Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1907-12-20
POLITICAL.

Z. Bascom Slemp, Republican nomi.
nee, Monday defeated David F. Bailey
Independent Republican, for the unex.
pired term of his father, the late Con.
gresham Campbell Slemp, by a ma.
Jority of more than 5000
The Democratic National Convention
will be held in Denver, Colorado. JULY
th, next year. The Republican will
meet IN Chicago. 1t seems to be fore
gone conclusion that Bryan will head
one Presidential ticket and Taft the
other. There are many who believe.
however, that Mr.. Roosevelt's pet
CrafD will be thrown by Governor
Hughes, Of New York.
The declaration made by President
Roosevelt on election night in 1904. that
ne would not again be candidate for
the Presidency, is reiterated in a state
ment recently submitted by him to the
public, and with an emphasis that ought
TO leave no one in doubt that she is out
Oh the race for good" In making this
announcement Mr.. Roosevelt scored his
Secretary of the Treasury, Cortelyou.
VINO has been trading on the Presidents
popularity and seeking the nomination
LOT himself. Secretary Cortelyou, prob
aoiy the most even-tempered man in
public life, is alleged to have character
ized his treatment by the President as
id rough deal" Mr.. Cortelvou
mas used the Presidents popularity and
mas traded upon his prestige, especially
In the South, to a degree that appears
to perfectly justify President Roosevelt
IN his wrath. First Assistant POST
master-General Hitchcock, Mr.. Cortel-
you,s lieutenant, has visited every State
IN the South in the course of the mast
SIX months, urging Republican mana
gers, IN every case, either revenue col
iectors or postmasters, to see to it that
s2hd Roosevelt delegations were sent TO
the National Convention, and that the
delegates thus instructed were Cortelvou
men, should the name of Mr.. Roosevelt
not be presented to the convention. II
was the confident belief of Hitchcock
and Cortelyou that the President would
reiterate his anti-third-term declaration
and decline to allow his name tn on
Defore the convention. They would |
then have a majority of the Southern
delegates pledged to support the Secre-
tary of the Treasury for the nomination.
The aspirations of Mr.. Cortelyou to be
nominated for the highest Office in the
world is a piece of presumption such as
has not been exhibited in our time. Re-
pubiicans have frequently spoken in this
manner concerning the presidential am.
oitions OF William Randolph Hearst.
But 1t was not one whit more presumn-
leous IN Mr.. Hearst working to capture
he Democratic nomination than in Mr. l.
Iorteiyou trying to secure the Repub6-
IAN nomination. AS a matter of fact
Mr.. Hearst has nominally ACCOMPLISHED ,
some things. He is more or less of
mystery. 1t can be said for him that /,
while he is blamed for the evil laid at
he door OF his publications, they have
lone good things occasionally, and have
accomplished some things demanded bv
ane people. Mr.. Cortelyou has never
occupied place nor accomplished a
work which gave evidence that he DOS
'essed single quality fitting him for the
presidency. Those who know his mental
'ndowments never for moment regard
him as of presidential calibre. The
resident used this very expression when
lie learned for the first time, about six
months ago, that Mr.. Cortelyou aspired
o the White House. "Cortelyou is NOT
II presidential calibre," he said. Cor
elyou has not demonstrated his fitness 1t
or any position above that of steno. y
.rapher, so far as requirements and !;
alents are concerned. liz all positions
as private secretary to the President O
IS Secretary of Commerce and Labor I
s chairman of the Republican National i,
as Postmaster-Ge General az
secretary of the Treasury he has onlv Il
his willingness to take 8
rders. This Characteristic has been II
nelly responsible for his advancement. h