The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-27

The late VIM. l.. Wilson, referring to
our purchase of the Philippine Islands,
said: 1--WE have paid twenty mil
lion dollars for shooting privileges in
the Philippines" And he was right
about that as he was about most 9TH
er things 1t has often occurred to
me how much more the Rough Rider
| President would have enjoyed lead
| ing the Regulars in shooting down
the Filipinos than in distributing Of
fees.
But he is not taking any vacation
| this year, even if he is away from
! the seat of, government. He wishes
| to be reelected President, and he is
putting in his days and nights trying
| to make his calling and election sure.
| Those in a position to know say that,
While the President regards himself as
d man of destiny, he has been mighty
nervous since the Democrats "got to-
gether" and particularly since every
| independent paper in New York city
came out for Parker. He is hard at
prevailing sentiment here is that the
President and his advisers do not ex-
pect to carry New York, but while
they hope to do so they are banking
chiefly for victory upon solid West
and North, except New York and
possibly New Jersey. But absence
from the seat of government is not
giving Mr.. Roosevelt any recreation
except the sort that Benjamin Frank
lin recommended-a change of the
character of work. These are hot
days everywhere. but at oyster Bay
there is little time except to forge
campaign missiles. Ordinarily
Presidential candidate depends largely
upon the National Chairman, but hav-
ing selected his former capable pri
vate secretary for chairman, Mr..
Roosevelt will be 1.-The whole thing"
md will be particularly busy till No
vember. After election day he will
have time to make his political will.
pack up his goods, and vacate the
White House for Parker on the Fourth
of March.
Though it is very dull here, there
is activity at Democratic Congression-
al headquarters where Secretary Ed
wards and his assistants are kept busy
| They are sending out speeches by the
thousands, and the speech of Hon.
| Claude Kitchin is favorite in many
sections. Republicans have character
led that speech as "a brutal attack
upon the President" Nothing could be
more false. 1t is no attack at all
on the President. unless he has at
tackled himself or Hepburn and Gros-
veneer have attacked him. Mr.. Kitch
| in very cleverly brought to mind Mr..
Roosevelt's inconsistency and con-
trasted the utterances of the eminent
Republicans on Roosevelt before and
after taking. 1t was crushing to Hep
burn and Grosvenor and the Demo-
Gratis enjoyed it immensely. 1t was
also a powerful arraignment of Mr..
Roosevelt in his attitude toward the
South. 1t is speech that irritates
Republicans because it makes their
President and prominent party lead
ers convict themselves. 1t gave Mr..
kitchin great reputation, for he deliY-
cred it with fire and power that
marked him as one of the most elo-
quent men in the House.
There is widespread confidence here
among Democrats and Independents
that Parker will win. The Repub-
Iicans, who were confident and boast
full a few weeks ago, are now fairly
scared and feel that the result. is in
doubt, though the office-holders do
not admit a possibility of Roosevelt's
defeat. j. d.