Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-04-21
HAVE WE LOST MIR. ROOSEVELT

HAVE WE LOST MIR. ROOSEVELT2
President Roosevelt is as yet the
centre Of attraction in this country.
The Richmond. Va Times-Dispatch
has been seeing much in him to com
mend and ne has been hailed as the
Moses that would lead the Demo
cratic hosts in the ENGRAVING of
planks from the Democratic plat
form upon the statute books OF this
country But it seems that Mr..
Roosevelt is somewhat impartial and
ne Is now intimatng that there is
plank in the Socialistic platform
that would meet his approval. while
at the same time being of benefit
TO the laboring elements OF the Uni
ted States. The language used by
him and which has caused such
sensation is as follows:
CAS- a matter of personal convic-
ton, and without pretending 90 dis
cuss the details or formulate the
system. I feel that we shall ultimate
Is have TO consider the adoption OF
some such scheme as that Of a pro
gressive tax on an fortunes. beyond
la certain amount. either given i'm
life or divised or beQueathed upon
death 90 any Individual tax so
framed as 20 put 10 out OF the
power of the owner of one OF these
enormous fortunes 20 hand over
more than certain amount TO any
one Individual. the tax, of course
20 De imposed by the National and
not the State Government Such
taxation, should. of course. be aimed
merely at the Inheritance or trans
mission i'm their entirety of those
fortunes swollen beyond all healthy
limits"
The Times-Dlspatch says.
The sum and substance of this.
is that no man should DE allowed 90
accumulate beyond a point to be FIX
ed by law. when he reaches that
point his property is TO be confsca-
ted. No long haired politician OF
the wild and woody West ever preach
ed doctrine more populistic than
that Put q limit upon the amount
.ot money man may accumulate. or
dispose OF by will. and YOU will have
put a limit upon human endeavor.
What man would exert himself be-
yond his lawful accumulation. If he
knew That the excess was TO be con-
iscated2
Mr.. Roosevelt got away from his
Republican moOrings long ago. and
d. was thought at one time that he
rrra
ty; but he is going fartner-mucl
farther. He is well on the way 90
populism. Revolutions never go
backward"
This language IS amusing 90 an
observer AS for Mr.. Roosevelt he
has passed the Populist Party and
ne now stands up to his boot-straps
in the alleged mud and mire Of the
Social Party
The Republican Party must be
gagged by it's platform and applying
this rule of measurement. Mr.. Roose
welt is as much the representative
Of that organization now as is Mr..
Bryan. We think Mr.. Cleveland
was far more of Democrat at the
time of his break with his party asso
ciates than is Mr.. Roosevelt a Repub
lican at the present time.
He ignores planks in the party
platform, when he desires and in
sists upon the adoption of others.
when IL is his own sweet pleasure.
This distinguished occupant Of the
White House IS a unique and bril-
liant character. We do not believe
that we shall see his ike again
within the next fifty years.
With the conclusion OF his policy
will come the disintegration of the
Republican Party. unless a new lead
er with as much magnetic influence
and power as he possesses arises up
on the horizon and persuades the be
wildered cohorts Of this powerful
organization to follow him. In the
meantime, the question arises, Have
we lost Mr.. Roosevelt?