Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-11-30
What 1t Means.

paralleled Endorsement President
Roosevelt has received it would be
the election of so many democratic
governors. 1t is so unusual in polit-
/ ical landslide for the victorious party
not to sweep the boards, that it is
difficult to realize that such contrasts
could be presented in election re-
turns. In the end more significance
will attach to this apparent contradic-
ton of purpose on the part of the
voters than to even the unprecedent-
ell republican popular majority and
the majority in the electoral college.
What does it mean that in Mime
sofa democratic governor has been
chosen, when Roosevelt has carried
the state by l25,000 majority? What
does 1t mean that Douglas wins in
Massachusetts,, Folk in Missouri,
Adams in Colorado? What does it
mean that Governor La Toilette, in
spite of the bitter opposition of the
old republican organization of the
state, has received a popular majority
almost equalling that ofthe presi-
dent?
In Colorado the conditions affect
ing the local result are peculiar to
the state. But in Minnesota how can
the defeat of Dunn be interpreted to
mean other than that the people
while indorsing Roosevelt could not
at the same time indorse the fight Of
j. j. Hill and the merger combine
against Governor Van SAINT? In Mas
sachusetts what does the election of
Mr. Douglas mean excepting that
the same men who were insistant on
giving the old Bay state to Roosevelt
were bound to give it to an advocate
OF tariff revision and reciprocal trade?
In Missouri what does the coupling
OF the names OF Roosevelt and Folk
mean excepting that the same stamp
of approval that was put upon the
clean record of the president was
decreed to be put upon the meritor-
ious services of the aggressive an
tagonist of the boodlers' combine?
In Wisconsin what does the oblitera-
4 ton OF the stalwarts mean excepting
that in his hand to hand fight for
just railway regulation and decent
primary elections, Governor La Fol-
lette has developed somewhat of the
quality that the people recognize as
Rooseveltian?
In other words, is there any inter
probation that can be put upon these
apparently anomalous election re-
turns other than that the people have
indorsed in Roosevelt those qualities
and those purposes that they recog-
nize without regard to political af-
filiatlons in these other men-his ag-
gressive, fearless, progressive and
independent stand for decency in
politics and a square deal for every
American citizen? Where is there
any warrant for the belief that the
American people have asked the
president to SLOW up? Where is
there any warrant for the belief that
they wish him to stand pat?
Where is there any warrant for the
belief that they fear his radical tend
encies towards tariff revision, towards
trust restriction, towards railway
regulation. towards annexing mark
cts?
1t is impossible to explain the
election returns on any other theory
than that the people chose Roose-
velt because he was Roosevelt, and
the Roosevelt they think they know
they have designated in their
selection OF other men for positions
of responsibility, according as they
have seemed to measure up to the
Roosevelt standard. There is alb
solutely no escape from the conclus-
ion that the president has been given
a carte blanche Endorsement. There
are no ifs nor ands in his instruc-
tions lie has been put in no leading
strings, neither have any wise and
conservative guardians been appoint
ed to assist him in managing his
affairs. Not even have warming
signals been set up along the track
to mark the places timid souls re-
gard as dangerous. He enters upon
his second term with free field,
unhampered, his past record and
his future purposes gathered from
that record, stamped and blown in
the bottle with uproarious approval
No one expects President Roose-
welt to run amuck. No one expects
! him to split his party, nor to break
up his administration. No one ex.
poets him to pursue Il course of radi.
j callslh lllat VIII get nm so lar ahead
9 of the main procession as to lose his
connection with it. But it is impos
! sible to see how he can avoid, OF car
Z be expected to attempt to avoid, the
! course the logic of his own pas
3 record, and of the public indorse
Z ment it has received, ineyitabl,
) points toward. President Roosevelt
3 cannot drop his fight against illega
2 combinations of capital withou
0 repudiating his own past and aifront
3 ing the public that has cheered hin
z on. He cannot drop his efforts TO
y trade expansion and tariff changes
: he cannot drop his fight for jus
6 railway regulation, he cannot dro]
9 his fight for the equal recognition 0
" oil 1nnn nnda. 1 ho lnur ,,oc.n.l lors. Z,