The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-25
HIS GREAT FAILING.

teHCfts, duo to HIS HaUft or making aS- sertions without first being sure of his facts, The New York Post says;
 After the Presidents heated asser- tion to Mir. Gompers. a few weeks ago. that the eight-hour law had been rig idly enforced by this administration, It is somewhat disconcsrting to get the the morning that. from this day on. the said law Is to be enforced. The great benefits" which are to result to the and and it is iatimated that a a benevolent government, with endless resources will be delighted to pay more than A IS presume that this Is to be taken as a part of that Republican campaign into which. t is said. the President will soon lins himself; if he does not take take after elections are won that MT. Roose- welt becomes non pa rttsan: Let the signal for the electoral battle sound, of that old zeal which once led him to say that he would vote for. the worst Republican before he would for the ssis esis h sfter the ballots ars H' ai cast from quietly adopting Democratic poll icies.
 President. that of going off half cooked" to use an old expression. and he Is continually getting himself and his admirers into embarrassing posi-, tons by his failure to reflect before shooting of his mouth" and by neg iecting to fortify himself with facts before making charges. promises or predictions. The case brought up by The Post with reference to the eight hour law is but one of number of instances of like nature. No doubt when he made the positive and heated assertion some weeks ago he thought himself correct, but he didn't know 1t. and his lack of knowledge caused him to assert that which was not fact. His later pledge that from this day on the law shall be rigidly enforcsd' Is open to the same objection. because he doesn't know if it either win or can be done. He may conscientionsiy try to enforce It and fail and then what will his assurance be worth7
 And how can any one put faith in the Presidents statement q little while back. that he was not going to inter LcIE HI 4NCW A0EA St8s0 ROAAtaN~f ~ is just as impossible for him to keep from butting in as it is for him to keep silent. He is partisan by nature and habit, as he has shown on occasions almost without number. To expect him to remain quiet or neutral when Republican ascendency in his own State Is threatened. and when the fate of his friends is doubtful, Is tanta- mount to eonfessing ignorance of the man.
 But there is something else that will render it impossible for him to keep out of New York politics. Governor Higgins Is his man. politically and otherwise. and there is combination or conspiracy on the part of Platt odell and some others to put Higgins down and out. Nor is that the worst of 1t for these recaleitrants have bold ly announced that their intention is not oaly to defeat and retire Higgins but to eliminate President Roosevelt from the political situation in New York State"
 That is direct challenge. and to ( man of Roosevelt's temperament 1t fl q challenge that will be accepted will be accepted not merely because h. is not the man to take a dare, but be cause such elimination would be se' were blow to his influence, not only lE his own State but elsewhere. New York Is the largest State in the Union and has more than once been the piv' otal factor in elections. and 1t is hii own State. If he loses out in this fight 1t will be something of knock out to his self-esteem and his iniiu- ence. At the same time factiona l fight there would almost surely result | in turning the State over to the Demo. crats, provided they can be unified and | harmonized. All things considered | Roosevelt may as we'll be looked on al in the fight to stay.
 | There are two good things that couit happen in New York that would b' very much to the advantage of th' | Democrats. One of them Is likely ant | the other is at least doubtful Th' first is continuation of Republical
 strife and division. A factional ngh | with odell, Platt and others on on' 1 side and Roosevelt, Higgins and thet | adherents on the other will mean vic
 tory for Democracy. provided the othe desirable end can be accomplished
 That end is the elimination of Hears l as a disturbing factor. We look oi him as wholly without political princi
 ple, and as a man who firmly believe
 that money can accomplish anything
 He wants to be Governor of New Yorl and will spend his money freely t
 gratify his ambition. We do not be
 Iieve 1t possible for a Democratic con
 vention to nominate him, for tha
 would mean defeat without a shadoI
 of doubt, in our judgment.
 On the other hand, If he Is not nomi
 mated it is more than probable that h
 will run as an independent, and tha
 also, would mean Democratic defea
 even with q divided opposition. l
 other words. Hearst has 1t in his powe
 to give the State to the Republicans
 he chooses to do so. and the chance
 are that he will do it to sratify hi
 malice because of his rejection q
 Democratic leader. or because he wi
 entertain the hope of winning throug
 the power of his millions But, how ever. 1t may result, nobody need pt
 ar,, .onada3ca tn inc Praaident's nied q