The Washington herald., 1907-11-22
The Game of Hide and seek.

Justice Brewers designation of Presi-
Dental polltics-the Roosevelt brand-as
"a game Of hide and seek with the
American people" is apt as well as
humorous With two avowed aspirants
to Presidential Office in his Cabinet. be-
sides himself as an unavowed though
quite possible candidate, il must be con-
fessed that Mr.. Roosevelt has every op-
portunity TO dazzle and befool the public
both as 10 the direction in which his
personal and official influence is being
exerted and as TO the probable beneficiary
Of his exertions. An instructive example
is afforded by the Presidents warning
that Federal officeholders must refrain
from taking any part in the third-term
agitatiOn-a timely and proper warning
from any point of view. but. unfortu-
nately. given currency in such forms as
TO be susceptible Of various interpreta-
tions. BY some 1t Is regarded as Pres
dential intimatiOn that the third-term
movement is 10 be checked; by others,
as indicating that the Presidential game
is 10 gain control of the delegates TO
the Republican national convention, in
which event they could be transformed
into third termers in twinkling. or into
Taft Shouters, as their master should
elect There viii be considerable hide
and seek before the outside public dis
covers just what Mr.. Roosevelt is up to
with respect 70 the participation of Fed
eral officeholders in the selection Of the
next Republican candidate for the Presi-
dency. Perhaps the most likely exposi-
ton Of his purpose is offered by the New
York Tribune which says:
"It is further pointed out that Mr. Roosevelt
Is determined that the next Republican national
convention shall not in any respect BE- a repetition
Of that Of ls92 when a large number q the dele
gates Federal oficcholders instructed for Har
rison for a second term. The President has 10 OBJ
lection whatever 70 Federal oiceholderS attending
the national convention as delegates. 50 long as
they are not instructed TO vote for him and will
not exert their influence for his denomination. In
fact as 10 delegates who amenable 10 his IN
fuence. it may BE- case OF the more the meT
rier.'
The distinctions here sought TO be
made will not be obvious 10 everybody
What Is the essential difference between
a convention made up OF officeholders
and one made up of oficehofders not in
structed. if the latter are under com
mon allegiance? In other words. what
difference does il make whether the con-
vention is composed Of Roosevelt dele
gates Uninstructed or Roosevelt dele
gates instructed for ROOSEVELT The
President. according to this theory, is
dead against office holding delegates in
structed for him, but quite in favor of
oftice-holding delegates practically pledged
to do his bidding. The distinction seems
to lack the vital quality Of difference
OF course, IL IS to the Presidents credit
that he IS not permitting the Federal
machinery 10 be employed in his personal
hehoof; we think il would be still more
Creditable TO him il he were not en-
ploying the Federal machinery for other
purposes in which he has a decided per-
sonal interest.
Justice Brewers remedy for this un-
pleasing spectacle is the extension Of
the Presidential term to seven years,
with q provision for ineligibiity 10
second term. Similar propositions have
been abundanuy discussed for many
years, without finding a great deal OF
favor among the people. The frequent
return OF power to the people. with the
right 10 reward a faithful and popular
official with a second term. is a prin-
ciple so strongly imbedded in American
political practice that nothing short OF
cataclysm could root il out. Since
the question whether President Roose-
welt should be reelected has arisen, a
surprisingly large body Of sentiment has
appeared favorable TO an overthrow of
the traditional limitation OF Executive in
cumbency to two terms. The develop
ment OF this sentiment would seem to
imply that there is little popular de-
mand for a rigid and absolute limita-
tion Of the length of the total Presiden-
tial term. Along with the growth OF
the democratic spirit, there evidently
goes the feeling that the people them
selves are the best judges as to how
long one man shall be permitted to hold
Office after the expiration OF his orig
inal term.
When Mr.. Roosevelt completes his
term he VIII have been President some
thing beyond the seven years prescribed
by Justice Brewer as a desirable Presi-
dental term. He is playing Presiden-
tial politics for all it is worth, and, pos
sibly. not playing it for himself. but for
some one else What imaginable virtue
would there be in a single seven-year
term to prevent Mr.. Roosevelt or any
other ambitious President from using
his tremendous influence 20 secure the
choice Of a successor TO his liking? We
know Of no effective veto on that sort
Of thing but a public opinion that brings
TO naught the hide-and-seek game of
the political plotters. II is possible that
Mr.. Roosevelt may feel the check Of an
adverse wave of sentiment in his party
before he proceeds much further with
his aspiring programme Of political dom
inatiOn.
Wonder If Uncle Remus' explained