Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-13

his administration is to be stopped.
The country may not find another
Roosevelt--in all probability 1t will not.
Possibly his counterpart does not exist
among men who may possibly achieve
the distinction conferred upon him by
the American people. But there are
in both great parties men guided by
ideals equally high and capable of put
ting into execution, SO far as the
obstructionists in congress will permit,
plans for restoring to the people the
rights of which they have been de-
prived fof so long.
But with one possible exception the
avowed or receptive Republican candi-
dates fall very short OF the standard
of Theodore Roosevelt. Fairbanks,
Cannon, Knox, Foraker, Cortelyou-
none of these has the confidence or
the masses Of voters, regardless or
party. Hughes. who a month or two
since was regarded in some quarters
as available, made himself temporarily
popular by his course as governor OF
New York in procuring the passage OF
the public utilities bill. But Hughes,
once apparently frank and candid, now
bears the earmarks of the political
trimmer" 1t is difficult to discern
whether he is flesh, fish or fowl The
presidential bee has stung him and the
virus of political diplomacy has en-
tered his whole being. La Follette
might be acceptable to the radical
wing of the Republican party, but the
chances of his nomination are too
slight at this time to be considered
seriously.
With Roosevelt out of the race the
prospects for the nomination of a man
acceptable to the great forces WHICH,
until the Roosevelt administration
have absolutely dominated the Repub-
lican party, grow brighter, unfortun-
ately. Three years ago almost any
candidate of that party could nave
been elected. But during these tnree
years party lines have become DINNER.
The number of voters who will stand
by their party, right or wrong mas
diminished and is still growing smaller.
Thousands upon thousands Of Repuo-
licans, who a few years ago hooted the
name of William Jennings Bryan De-
cause of his radical tendencies, now
prefer to see him in the White House
rather than any Republican save
Roosevelt This is not strange when
we compare the policies of these two
leaders of public opinion, for IN the
essentials they are not far apart
Folk. Johnson and Chamberlain more
truly represent the advanced thought
of the nation than any Of the Repup-
lican possibilities. Like Bryan all
are actuated by high and pure
motives. None has been con-
taminated by contact with such in
1uences as those which have left an
indelible impress upon such men as
Foraker Cannon and Knox. In
methods of procedure they might not
move along parallel lines, but the END
sought and the essentials employed in
attempting to attain that end would
bear the Rooseveltian stamp.
The United States is not half so much
Republican nation today as 1t is
Roosevelt-policy nation. We believe
the great mass of voters care hun
dred-fold more for the success of the
principles advocated and advanced by
| the present executive than for the
mere man. If Bryan, or Folk, or john
son. or Chamberlain, or some other
man whose name may have received
little more than bare mention up to
the present time should grow sufficient
" in the confidence of the people be-
tween now and the time for decisive
action. such man, we believe, would be
elected, if nominated, regardless of
politics
The atmosphere is now clear. The
Republican party faces a grave crisis.
If it be misled into nominating Cannon,
Foraker Knox or any other man who
is recognized as or suspected of being
affiIiated in any manner with those
vast interests which have been at
tempting to turn the control of the
American commonwealth permanently
into the hands of an oligarchy COM
posed of men dominated by the "sys-
! tenn" the next president of the United
States will be Democrat.
Is fhe nresent citY council going to