusetts. the national convention Of 1904
will be historic one in its unanimity and
enthusiasm for one man"
Senator Foraker's Belief.
Senator Foraker. who lives in Cincinnati,
does not credit the recent editorial of
the Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, op-
posing the nomination of Roosevelt for
President. as representing the view of any
considerable number OF republicans
throughout the country.
II was surprised. and not very much sur
prised either. to see the editorial the Com
mercial-Tribune has published" said Sem
ator Foraker. There are some men in the
party who have the belief expressed by the
author of that editorial. It 10 not to be
wondered at that there should be talk about
Senator Hanna for the presidency. He II q
strong forcible man. with many friends and
with deserved popularity for the good
work he has done for his party and the
country.
No Question About Nomination.
Nevertheless there is not. in my opinion.
any question about the nominate of Preaf-
dent Roosevelt az our candidate. He IN In
ONCE. He came in under the most difficult
and trying conditions and circumstances.
He has acquitted himself splendidly He
has made no mistakes. certainly not any Of
any importance. He IL a popular man with
the great masses Of the people the whole
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