The Washington herald., 1907-05-06
Roosevelt. TAFT. and 1905.

Theodore Roosevelt was unalterably op-
posed TO running for Vice President in
the year 1900. He stubbornly resisted the
movement originally directed by willy New
Workers to get him out of the way. The
Office of Vice President was the last thing
on earth he wanted. He all but sWOre
by the eternal" he would not take the
nomination. But he could not help it.
The situation was one he could not con-
troll. There was a sincere determination on
the part OF Republicans generally 10 put
him on the ticket with Mckinley. The
country called for him. And We all know
what has happened since.
If the people continue TO call for him,
will he be able TO control the situation
next year? That is now the question.
/ Granting that material conditions remain
unchanged. and that the people continue
to call for him as they are calling for
him to-day. We may expect to see his
resistance as futile as was his resistance
seven years ago. Anti-third term sentt-
ment viii have scant consideration with
the tide running as strong as it is run
ming now.
But, in all probability, condltions-not
material conditions necessarily, but con-
ditions affecting Mr.. Roosevelt-will
change in the course Of the next few
months. Indeed, the Presidents present
course Of action politically seems surely
destined TO bring about such a change.
He is the type OF public man who sue
ceeds without organization who is ham
paraT afbar tbap haIDa3 Hxr y4~svav5-a+fo,,
If Mr.. Roosevelt were ambitious for a
third term, or a second elective term. %
he would not now be setting to work TO
build up a political machine. With such
hold upon the public confidence as he
possesses there would be no earthly rea-
son for such a step. No better guarantee
of his sincerity on the third term propo-
sitiOn can be found, in the opinion Of
this paper. than his use OF Federal power
on behalf Of Secretary Taft. In the very
nature Of things. it must rebound to Mr.
RooseveTs personal disadvantage. Al
ready there is criticism of him from quar-
ters that formerly gave utterance only TO
words Of praise. Roosevelt the man
playing politics-the practical politician
is quite a different character from RO0se-
velt the President or Roosevelt the
popular idol, and both the press and the
public viii be quite ready to make the
proper differentiation. A sacrifice Of per-
sonal popularity is certainly involved, or
will be involved, in the movement he is
directing toward the nomination of Taft.
Roosevelt is a precedent breaker. He
has smashed many pTecedents. Possibly
he may build an organization so power
ful as to force the nomination of his
chosen Candidate-Secretary Taft. But
We doubt it. Organization has nominated
no President in our later days Grant had
behind him in 1886 what appeared to be
an organization invineible, but failed.
Mckinley. 20 be sure, was superbly
equipped in 1885, but even the men VINO
comprised his practical following freely
admitted afterwaTd that he would have
been nominated without a machine.
Hanna simply made d0ubly sure a thing
decreed months before by the masses Of
the party The tide has not yet set in
for any man for 1908. other than Roose-
Welt If it sets in for Taft, it will not
be because Of Federal power and organ
ization, but in spite of these and because
the country viii come TO accept him as
more truly representative Of the Roose-
veltian ideas and policies than any other
candidate.
The country is not to be heard from
for some months yet however.