The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-30
would be more nearly possible than some
of his sanguine friends now think. ~.

It is another curious fact that President
Roosevelt will probably poll next year the
largest labor vote ever cast for a. repub-
lican presidential nominee + Hitherto this
vote has been largely democratic. It is
gathered together in sthe great cities, and
explains, more than any other single fact,
why these centers Of population are usual
ly' democratic. 3 f, >'' - .... .
- RooseVelts> course regarding the settle
ment OF the anthracite coal strike, and
his manly, courageous and fair attitude
toward all questions concerning labor.
have won the hearts of the laborins
classes. They like his frankness, his very
evident purpose to take the people fully
and freely into his confidence, his stand
for higher ideals and a purer citizenship.
They believe in him because he is typical
ly an American citizen, his veins filled
with rich, red American blood and his i'm
rulses steadily and immovably on the side
Of the right. They will vote for him in
large numbers, and help swell the popular
majority by which his admirers believe
he will be elected. In this connection it
may be said that the Roosevelt boomers
| insist that he will break all records next
year so far as popular vote IS concerned,
and in the event Of a democratic split
establish new high, water mark in the
electoral college,.
This estimate of Roosevet's labor
strength is made as the result Of personal
inquiries made within the past two months
| in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Min
neapolis. st. Paul, Milwaukee, Kansas City
and St. Louis. in which cities democrats
| as we'll as republicans, and best Of all,
business men not in politics, call atten-
tion to the curious political phenomenon Of
| organized labor preparing to rally in sup
port Of republican presidential candidate.
The feeling that the trusts do not like
Roosevelt has been factor in this change.
| of labor sentiment. --..~ J..
This article has been written on the as
sumption that Roosevelt will have the re
publican nomination next year. Any
/ other assumption would do violence to the
! truth. It is; true that last winter while
| trust legislation was being urged on con-
gresss from the White House, and while
| the strike arbitration was at a critical
stage, strong efforts were made to induce,
| first Senator Hanna to enter the field
against Roosevelt for the nomination; and
afterwards, Senator Fairbanks. Both gen
| tlemen were taken upon high mountain,
| and shown all the treasures of the trust
world; but they did not yield to the temp
| tation. They knew what the result would
be to them. They saw the irresistible
| force with which the Roosevelt tide wa
even then gathering, and did not propose
l =
eral months gone by since the trusts have
thought seriously Of trying to prevent
Roosevelt's nomination. They have seer
that they could not bring into the nomina.
tion contest against him anybody who
could command the confidence OF the party
or Of the country. and. therefore. they
have changed their tactics. AS was point
ed out in the beginning of this article, i
is now their hope to secure the nomina.
| ton by the democrats Of some such mar
as Judge Parker of New York. Having
accomplished this, they propose to finance
the democratic campaign, combining 1t tt
the So called trust states Of the east, and
one middle west state. possible Indiana
and these; with the solid south, would al
most If not quite elect their man,
Obviously. the effect Of such victory
would mean the permanent retirement Of
i both Roosevelt and Bryan.
It should be said of the men who have
| evolved this plan that they do not know
politics any better than the coal operator.
last winter knew the labor problem; bu
that doesn't alter the fact that the plar
is a very real one, and that its promoters
are in earnest. They will probably fail
but that story will be told with best eff
feet after the elections next year.
/ II, as has been threatened. the trust.
undertake next year to prevent the nom
ination of Roosevelt thru railroad influence
in the several states, there will be trouble
for the trusts. The undertaking will fai
and the trusts will hasten the day Of still
further federal restriction. If such an at.
j tempt is made It will be due to the fac
that the trust managers are not politicians
and know nothing of how to manage
Dmen They will go down to defeat JUS
i rs the coal operators went down last win
4 ter This plan of interference with th.
nomination will probably never get be-