The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-01-01

ernoT OF New o in 1898. He became
doubly a candidate when he was elect
ed vice president IN 1900 and con-
Quoted an ~unceasing campaign during
the few months he held that office.
his whole energy was devoted to the
problem OF securing the nominatio'l
and nothing has taken precedence
over that ambition since.
His tragic elevation to the presidency
cleared the field for him in a great
measure. While he was vice president
he had an active competitor in his
own state In Governor Odell. The
death OF President Mckinley removed
Odell as a possibility. II eliminated
Fairbanks OF indian and several
others who thought they might nave {.
chance. In addition to this the presi-
dent did some eliminating himself.
Notwithstanding his apparently clear
title to h nomination the president
has never been satisfied in his heart
that there is not some deep plot 70
take h nomination for him. He
has a suspicious mind and he fears
enat0r Hanna. 1t has recently been
announced from the White house, that
there IS a perfect understanding be-
tween the Ohio senator and the presi-
dent Color is given to this by the
statement that the president has asked
Senator Hanna to take the chairman
ship of the republican national conf
Inittee for the coming campaign. The
White house inference from this =.
quest is that the president would not
ask a man who is a possible compel
itor for the nomination the president
h;R0Cnlf Cllkc To conduct n ~ M on
for him. That is f~oolishness, the White
house sages say. 1t is also one OF
DIR. RooSevelt's shrewd methods of
taking advantage of opportunities and
of dragging people under his flag
whether they want to march there o:
not.
About once a week some one rises
up to say h nomination of Roosevelt
is not a certainty. Most of these SUBJ
caiibre politicians are Hanna shouters.
One or two shouts for Fairbanks. 1t IS
all noise. No sensible man who knows
the rudiments of national politics,
whether he is friendly or unfriendly
TO Roosevelt. even hopes that some
other may get the nomination.
HE WILL BE NOMINATED.
Roosevelt will be nominated-nom-
mated by acclamation-and all the
Hanna boomers and the Fairbanks
ShouterS will be there to split their
throats for him. He will retire to OyS-
ter Gay as soon as congress adjourns.
Probably he will be there when the
convention is in session. He will make
a few speeches to visiting delegations
and wait for the returns.
The president knows this as we'll as
anybody. Still that does moi prevent
the fear of opposition from haunting
him, nor deter him ron keeping
lively at his propaganda. Nor does 1t
prevent him from forcing every luke
warm supporter he can find to swear
allegiance at least twice a month. Mr..
Roosevelt is taking no chances. He
will keep steadily at work until the
nomination Ia been made. He will
play Roosevelt politics every day.
'.THE KING OF POLITICIANS"
Their has been a widespread dis
position to think Of President Roose-
welt as q theorist in politics, a re-
former, a sort OF republican with a
few mugwump attachments. Some OF
his 4. speeches have strengthened this
impression, probably without insincei-
atty on the presidents part. for there Is
pothing in his career, aside from his
speeches and his writings, to indicate
that he is a high-browed and haloed
professor at conditions. 1t Is but the
truth to say hat the president Is as
practical politician as the
has seen in many a with the
grosscr implication that term implies
removed. He is not a vote buyer or a
gang organizer or a tricksuer in legis-
lation or methods, but he is a prac-
teal politician. He knows the game
thoroughly. He plays it increasingly.
He went to a political kindergarten
to those skillful masters Jake" Hess
and Johnny" O'Brien in h days
when he was an aSSemblyman. He
o a dip into civil service and us
attendant reform under Harrison, but
he has never forgotten what he learned
i'm the early days in New York. II
addition he has absorbed from other
politicians all they kne He a the
guiding principle OF politics, DC
other or they will do you constantly
in his min Then, too, no man in
public life knows better how to get
public recognition for his acts. RooSe-
Welt is a great press agent. If he mad
gone into the show business he would
have had a greater circus than Bar
NUNS. He appreciates h value of the
lime,;ght and he stands in it con-
stantly.
He showed his line Of development
when he was governor. If his record
is searched II viii be found that Gov
ernor Roosevelt was almost constantly
with the Pfatt machine. He did whas
he was told to do in nearly every in
stance. The civil service reform Rocse
welt. author OF essays on American
ideals, played practical politics. Nc
blame attaches TO him for that, excapt
with the %altruists. Roosevelt was
conserving the interests of Roosevelt
AT THAT, Senator Platt tried TO sheive
him with the nomination for vice pres
SdenS. Roosevelt protested That was
the artificial Roosevelt. He accepted
That was the real Roosevelt
SET HIS CAP FOR THE WEST.
When he was fighting for the 1904
nomination.. after he had been noni-
mated for vice president ne early made
up his mind hat his better field was
the west. He devoted himselef to that
territory. He had friends in New
York. but he ka.w oje.i had ambl-
lions, and he thought to close up the
west and then try New York. He was
strong in Kansas. Utah. Idaho. Wyon.-
ing. Montana, the Dakotas n similar
states. They liked his dashing ways
and his apparent outspoken honesty