The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-21
ROOSEVELT Will,
DOMINATE FIGHT
II. v. Jones Thus Sums Up a Re-
view Of the Coming Presi-
Dental Contest.
There Will Be Many OBJECTIONS
on Both Sides---Men, Not
Measures, Will Decide.
From The Journal Bureau. Colorado Building,

From The journal Bureau, COLORADO Building,
Washington.
Washington, Dec. Pill: v. Jones
of Minneapolis has been paying a good
deal of attention to the political stu
alton of late, and his recent visit to
| New York has brought him close up
to the people Of that city, both those
who oppose Roosevelt and those who
favor him. In discussing the outlook
for next year with the Journal CORE
spondent to-day, he said some very
interesting things, some of which I
quote. His size-up, which follows, is
one Of the most intelligent and inter-
esting that has yet been made. He
said:
"It occurs to me that, in the ap-
preaching election, we shall have less
of a doubtful classification Of states
The election will take OH a positive
color, and the voters will be either
for or against the candidates from the
start. The two previous campaigns
were educational, and voters were in
doubt as to their action up to election
day.; making the application general.
There will be no educational features
in the campaign next year, but there
| may be injected g.; tariff or reciproci-
! ty issue that will divide voters. but
on which the mind Of the people is
already we'll made up.
| Republicans Divided.
president Roosevelt has divided his
party. 1t makes no difference wheth-
+! er. the disaffected do business in Wall
street, or sell dry goods in Chicago,
they are republicans and they count
at the polls. To say the disaffection
is confined to Wall street is, of course,
untrue, for the reason that some Of
the presidents Warmest supporters are
in Wa street. and Soma of hiSEm OSt
bitter opponents have no connection
with stocks and do not live in the east.
1.-THE campaign issue will really be
Roosevelt himself. All other issues
will be secondary. Many who do not
agree with the president as to meth
DDS will not carry that disagreement
to revolt; many others will. The DEM
ocrats are organizing unquestionably
for a clean and strong campaign.
Along the seaboard the president is
not as strong as he was six months
ago. West of the Mississippi he is
pro bably just as strong as he has been,
at least for all practical purposes. The
fight will be on the Atlantic seaboard
unless, perchance, the president is
not renoninated. This chance exists,
as those on the inside on both sides
foresee clearly; but whether this
chance takes shape will depend on the
course Of events the next five months
rather than on what has happened.
President Roosevelt retains a
50 on the people east. The reason is
that a good many Of the common peo-
pie, as we say, have lost thru the
heavy declines in securities. At such
times people do not stop to analyze
and there is a disposition to charge
the president with having precipitated
trouble by attacking business rather
than proceeding to take up in the
courts by more quiet methods the
same Questions. Some accuse him
with acting from political motive on
this account. This and all PROPOSE
tons like it. are matters of opinion
only and while some of the claims
are preposterous, there is truth in
others, and they all go to make polit-
ical! sentiment for and against.
Business Men Complain.
SIN New York retail business is
dull. There is general complaint.
The rich have lost heavily, while all
over the country investors and estates
have lost their all. The proprietor Of
one of the largest retail stores in New
York took me to the fur department
fidle. "A year ago. he said, that force
Of clerks could not wait on the Gus
toners at this hour promptly The
little special stores complain. The
hard times center is in New York,
Philadelphia and Pittsburg. It scat
ters outside of those centers, and. this
scattering has sprinkled sore spots
among the people, SO that it is esti-
mated that in nearly every village
in New York state there is some little
disaffection. If we say it is unreason-
able that does not change the fact
that it exists. So I believe as result
of all this the real issue Of the next
campaign will be President Roosevelt
himself, and party lines will be split
up a good deal, especially If the
democrats make as strong a nominal
ton as they have it within their power
| to make. It seems to me this is the
important analysis to apply to the po-
| litical situation
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