The St. Louis Republic., 1903-10-31
Will HAMA COME OFT:

Politics i q game i'm which maa does the pro-
p, sing and something which men call chance
does the di>posina. Prccminently il is the game
in which the hest laid schemes are most apt TO
gang aglcy. In politics nothing is certain until IL
is accomplished: otherwise there would he no
NERVOUSNESS on election night and candidates
would take no interest in returns; and nothing is
less certain than a nomination.
Mr. RooSevclt's nomination lay the Republican
party has for twelve months more been popu-
lsrly viewed rs strong probability: has been popu
larly anticipated. with varying degrees Of conf
dence. The causes OF confidence are easy OF ex-
PLANTATION. Tradition and sentiment and popular
qualities have combined to further his candidacy.
Mr. RoosevcIt's popularity" his personal ap-
peal the people. has been the strongest force he
hind his ambition. Therein lay his first strength.
II was this upon which his presidential aspirations
first seized. II is chiefly this upon which his can
didacy has rested. Whether his popularity is aS
substantial now rs it was twelve months ago is 4
matter of some doubt Whether, indeed. Mr.. RooSe-
welt IS as highly esteemed now 10y the mass Of peO
pie he was AT the conclusion Of the Spanish War
Is doubtful.
Just before his nomination To the Vice PreSi-
dcncy he rode high upon popular wave. Thrust
into the Vice Presidency however. he melted from
view. With his ascendency 10 the executive post
The popular hero was suddenly rehabilitated. Then
after time his appeal 10 the people waned. his
popularity reaching its low cbh Immediately after
the congressional election of 1902. Enthusiasm
was in measure restored by his frank seeking Of
the nomination and his Western tour In the spring
Of this year.
Mr. Roosevelt has made several mistakes in the
interim since the last flare of enthusiasm. The
difficulty Of the department scandals confronted
him Immediately upon his return from The West:
and he failed 10 do what he should nave done-tO
manifest 4 strong bare hand instead of temporizng
with the scandals His mistaken policy in Federal
appointments and his dOor-of-hOpe caSuistry have
been patent. obviously he erred in the Russian in
cident. In the Beirut affair he has been made 10
appear nothing less than ridiculous-hut ii should
be fairly acknowledged that portion Of the press
behaved uDjustly toward him in this instance.
Other mistakes none of them vital hut all Of them
conspicuous. have rather detractcd from than
added TO the strength Of Mr. Roosevelt the popu
lar or personal side.
Whether his weakness for urging the uudsputed
moralities has affected his Sunding with the mass
Is is difficult TO judge. Safe to say. however. most
people had heard of the Ten Commandments before
Mr. Roosevelt discovered them and most people
already possessed settled convictions upon the
ject of babies old maids, bachelors. divorce and
various other questions more less related TO the
rcSide; and il is than possible that his moral
disquSitlons have seemed n bit trlte and unneces-
Sary: and moreover that while he gave his time 10
these things a good many immediate and important
problems affecting the nation were being neglected
1t is not easy to gauge enthusiasm or popularity
now. Nothing has occurred recently which would
afford a test. There has been no occasion for
manifestations or expressions from the people 'In
the air nevertheless, slight Indications. That
which we know the political atmos-
phere tells story of declining favor.
Whether these considerations have induced in
Mr. Marcus \. Hanna the belief that Mr.. Roose
welt may he beaten for the nomination is a pOt-
icaI question Of the hour Hanna is admittedly one
OF the abIest men who ever filled the position OF
Of the Republican National Committee.
and news comes that he has decided not to serve
in that capacity in the coming campaign. A rea
son he must hsvc, powerful reason; and fair
is that he intends Orit against
Mr.. Roosevelt.
Should he do the nation viii witness a wire
pulling contest Of heroic proportions. for the Pres
dent himself is 4 practical politician of mean
caliber and has in two short years built up con
siderable machine strength.