Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-03
DOG DAY POLITICS
"A Variety of Opinions From
Rank and File.
ALL ABOUT ROOSEVELT
He Will and He Won't Be the Re-
publican Candidate.
PRoBABLEPHONoGRAPH RECORD
Some Say He Is Working to Secure
the Nopination-one Says he
Won't Accept.

Gracious. what a variety of opinions you
can hear these dog days on the subject Of
the probable next republican candidate for
President. That is. opinions not from the
political leaders. the "sharps' of the game
but from the rank and fle--the man in the
street After all, that class take just as
much interest in politics as the so-called
leaders, and by the same token express
themselves both more openly and more SIN
cerely.
Most everybody in Washington talks poll
tics at some stage of the gathering; nat
urally so, because such a large number of
people live by politics. on politics or of
politics Then, too, everybody feels kind
of personal or 1t might be local pride in
politics. because the chiefest politician of
them all resides constantly in their midst.
So 1t falls out that where men are gath
cred together in these parts, there also is
discussion of who's IT. or likely to be
1T In the next republican campaign. 1t
may be remarked in passing that there are
a powerful lot of people who, after talking
the thing up one side and down the other
part with a mutual agreement that in their
opinOn-they don't know how nor why, but
they feel it in their bones-there is only
one in the long run-Theodore Roosevelt.
Probable Photograph Record.
Now, if you had d photograph set up in
recording distance o. a group of dog day
political discussionsts, almost anywhere,
you'd get a record something Ike this:
We'll, say what you please you can't
make me believe that Roosevelt won't be
the nominee, when alrs said and done"
Stuff and nonsense, hasn't he declared
time and time again he will not take it;
can't you give the man credit for sim
cerity?'
Il can't help that; he is TIE instrument
of fate, the chosen one of the Lord to
carry on the work he has cut out When
TIE time comes he will make himself be-
ieve that 1t is necessary for the safety
and welfare of the whole country to keep
the reins of government and carry on the
good work"
Yes" (this from voice on the edge
of the group, and in the present state
of mind of the country he will have no
trouble in convincing the country of the.
same thing, too
You bet; 1 never saw anything like it.
The country seems to be plumb locoed
about Roosevelt"
What does this here locoed means?'
Why. it is a western term, meaning
clean daft, crazy, or something like it."
Of Course He Will Take It.
why, of course, he will take it. Isn't
he dealing from the bottom of the deck
pla" at the end?" booms another voice. II
see it plain. Here he picks out Taft
kind of advance agent sending him
around the country shouting for the
Roosevelt policies and keeping alive the
idea in the minds of the people that the
Roosevelt program must go on. When
the right moment comes, the people hav
ing thoroughly soaked in this conviction
that the Roosevelt regime must continue,
some sharp will get up and start the cry
that no prentice hand is wanted and that
the job had better be left to the master
workman himself"
That's what; and femme tell you an
other thing: I've got my suspicious about
this sending the fleet out to the Pacific. l
believe that along about convention time
rext summer there will be some kind or a
grand-stand pay with that fleet that will
scare the country, and some of the timd
ores will he clamoring for a strong hand
at the helm of government-some mailed
fist business or other
oh you fellows make me tired breaks
in another voice. You talk like a string
OF Hsl. Don't you know that Roosevelt is
one Of the smoothest politicians this coun
try has ever produced, and that you cant
lose him? Well, he is politician enough TO
know that the sentiment against the thu
term is strong that he would be beaten
at the polls If he should run again. He
isn't going to back any but a sure-tllng
game
VIII, what do you think he is going to
dog
How It Will Work Out.
Think? Why, l know it. He is going to
keep himself in the public eye all the tine
never letting go for minute, and bring
1t about that he will be begged and pie AIDED
with 10 take the nomination. But no; with
Spartan-like resolution he will decline and
go out in a blaze of CORY as a martyr to
the grea: American unwritten political low
OF no ;l.ird-term."
Well, how does he get anywhere on
that kind of playa
why, he cnches the nomination for
four years later Every mothers son of
en- that had been shouting for him up to
that moment says, All right, We'll get you
four years from now And four years
later he would have awalkover."
I've a different idea from all of you" an
other voice chimes in. Il don't believe it
will be possible for Theodore Roosevelt to
relinquish the power he has welded. 1t is
part of him. bone sinew and soul 1t isn't
in him to let go. When he comes right up
to that convention. he will say, L bow to
earth 10 win"
well. if he does" puts in voice that
| has not hitherto spoken, Bryan will
| just"
"Oh, gee. lets take a drink" comes in
| chorus, and the party breaks up.