Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-30
F0RAY into THE WEST
Coming Trips of Roosevelt
and Cleveland.
THE LATTER'S OBJECT
TO TEST HIS OWN POPULARITY IN
THAT SECTION.
The Former to Do Good Work for the
Republican Party and Hold
States in Line.
THE LATTER'S OBJECT

President Roosevelts foray into the west
is likely to cause a furnishing of accou-
terments and fiaring forth of other presi-
Dental aspirants as the winter breaks and
the roads get good. 1t still is a far cry to
the great national tourney, but il behooves
the would-be knights to show themselves
to the populace long time In advance of
the jousing, there will be much cara
coling and some curveting in the next few
months.
Undoubtedly that is Mr.. Cievelands
game In his coming invasion of the west,
the politicians say. The result of Mr.
Clevelands expedition will be watched
with unusual interest by the managers of
the new movement to break the democratic
party away from It's western idols. Whethsr
the party is ready for the severance is the
question. Something on the principle of
trying 1t on the dog" they want to see
what success or failure attends Mr.. Cleve-
lands reintroduction of himself to the ra nix
and file of the faithful.
Mr.. Cleveland Test.
The politicians say that in one way Mr..
Cleveland would be the extreme test for
the popularity of an eastern candidate. If
the western democrats only halfway stou-
ach him any other eastern candidate could
expect more than a fair show. In another
sense. his rejection would not Necessarily
preclude hope of passing off an eastern
candidate on the convention, for it is as
sumed that he would be the limit In th,
way of handicap.
II is the general assumption of the poll
tclans that Mr.. Cleyeland's coming trim
VIII determine whether he is to be a candi- 4
date before the convention. 1t is known
that he has been urged by his friends to get
INTO INTO the game once more, and he probably
n lie 1T, ,,-f1..s
there Is ground for the optimism of his ad-
Vlsers They tell him that the oppos tion
Oh the radical Bryan wing of the party will
drawback. They insist that the ponuJistfc
theorists are so utterly dscredited in tho
party their censure is equivalent to a GER
tlhcate OF recommendation to the mass who
are anxious TO get back to the old moor
ings.
Mr.. Cleveland, it is said, wants to deter
mine that question for himself to feel the
pulse of the voters at close range and to
sound with his own ear the note of discord
or the ring of sincerity in the voice of the
people If he assures himself of a fair
prospect he will take his chances with the
other eastern presidential possibilities.
His Two Opponents.
Two foemen worthy of his steel already
are entered IN the lists. He knows he must
reckon with Mr.. German and Judge Parker.
The German strength is a solid and SUBJ
stantial nucleus that has existed for some
time and has steadily grown. The Parker
sentiment is new, entirely untried and al
together probiematical as to extent Then
there are the undeclared knights with
visors still down, who must be taken as
they come. The orifiammes of Ohio and also
of Illinois are certain to wave in the fore
front of the field
Mr.. Roosevelt's Trip.
The politicians do not interpret Mr..
Roosevelt's trip being so much in his
own behalf as in the interests of the repub-
iican party. 1t is conceded that Mr. Roose-
welt does not need to boom his candidacy in
this way. No practical politician thinks
that Mr.. Roosevelt can be defeated for the
nomination. y lot Of them would like to
beat him-oil. how they would like it, But
they do not see their way Gear. Even Mr.
Hanna heayes a regretful sigh and allows
that it's no use.
Mr.. Roosevelt On this trip will it is said,
merely take another pul, on the girth Of
his popularity and cinch it up hole higher
But he assuredly will do some stunts for
his party, viii be witnessed by the scope
and Importance of the speeches he viii
make, beginning at Chicago.
All the big politicians in the republican
party are agreed to the necessity of
clinching the Victories of last fall in the
far western states. 1t is not to be over
looked that the republican party made dis
tinct and notable gains in that region. Seats
in the United States Senate and in the
House of Representatives were won and
states that had wavered were swung into
republican line. The party managers want
to nail down that victory. They say: Ted
dy is the boy to do it. His personality will
get the audiences and attract attention to
the doctrines enunciated."
Will Sow Some Seed
The theory is that Mr.. Roosevelt will sow
some seed which will have time to ripen
before the presidential elections come off.
In mining camp, on lonely ranch and in
busy towns his words will be pondered over
and discussed in this off season of politics
and the way will be made easier for the re-
publican campaigners when the time comes
for them to go abroad in the land.
The practical politicians want those west
ern states kept into line without a waver
from now on, so that it will not be neces-
sary to give them unusual attention later
If they can be counted as fairly safe to
offset in part the solid south on which the
democrats depend, more attention. can be
given to the real battle ground In the next
campaign-the home of the laboring man In
the east.