Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-16
our on THn ounSrloN

No. President Roosevelt would not
fill the requirement for a Democratic
presidential candidate; not even if his
name should be presented to the Demo-
cratic national convention by william
j. Bryan.
The facetious suggestion made by a
distinguished southerner last week at a
banquet which Mr.. Bryan attended
has been taken quite seriously in some
quarters. The suggestion was to the
effect that in the Democratic conven-
tion next year Mr.. Bryan should nomi-
nate Theodore Roosevelt as the party's
candidate for president. In responding
to the suggestion Mr.. Bryan said: "As
at present advised. shall not present
the name of Theodore Roosevelt to the
national Democratic convention. Bear
in mind l say as at present advised"
That the president has veered far
from the course marked in the chart
of the Republican party is a matter of
public notoriety. That he is likely to
veer still further, and thus to approach
nearer the Democratic tack, seems
quite probable. The anxiety mani
Tested by a large element in the Re-
publican party and the symptoms of
nervous prostration evinced by many OF
the leaders, are quite apparent now.
But there are insurmountable OBJ
stacles to the nomination of Theodore
Roosevelt as the Democratic candidate
next year. A primary objection, that
is sufficient in itself, is the infiexible
opposition of the Democratic party to
a third term for any person. The
precedent set by Washington and rec
ognized until the present day will be
held inviolable by all true Democrats.
When we come to take the measure
of the president as Democratic pos
sibility we find that he falls so far
short of the requirement that he cam
not even be considered seriously in
that connection. This Notwithstanding
his recent adoption of certain Demo-
cratic lines of policy, frankly recog-
nized and commended by Mr.. Bryan
and other leaders Of the party.
President Roosevelt has reached only
the first degree in preparation for
adoption by the Depocratic party, and
only a grand master is eligible to the
partys nomination for the presidency.
And yet, promotion is within the reach
of every Democrat, even though he be
but private in the ranks. None is
debarred from ultimate attainment of
tho hfuhoof i,,
If President Roosevelt concludes to
renounce allegiance to all other po-
litical powers and potentates, after the
manner of a foreign aspirant for Amer
lean citizenship, and thereafter to stick
to the Democratic party like a porous
plaster to an itching back, he will be
welcomed more cordially than if he
were returning prodigal. He could
hardly expect the sacrifice of a prize
calf at the moment of his entry to the
Democratic fold, but there would be
vast possibilities for the future.
President Roosevelt would be well
coined with especial delight by Demo-
cratic old-timers because of the traits
in his character which are so sugges-
tive of President Jackson. The Roose-
welt big stick" for instance, calls to
mind the appellation of "Old Hickory"
as familiar in Jackson's time as his
christened name, and still revered at
this day.
Not yet, but some time in the misty
future, Theodore Roosevelt may grow
in political stature to proportions that
would fit him for leader of the Demo-
cratic hosts in a presidential cam
paign.
But not yet-not by long shot.