The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-08-02
A RECORD TO STAND ON.

along the line OF progress and the
greatest good to the greatest num-
Der. The party has kept abreast
the times to the smallest detail.
Take the last Congress for exam
pie. What Congress since the
Civil war has performed such mo-
mentous legislation? Great vital
reforms have been accomplished.
lntOlerable abuses have been eX-
posed, which enemies of the party
are quick to charge TO it, but who
have never dared to apply the
remedy. The Republican party
has met every issue and answered
them fully.
These thoughts suggest a recent
editorial in the New York World,
which quotes the Buffalo Times
as complaining that the Republi-
cans intend to make President
Roosevelt all issue, to which the
World replies, why not?" This
great Democratic organ then en-
larges upon the subject and gives
its reasons, why not?" as follows:
'N1r. Roosevelt has really done
extraordinarily we'll in the matter
of curbing trusts, monopolies and
corporations. 1t is easy enough
to say that he might have done
more, but the fact remains that in
coping with the abuses of organ
lied capital he has done much
better than any one of his prede-
cessors in the White House, and
while he has been doing it he has
succeeded in holding his party to-
gether. He has forced a rate law,
a meat inspection law and a pure
food law through Congress. He
has enforced the antitrust law as
none Of his predecessors ever
dreamed of doing. He is enforcing
the anti-rebate law with vigor and
success. He is moving against
the most powerful and most un-
popular corporation in the world,
the Standard Oil Company.
Let US assume that the Demo
Gratis nominate Mr.. Bryan on a
platform demanding the curbing
of corporations and destruction of
trusts and monopolies. Mr.. Roose-
Welt has already appropriated these
issues. In large measures he has
made them his own. Will not his
party demand his denomination on
the ground that having instituted
these reforms he is theological can
didate for President in order that
he may complete his work? Will
Mr.. Roosevelt be able to resist
such an appeal?
IF it should come to the pinch
of choosing between Mr.. Roose-
welt, with his record Of substantial
achievement, and an untried ex-
ecutive like Mr.. Bryan, with a
handicap Of dead issues, would not
the sober business elements of the
country select Mr.. Roosevelt as
the lesser eviio Would not the
very men who are now denouncing
him for what they call 'meddling
with business" support him in
preference to som e bod who
claimed to be far more radical?"
We take it that President Roose
welt is not worrying himself wheth-
er he is to be the choice of his par
ty for the Presidency in 1908. He
has stated that he would not under
any consideration accept the re-
nomination. Just how far he would
be able to hold out against the
wishes of his party should it de
sire his denomination is a matter of
serious conjecture He has helped
make the record Of the party, and
if it should please the Republican
party to nominate him in 1908 he
would, for the sake of his party
and the perpetuation of its splen-
did record, be willing, we have no
doubt, to lay aside his personal
feelings in the matter and accept
the preferred honor. why not?'
YOUNG MEN IN POLITICS.