New-York tribune., 1904-10-25
CANDID AND CoGENT VIEWS.
Why Roosevelt Should Get the Independent
Vote

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Nearly all the writers who have been urg- /
ing Us to vote for or against the election Of Mr..
Roosevelt have been addressing themselves more !
or less directly 10 the independent voters and yet
their arguments either way faL 10 reach or con- |
vince that class
Il Is but natural To the true Republican or the |
true Democrat except IN extraordinary circun- /
stances. such as occurred in 1895 II must be the /
party hrst: the individual the personality. is only
q second consideration On the other hand the /
independent voter Will re inclined to consider the (
Individual and his character as most Important, /
particularly so when the parties really differ as
IttIe as they do now. II in their platforms. 81
least y the negative views of one Of their candl-
dates.
It IS generally admitted that the present nom
tnea was only second considerable with great
many II not majority Of the Republican leaders,
and that he was their second choice because they
had no choice left II seek the reason for this
opposition fnd that it is entirely to the credit
Of the candidate. AT the height Of the widest
period Of Wan Street gambling in the history OF
our country the President was advised by his Al
torney General that the formation Of the Northern
Securities Company Illegal sand he ordered pro
ceedings against it, This Brought almost the whole
OF the wall Street influence which before had been
more or less evenly divided between the two great
parties 10 bear against the President Certain as
he was tLeu of his partys nomination thar ne
should have run The risk Of losing It 20 do his duty
by the people IS fact Ihar voter should forget
The first objection generally made by those Wao
oppose the Presidents reelection is the Interference
which brought the end OF the great coal strike
Il Is admitted that the result was for the pubic
GOOD: that, as the winter coming un but for
the Presidents course the suffering would have
been widespread and terrible But, We are told
think of the dangers OF allowing the Executive
with all his power snd patronage to step outside
Of his Office and do things as ndivid-4ii Those
are dangers only with weak and vacLlatlns per-
sonaIity, one who would not know when TO begin.
and therefore when TO stop. Besides. does not all
this remind little Of the old story about
people who objected curing the sick ass on the
Sabbath day
The most conspicuous objection relates the
Panama Canal. We might say Of that "Alls well
that ends Well" sun, allow that, pro
forna q little more suaviteI in modo would have
eased our feelings We powerful, and they
are so weak. II could but deal with our sister
republics III the southern part OF our continent
strong and gentle might deal with some errsuc
ard unfortunate female relative. We would accom-
plish the impossible Il is conceded there was no
urougdolng by the President or by his adminstra-
ton. and that are going 10 build the canal,
II all the more important TO nave in the White
House strong man, whose whole public life stands
pre-enlInentIy for honesty IN the public service.
All those fears Of executive encroachHeuts would
perhaps have more effect on The independent vote
II both great parties were not singing exactly the
same IN two different States. IN Missouri
are told that Mr.. Folk IS dangerous man. am
bilious man, yes honest, but ambitious. and al
kinds Of insinuationa made that in 8 republic
an ambitious Is more 10 be feared than a
merely loose or even slightly dishonest official In
Wisconsin the fight within the party has been more
open. yst again tcld that Governor La Fol-
letts is the incarnation OF danger and ambiton-s
I veTitsbe peril 10 the State. The great fault and
peril the conplainants really fear is that these men
have the ambition 20 serve the people before the
party: hence their danger TO the system. Every
argument OF that class used against the President
ing US that through nis whole political career ne
has aiWdys been ambitious 70 serve the people who
Tho cleaning Of the postofice is a case in point.
must have been suspected during several admin
istrations and YET President Roosevelt is tie first
To have had the ambition 10 prOoe those frauds.
our national expenditures have vastly increased.
that being primarily re TesPonsbe for 55e 70 war pS %tb
Spain ana the main car Sc Of our Increased expendI
lures IS no" crying out loudly against them with
out pointing the way 70 any practical reductions?
No., t'9 e ~ 7r1+rS f-'1, y Ihs Ao1cos
definition and that II were to guarantee the ter
lean Comment se9inst a1v rons on f 'iiT MD
not help becoming more Or less morally involved
and responsible TOT their International behavior.
Whatever then tends TO clearer definitions and
restriction VIl make for peace and not for var.
avoiding mislndeTstandtngs. which can only lead
We hear iron. some quarters the greatest cutlery
publican Comrlittee That gentleman can Only feel
eeH-piiiasAiel as 80, II re ne 3aH ngt been nj Tor the
cess Only comes 70 those who are practical me
dreamer the ''f=tormer.' viii only meet win sue
cess for uis theories Waen ne adapt himself
rsopie can any one blame the Pres dent for Irrl5e
IS manage OF his campaign the person lie thought
fhr most Euel Tor that position
We hear q great ueai ~ The differences between
- +b-a. branches -of the government the Iee-f~ .3
I'VE tae Judicial and the executive. This last as
HE name implies. IS the active branch. To be a
GOOD executive officer requires special training ana
rHa hest judicial mind viii rarely be the best sx-
arf.ttye The positive and active qualities OF g
,rc4 executive totally different from ne rather
siVe and mega tive qua fies o. good iudEe.
~ e,r7 up. the only danger we see in the "a
s1effor OF me President IS the had element fn
ne rarrv. that he should have been able 10 con
0tler and dominate the system ls entirely 10 his
credit
3.fr rrICuenr received by the system Of mis-
uartv kis close afHIaton with leader in his own
STE who has always stood for what was most
-err,,nr n politics and whose antaEonisrn 10
~ p-asid-nt CleVe eiand should never be FORGOTTEN
- rbe independent voter, his passive and negative
,6Sffion az exemp.hed by his utterances on trusts
'.sf.rrfng them 10 the common law ali tend 70
,,r-Je that would be entirely ruled by hg party
the best element IN H.
We fherefore. stand convinced that tha cause