Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-03-05
Roosevelt ana the Race Issue.

In view OF the host of important issues
with which the name of President Roose-
welt has been associated. both before and
since he became the official head of the
nation, no one dreamed that the chief
question involved in his denomination
might be the race problem. Tho trust
issue. imperialism, the money issue. re-
ciprocity and the tariff have all found in
the President a strenuous advocate on one
side or tho other. but If present ndica-
lions amount to anything his attitude on
any or all OF these problems will count
for less in connection with the question
whether he shall be nominated as the
standard bearer OF his party in 1904 than
the issues growing out OF the position he
has taken in matters involving the negro
That the relative Importance of the race
Issue in this connection is not overst ated
is evident from the fact that friends Of
tho administration have deemed it eX-
redient to make a public statement at
this time with reference to this one issue
MS bearing upon the subject Of President
Roosevelt's denomination. According to a
Washington correspondent tho President
hands of the next republican convention,
If that nomination can be won only by
the votes of delegates from Southern
democratic States. While Mr.. Roosevelt is
an avowed asprant for the honor Of lead
ing his party in the national contest of
noxt wear, his friends say he is ambitious
to have the nomination come from the
to Of hC "
chosen by the free electors in the States
where its voters are in a majority or
where there is fair possibility of win
ming the election.
\ som-offical statement says that it
Is a series of incidents. most of them
occurring in the South, that has made it
seem advisable 10 some Of ,hc Presidents
closest couns6lors to make definitely
known his attitude toward his pGrtys
domination for the presidency. They re-
cite the fact that every day or so the
newspapers say this or that republican in
tho South, sometimes white and some
times colorod. has declared against the
nomination of Theodore Roosevelt for the
presidency; and these demonstrations are
interpreted i'm Washington as the out
growth of the Presidents policy toward
the colored man, and of his answering
opposition to the lilly white" movement
in the Southern republican organi2a ton.
This scmi-ofticial utterance is evidently
a notification TO all concerned in the South
that President Roosevelt intends to pur-
sue the course he has mapped out for
himself in dealing with the race problem
let the results he what they will so far as
they may affect his candidacy. One may
oisagrec with his views and criticisc his
attitude toward those republican leaders
who would build up a white party in the
South; hut il Is impossible not to respect
Mr. Roosevelt all the more for the cour-
ageous stand he has taken, ana his ac-
ton will unquestionably commend INN to
whole
Present indications arc that President
Roosevelt will be renominated as his own
successor. and neither the trusts nor the
trust leaders seeking TO manipulate the
coorod vote of the South through Mr.
Hanna will be able to thwart the evident
wish of the great body Of the American
PEOPLE President Roosevelt is courage
Gus as well ms honest and able, and the
interests of the people, particularly at
his time. demand a chief executive who
is no rcspecter of persons. even though
such persons may have commercial dom
inion on both land and sea.