The Washington times., 1906-12-30
Complaint Voiced by a
Representative From
That Section.
ROOSEVELT THEIR IDEAL
Declares They WillNot Stand
for MaChine-Made
Candidate.

1t has often been said i'm recent years
that the poorest place in America in
which to learn what the people of the
United States are thinking about s
Washington. BY the time public opin-
ION gets strained through the colanders
and sieves and fJnnels and refrigerat-
ing apparatus that intercept it on the
way 10 this town. by the time pOliti-
clans with Interest" and Interests
that are in politics give their particular
color TO il. political news as it gets un-
derstood in Washington is apr 10 be
considerably disCOlOTed.
That isn't Washington's fault: il is
the fault OF the smoked lens through
which Washington has 10 see its poll
tics.
For one thing. Washington is ac-
cused by Nvesterners of being too much
like New York; il doesn't know that
there is anything worth while west OF
the Allegheny mountains This is really
a slander on the Capital City. This
town can see as far West as Chicago,
while New York by the utmost strain OF
its vision isn't able 10 detect a thing
west of Railway.
Must Reckon With the West.
That was the burden of the complaint
voiced yesterday by a WestemeT. who
had some views of his own about the
1908 Republican nomination for Presi-
dent. lie was airing his views aprOpos
of the Taft-FoTaker discussion, and he
made clear that in his opinion the Re-
publiCans must waken up TO the fact
that there is a lot of territory west of
Indiana if they expect 10 be in the 1908
race.
''The politicians" declared the West
eTner, ARE planning To dump Roose-
Neltism. They count their strength i'm
the East aud South and figure up
enough votes to control a nominating
convention. All very well. so far as the
nomination goes but let me predict Il at
any Republican nominated by tire re-
habilitated machines of the Eas and
the impotent. corrupt organizations that
Hanna founded in the South. viii be
mighty shy at the polls. Just remem-
Der that any little old borough out
beyond the Missouri has more electoral
votes in it for a Republican ticket than
the whole solid South, and you Will see
what I'm getting at
Not to Be Counted Out.
The big West isn't going to bc count
ed out in this fight. Not if il knows
itself. Neither is it going TO deliver up
ats bunch of electoral votes TO "a can
didate nominated by the regaIvanized
Quay-Platt-Han machines. plus the
Southern postmasters.
These people who are talking about
nominating Fairbanks for President.
ought 10 go out West and learn that
Fairbanks couldn't possibly carry the
Sc \
60 Tor Bryan. Try II and see.
'That applies just as well to Root cr
Lodge or Foraker or Cannon The West
doesn't care where the man comes from.
1t would defeat Shaw, a Westerner. tust
as promptly as it would peat Loa7 "A
New Englaudcr. What .ha West wants
Is not Western man. but a man with
Nssteru views.
ne backbone Of RooseveIt's strength
has always been in the West Yet he Is
New Yorker. and on he -aca of the
returns from every election IN which lie
ever had his name before 'he 1eopla of
New York, lie is weak at home. But
the West believes in him The West
doesn't wear whiskers and 20 pOpuIisric
any more, but 1t is chock full of dena-
tured popullsm-eyerything there but the
name. 1t isn't ready for a swing hack
toward safety and sanity. 1t likes lhIs
Rooseveltian tendency, and wants an
other try. II knows that Roosevelt h;ts
not achieved much new and progressive
legislation, hut it also knows how diff
cult II Is TO make progress in su.l cir
cumstanees. And it is determined ,hat
the night shall be kept going.
Recalls Recent History.
The West is nightly in earnest
about its politics these times Do vor
remember how Minnesota went 100 09
1or Roc sevelt and the mo day elecUe+
a Democratic governor Do VA recl,
the political cataclysm In Illinois that
brought Deneen to the 'front.' Or what
happened in Wisconsin when La FoUett
was borne into the realm OF big af
fairs? Has Folk. of Missouri. got ou
OF your mind, or Cummins, OF Iowa
Do you realize that Nebraska is thi.
winter turning out Senator MiIlard fl
order 10 put I'm his place q young lawye
who, as attorney general fought an,
defeated the railroads? Do YOU recoI