Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-03-22
CAREER AS SENATOR
is ROoSEvELT'S AIM

(William E. Curtis Correspondence oil
Chicago Record-Herald.)
WASHINGTON-Jac Riis may
seek notoriety by proclaiming a third
term for the president and other IDOL
aters may hope and pray for such
thing. but Theodore Roosevelt will not
be betrayed or become entangled by
his fool friends. His destiny is mark
ed out for him, and wnen he has nm
ished his presidential term he hopes
to get a job at the other end of the
avenue.
In the meantime he intends II pos
sible to travel and do little shooting.
He saw a good deal OF Europe and
went as far as Constantinople during
his college days, but that was a good
while ago, and things have changed
since. He has a great desire TO go
around the world. He wants to visit
India, China and Japan and the Phil
lppine islands have irresistible at
fractions for him. II he could be
spared tomorrow he would start Tor
Manila and have Leonard Wood ready
to meet him with couple OF guns
and horses on his arrival for a plunge
into the primeval forest. He can
think OF nothing that ne wonld enjoy
more, and talks about 1t continually
with his intimate friends. But that
would be only diversion, he could
not find steady employment as a hunt
er and traveller, and his ambition
rests upon seat in the United States
senate.
There has been some talk Of max
ing him president of Harvard college,
and II you vii make Inquiries at Cam
bridge you will find many people who
consider the matter as good as set
tied. Down there they will tell you
that although President Eliot is old
and weary, he intends to hang on I'M
til the end of Roosevelt's term and
keep the presidential chair warm for
him. BIT although scholar by in
stinct and devoted to the welfare of
his alma mater. Colonel Roosevelt
does not feel fitted for sucn posi-
ton. 1t does not suit his taste. He
wants more active life, and likes
politics better than any other occu-
patton.
There is one thing certain, and that
is he does not intend to be placed on
the shelf. When his term as presi
dent expires he will be few months
past 81 years old; just at the prime
of manhood, and the period of high
est usefulness Two-thirds of our
presidents were older than that when
they were inaugurated. He has not
the slightest idea OF third term; ne
knows that such thing Is impossible
and In violation of the traditions of
the country. and not on,y has author
lied no one to suggest such thing,
but the talk Is very offensive to him
He makes no secret of his ambition
to come to the senate from the state
OF New York. He talks about it free
ly, and any one who has doubts on the
subject has only to call at the White
House and Introduce that topic of con.
versation. The president will tell him
travel for year or so and then re
sumo his active interest in politics
and make the senate II possible. He
declares frankly that his ambition lies 1
there, and that he hopes to realize
It, He can not help being a leader.
He is built that way.
The term for which Senator Platt
was elected expires simultaneously
with that of President Roosevelt
March 3, 1909, Senator Depews term
expires March 3, 1911. Senator Platt
will be 76 years old and Senator De
pew Will be rs on those dates, and
1t is not likely that either of them
Will care to serve any longer. At
any rate. one of those two seats will
no doubt be available by the time the
president is ready to move out of the
White House: and the signs in the
sky do not require an astrologer to
determine whether he is preparing for
such contingency He was always
against the machine until he came to
the White House. but while president
he has recognized 1t as entitled to
consideration. His first prominence
in politics was gained as matineer at
the presidential convention of 1884.
and he has never been in entire har-
mony with the bosses. He believes In
organization, however, and yon may
be sure that from this time on he
viii have hand in whatever happens
In the politics of New York.
Ex-presidents ought to go to the |
senate as representatives of the coun.
try at large. There ought to be a CON |
sututional amendment requiring tnem |
to pass from the White House to the |
capitol Immediately upon the inaugur-
alton of their successors, and to re- |
main there for life; first, because |
their experience and knowledge would
he OF the greatest beneht TO the coun.
Try; second, they would he free from
partisan and personal motives, and.
fnird they would be placed upon n pc
lestal where their regulations could
not be damaged or dignity soiled. If
General Grant mad gone 10 the senate
he might have been preserved from
ne conspirators of whom he was a
'iotim In Wall street, and President
cleveland would not now he sitting
Is an umpire of insurance squabbes.