Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-18
FAVOR ROOSEVELT
VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS WANT
HIM NEXT TIME.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va, February Is.
James II. Lindsay, member Of the suf-
rage committee Of the recent constitution
al convention and editor Of the Daily Prog
ress. the leading democratic paper Of this,
the seventh congressional district, the home
OF Senator Thomas 8. Martin and Repre-
sentative James Hay, Is out today with the
following editorial Endorsement of President
Roosevelt, whom he regards as the most
available man for the democrats to nomi-
nate in 1908:
There is a large element in tho demo-
cratic party, especially Of the south and
west, which would be glad to see Theodore
Roosevelt reconsider his determination not
to be a candidate for the presidency. These
friends and admirers Of Mr.. Roosevelt do
not belong to the sane and conservative
democracy but to that wing Of the party
which recognizes William Jennings Bryan
as the great exponent and defender Of the
democratic faith. and who sees in Mr..
Roosevelt much OF the same courage. hon
esty and 'radicalism' which endear the Ne
Draskan to them.
"They love Roosevelt, not alone for the
enemies that he has made, but because In
his policies of reform and in many of the
principles he is advocating he commands
their strong personal and political approval.
'This nation may not yet have reached
that utopian period Of political fraternity
when the two great parties would be will
ing to lay aside partisan asperities and
unite in the choice of a chief executive Of
the nation, but we can conceive Of far
worse results to this country than could be
reasonably anticipated If the people, re-
gardless Of all party divisions, insisted upon
continuing Theodore Roosevelt as President
for another term.
ut would give him ample opportunity to
complete the reforms which he has been
able only partially to accomplish IN the
face of opposition within his own party ana
by an elimination of that antagonism winch
Is purely political would bring to his sup
port the elements In both parties which are
not absolutely under the control OF the cor
porate interests.
L''No democrat that might be elected hold
ing the same view in regard to square
deal for the masses well as for the cor
porations could hope to be as successful IN
the furtherance of these views oe1ore an
unfriendly Congress as would Mr.. Roose-
welt supported by non-partisan public SEN
timent.
On an Independent Platform.
eff Mr.. Roosevelt would consent to be
candidate upon an Independent platform.
embodying the democratic principles he
has shown a purpose to espouse, we believe
it would give to the country the first salts
factory evidence in thirty years that the
people were able to select President not
absolutely under the control of Wall street.
the railroad corporations and the trusts
The republican party has never had the
courage to put forth knowingly any other
kind Of candidate, and the democratic party
has never succeeded except when 1t follow
ed republican example.
I'VE believe that Mr.. Roosevelt would
make the most available candidate the
democrats could offer in opposition to
those who have combined to use the gov
eminent for private profit. Tariff. the rev.
enue and all other issues are secondary in
importance to that of whether the govern
ment at Washington exists for the many
or for the few. The reelection Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt Is the easiest answer avail
able"
The Virginia democrats in this vicinity
say Roosevelt is a better democrat than he
Is republican, and they point to the recent
Brownsville incident to bear out their con-
tention. The ,lrginia republicans favor
Foraker for President, and some Of them
say that he will be the next candidate Of
the old party.