The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-08-31
The Drift Toward Roosevelt.

There is abundant reason to believe
that at this time the drift of political
preference is setting strongly toward
Roosevelt.
The democrats have failed to raise
an issue that interests the people.
Judge Parker has killed the tariff as an
issue by confessing that with republi-
can senate nothing could be done to re-
form the tariff if he should be elected
and a democratic house chosen with
him.
New York has constitutional club,
q quasi-political organization of dis
tinguished lawyers like James G.. Car
ter and John g. Carlisle, who meet to
spin fine theories about the presidential
prerogative and the limitations of the
constitution. These men have decided
that Mr.. Roosevelt is dangerous man
because he does not read chapter in
the constitution every night before he
goes to bed. But their lawyers argu-
ment, that there must be constitu
tional warrant for it every time the
president turns around and that no
emergency be safely met that was
not anticipated and prescribed for by
the fathers hundred and fifteen years
ago, does not reach the people at all.
They know that President Roosevelt is
patriotic and honest and that he is adj
vised by men as wise and as faithful to
our institutions his captious critics,
and they believe in him.
AS for the Philippines, no excitement
can be aroused over the difference be-
tween the republican position and the
democratic as interpreted by Judge
Parker. The republicans propose to aid
the Filipinos toward selfgovernment
Dust as fast as they can go, without
making any definite promise just now as
to when selfgovernment shall be inaug
urated. Judge Parker and his advisers,
not one of whom has ever been in the
Philippines, denounce the republican
policy as imperialism, and declare that
we should make the promise OF self
government now. Judge Taft, who has
achieved distinction as the governor Of
the Philippines, thinks that to turn over
the authority in the islands to the ma
tives now would be to precipitate an
archy and strife, and that to make
promises of independence or complete
selfgovernment now would create de-
gree of impatience and dissatisfaction
over the inevitable delay that would
work great harm in the islands. Popu-
lar feeling is not and cannot be
aroused over this matter, for the peo-
pie know that If Judge Parker were
president, and the democrats were in
full control Of the government, they
could do nothing materially different
as to the Philippines from the policy
inaugurated by Mckinley, followed by
Roosevelt and executed by such wise
and patriotic men as Taft. There is
no 'bugle CALI in this WORKOUT issue
of imperialism and it is doubtful if
it does not disgust and ALLEVIATE more
votes than it wins.
There is only one topic in the demo
cratic list of issues that can be pre-
sented with effect; that one is effec-
tive in only one part of the country,
and in that part of the country it will
not change single electoral vote.
The race issue raised over the Booker
Washington incident is so absolutely
silly that if it has any material effect
upon the result it will be because it
reveals a degree of narrowness and
subservlency to mere prejudice that
will cause the practical business demo
Gratis of the north to hesitate to place
the country under the dominance Of
southern political leaders who, in the
event Of democratic success, would