Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-25
ROOSEVELT AS A WARWICK

ROOSEVELT AS A WARWICK
At last we have what in the ver-
nacular is called straight tip" on
the epost-presidential career of Theodore
Roosevelt. 1t is a short range fore
cast, coming only from the neighbor-
| ing county of Kern. The "favorite
son" of Kern, to use a familiar polit-
ical phrase, is the author of the reve-
lation. He is Congressman Smith of
the Eighth California district, whose
home is in Bakersfield.
Mr.. Smith speaks, or rather writes,
in oracular fashion on the subject al
luded to- giving the impression that
what he submits is the result of close
acquaintance with the president dur
ing the last session of congress and a
clear insight of the presidents purposa.
Theodore Roosevelt will not, on any
consideration or in any circumstance,
again be a candidate for the presi-
dency. Mr.. Smith is absolutely positive
on that point. Then what will the
president do when he steps down and
out? That is an interesting question
and Mr.. Smith answers as If with the
pen of authority in this manner:
1T is a great mistake to assume that
when he leaves the White House the
country will lose his services. Nothing
like that will happen. He loves public
service and realizes that his work is
not completed. His course does not
appear at all doubtful or obscure. He
will succeed Platt in the senate at the
moment when he steps down from the
presidential chair on March 4, 1902
There he will continue the great work
so ably begun"
The career of Theodore Roosevelt
subsequent to his presidential term
will be, as the Bakersfield oracle sees
it, akin to that of Warwick, the Eng
lish "kingmaker," in the middle years
of the fifteenth century, or of Riche-
lieu, the power behind the throne"
in the reign of Louis XIII.
Here is the word picture of ex-Presi-
dent Roosevelt, in the capacity of a
United States senator from New York,
as he is seen in the minds eye of Con-
gressman Smith:
Independent, courageous, purposeful
and despising shams and deceit, he
would be a power for good to the |
and set a new and needed |
standard for senatorial action. From |
the head of such body (and he would |
1T once take his place there) he could |
not only WELD a directing influence
,ver national legislation but could and
would exercise a powerful influence
over the executive department."
From controller of the executive de-
oartment of the government to prac-
ical controller of the legislative de-
,artment is the transition that Mr..
Smith foresees in the horoscope of
Theodore Roosevelt. If the forecast is
correct the change will be an ascent
'ather than a descent. Warwick was
greater than the kings he made and
Richelieu was for time mightier than
mis- sovereign.
1t Is not improbable that Congress-
man Smith has correctly diagnosed the |
ambition of the president With a |
president of his own choosing CTafD |
he would indeed be a modern War
wick. He would be more powerful
factor in the shaping of national af-
fairs than he is at the present time,
in view of the antagonistic elements
that confront him in the senate.
To the representative of the Eighth
California district in congress The |
Herald gives credit for the best guess
at the post presidential aim of Theo-
dore Roosevelt.