Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-28
PRESIDENTIAL FURRY
Speakers Remarks Yesterday
Livened Things Up.
MOODY SUGGESTED KNOX
And Also Caused Something Of a
Ripple.
WHAT WILL ROOSEVELT DO?
Cannon People Can't Be Convinced
That He VIII Be Out of It In
the Next Campaign.
WHAT WILL ROOSEVELT DO?

There has been a little furry OF interest
in republican presidential politics the past
few days. From time to time the subject
hobs up and the statesmen and politicians
turn from railroad rates and tariff to gossip
about candidates. Speaker Cannon's re-
marks upon his own political future. and
Attorney General Moody's suggestion of
Senator Knox as candidate served to
liven up the subject this week.
Speaker Cannor's frank utterances in The
Star yesterday were the first words that
have come from any one on the subject of
the presidency. If you try to talk to Mr..
Fairbanks about it. he bushes and changes
the topic of conversation. If you broach 1t
to Mr.. Taft he shakes his big frame with a
good-natured laugh. but there Is a pleased
little twinkle in his eye. Take 1T up with
Mr.. Root, and he looks anxious, as II he
wonders If you really mean it. Mr.. Knox
looks visibly pleased, and you get the i'm
preston that he thinks it might not be
such bad idea, after all. Mr.. Foraker
glances around to see If Senator Dick is in
hearing and then playfully says: Now
quit your kfddin.
Mr.. Cannon Not Fostering Himself.
But Mr. Cannon has blurted 1t right out
in meetin. He isn't pestering himself
about the presidency at all; he has his
work cut out for some time, and It's hard
job, too The republican party has some
big gullies to cross before It gets to the
presidential ford He doesn't pretend to
say that he would not take a nomination
II 1t was up to him, and he thinks no man
would decline. He says in effect to the
other candidates: 'Tu let you fellows walk
the floor for the present. II feel like 1t
will go after you later" Whereupon the
others doubtless heave a sigh of relief to
know that the Speaker is not putting up
his lightning rod just now.
The question that troubles the prospect
i've candidates most and makes the cold
dew come out on their brows is What will
Roosevelt do?" It's queer thing, but you
can't convince any one, hardly, that Roose-
welt will be out of 1t In the next cam
paign. Even If he doesn't head some popu-
lar movement himself, the politicians think
he will try to swing the nomination for
some friend
Many politicians believe that the Roose-
welt political dynasty is to be carried
through the next four years. in some form
or other, II the President can fix It. Some
people who talk with President Roosevelt
these days come away with the impression
that he believes he has mission to fight
the battles of the people and that he must
keep In power somewhere and somehow
Unquestionably the friends Of other pros
pective candidates will attempt to hold him
to the letter and spirit Of his announcement
last November that he would not seek an
other term In q little while now newspa-
pers around the country will be carrying
that statement permanently at the head Of
their editorial columns. III II does not fall
out that he Is forced into the running, by
pressure of public opinion the politicians
think that he will try to name the candi-
date No one ventures to say whom he
might choose as the recipient Of the politi-
cal prestige which he could bestow.
The Fairbanks Boom.
The Fairbanks boom Is entirely aloof
from the Roosevelt calculations, the poll
ticians say. The cautious Mr.. Fairbanks
Is playing his own hand and holding 1t
mighty close to his bosom. too. He does
not propose to draw any cards out of the
administration discard, 1t is said. The Root
prospects are mainly dependent upon de-
veiopment in business and financial AFFAIRS
and the possible issue between socialism
and conservatism. II the Cannon boom
comes on 1t will be peculiar unto itself. All
the other prospective booms have their In
dividuality and 1t remains to see which the
President would further, II he should do
eide to take an interest in the contest.