Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-28

and was unanimously ratified by the full
committee. AS to the Interpretation of
that plank, Senators Lodge, Foraker, Bev
eridge and HanSbrOugh helped to frame 1t,
and their opinions will have weight pro-
vided they are agreed as to what it means.
To Attack the Administration.
l have found myself a hereto on this
question of the tariff being the leading
issue. and since the convention adjourned
have been strengthened in that heretical
opinion. But it must be said that this
comes from talks with democrats rather
than with republicans. The democrats.
Being satisfied they can convince the coun-
try that their policy will not be wholesale
obstruction of schedules, are turning more
to the idea of a general onslaught on the
President and his administration. They
propose to attack all along the line. An
immense amount of missionary work is now
being done to heal up the minor differences
and all the factions are being encouraged
to believe that they can get together on
the anti-Roosevelt policy. That is the OPP
pc Sition view. 1t might be called the
negative side.
Now for the positive forces. In spite CT
the expressed opinions of the majority of
the republican delegates that the tariff
Will be the leading issue-and a very large
majority of those with whom l talked held
such cpinions-there was an undercurrent
of which they themselves hardly were con-
SciOuS tnat seemed to be carrying them the
other way. Those who followed the de tails
of the convention proceedings with the pur-
pose of noting its varying moods and catch
ing the drift could not fail to observe how
responsive the delegates and the onloOkerS
were to every reference to foreign affairs.
During the delivery of Secretary Roots
keynote address the portions which brought
out the most spontaneous and the heartiest
applause related to Cuba the Philippines
and Panama The isthmian canal never
was touched without bringing forth
instantaneous response.
Roosevelt Policies the Issue.
In the same way the broader questions of
national and international affairs received
prompt recognition. l noticed that this
was even stronger after the adjournment
in discussing the work of the convention
and of the campaign. In writing about this
aftermath chiefly concerns the demo-
Gratis a prophecy may be out of place and
a reputation as a political prophet may be
ruined, but 1 make the guess that within
a month after the st. Louis convention,
when the democratic candidate and the
democratic platform are before the people
for their discussion and Interpretation. the
issue of the campaign will have shaped
itself definitely as that of Roosevelt and
his policies. This is based on past expe-
| rience that the people, by the interest they
show in one dominating subject make the
| leading issue of a campaign, and no group
of politicians ever has been able to divert
| them from that in which they are inter
eSted.
1t may or may not be true some eminent
| republicans in and out of Congress would
| like to have an abstract issue, SO that in
the probable event of republican success
| their own influence will be strengthened
| but they are likely to be powerless in the
| face of what most interests the public 1t
| also should be said that President Roose-
velt's popularity. great 1t is In the west,
would be of little avail If his policies were
| not the basis of the support given him.
! The eminent republicans who would not
have minded a little upset for the Presi-
| dent and who, in fact, were seeking one
| would have had trouble If Mr. Roose-
| welt had struck the wrong chord in the
| measures of his administration. But 1t
! was by striking the right chord that he
| was enabled to go straight ahead without
| fear of petty jealousies or intrigues
| Concerning the democrats and their ex-
| pectations. those who are still lingering
| around Chicago admit long string of
| ifs in their program for rehabilitating
the party and making bid at least for the
partial confidence of the country. Giving
| them the benefit of the doubt and assum-
| ing that the IF we get conservative plat
| form and III we get the right sort of a
| candidate will be resolved in the affirma-
| tive 1t is worth noting what their plans
| are. That Is what they look upon as fight
| ing ground, not in the sense of having
much show to elect their candidate but
rather to pull the party together and worry
! the republicans. They take the map and