The National tribune., 1906-10-25
THE THIRD-TERM BOOMERS.
Who They Are, and What They Have in
Mind.

1t is nothing less than humorous to
watch Republican politicians fastening
to the White House with third-term
banners. Most of them formerly op-
posed Roosevelt, fought him at every
turn, would fight him now if they dared.
Gen. Grosvenor, Of Ohio, came down
from Ohio a few days ago, waving aloft
a magazine article he had just written,
arguing with all a trained lawyers in
genuity that there was nothing to do
but nominate Roosevelt once more. He
went to the White House with the arti-
Gle, talked with the reporters about the
third term and left the article with the
President.
Gen. Grosvenor himself assumed the
role of pen pusher only six years ago
at the Philadelphia Convention. and
wrote sizzling stuff for Mr.. Hearst's New
York American against Roosevelt. He
signed his name unblushingly to those
articles. Grosvenor has suffered defeat
in his own political district, will be out
Of the House Of Representatives after
March 4, and he wants an office. He
dissembles when the subject is men,
toned, but nevertheless Gen. Grosvenor
wants an office.
Another third termer has recently de-
scended on Washington. 1t was sur
prise when Senator Stephen B. Elkins,
of West Virginia, called at the White
House. and. departing. declared that
there was nothing else to do but nomi-
mate Roosevelt again. II there is Re-
publican in the Senate who has scoffed
at Rooseveltism, who has worked quiet
" against the President. who is not in
sympathy with what the President is
doing, it is Senator Elkins. The Presi.
dent understands him thoroly. Senator
Elkins, altho loyal to his yarty, loyal
enough to follow Roosevelt, altho at
heart dissenting, had no idea that his
boost for third term would deceive
the President.
But it would help up in the West Vir-
ginia mountains where there are many
enthusiastic Roosevelt followers. Mr..
Eikins is a candidate for reelection TO
the Senate. He has represented his
State in Congress with more credit, per
| haps, than any other Republican West
Virginia ever sent there, but he has
been in office long enough to arouse the
usual opposition from discontented and
! disappointed constituents. This is the
time when Mr.. Elkins is fighting for q
/ six-years' commission. A boost fol
Roosevelt will please the Roosevelt men
of West Virginia, and therefore helI
| Mr.. Elkins to a majority OF the Legis-
lature He must have good-sized ma
jority to win, and therefore he is on the
lanxi ous seat He is after every vote he
can get.
Search many of the third-term boom
ers and some reason like the above vii
be located. They are capitalizing thu
Roosevelt popularity for their own uses
/ OF course il is a tribute to Roosevelt
popular strength, and may indicate
very widespread sentiment for giving
him another term. But the reality D
the sentiment will be more apparen
after the November election, when tn
politicians have concluded their battle
4 and have nothing more immediate t.
vie for.
The third-term boosters might b
asked II Roosevelt is more popular will
the masses than Gen. Grant was? Per
haps as President he has been MGR
popular, but Grants popularity wa
deeply grounded. 1t was an endurini
popularity. He had powerful part
organization behind him.
{, However, Grant could not be nomi
: mated for a third term, even tho tina
5 was not a consecutive third term. I
Roosevelt stronger than Grant was? o
; are the people less tenacious of politica
traditions than was the preceding gen
2 Grafton, represented at the memorabi
: convention OF 1880 at Chicago?