The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-05-04
THE FORCING OF ROOSEVELT.

unc entitled mo Third Term. Its
significance is all the more marked
as coming from a paper whieh has been
steady, thick-and-thin supporter and
admlrer of President Roosevelt. This
paper, 10 be sure, has a very pcrpcn-
dicular record ON the third-term ques-
tion, having been the most virulent, we
might say indecent, opponent of third
term for General Grant. Its shameful
cartoons, its inccndlary outbursts daily
during the progress of the National
Republican convention of 1850 IN Chi
cago, are well remembered by those
convcrsaut with them at the time. The
malcvolence displayed against General
Grant on that occasion by the Chicago
Tribune was something phenomenal.
and in view of 1T, it is not surprising
to see that paper now opposing third
term for President Roosevelt, for il
would be a freak change TO support
Roosevelt for a third term, after viru-
lently opposing General Grant for
third term.
The reasons given by our Chicago
contemporary for opposing a third term
for President Roosevelt are much more
reasonable and consistent with Amcrl.
can ideas than wero tho reasons it
gave for opposing President Grant for
third term; because President Grant
had been out of Office for 4 full Pres
idcntial term, during which Hayes was
tho incumbent. Tho interregnum would
appear to the ordinary mind to have
obviatcd the objection to a renomina
tIon and reelection, inasmuch as al
ready the continuity of official tenure
had been broken, and there was no pos
sibility OF the swaying of political in
flucnce through official appointments in
favor of General Grant at that time.
This would be true in most cases, and
1T was especially true then, inasmuch
as President Hayes represented a wing
of the Republican party that was not
in the least the Grant wing; so that
the official pressure, if any, was against
Grant and not for him.
The case would be different with
President Roosevelt who is already in
Office. and the thousands of Federal of.
ticials who are likely to be delegates,
would reasonably be expected to be
shoutcrs for him. The convention would
be made up. as conventions under such
circumstances usually are made up,
largely of the President IS own ap-
pointecs, and their friends, and they
would be bound TO his personal service
by ties that, whether he wished TO en-
force them OF not, would certainly be
recognized.
II is true that the thirdter idea
has been entirely repudiated time and
again by President Roosevelt At the
same time, there is unqucstlonably a
Roosevelt pressure being exercised for
the bringing about of situation which
will work for his denomination by ac-
clamation and against his will, and
without regard to his protests, 1t Will
be remembered that that was the sit
uation when he was nominated for Vice
President in 1900. lie was outspoken,
vigorous, determined, that he would not
take the nomination for the Vice-Prcs-
idency, and yet it was forced upon him.
and he consented. Those who are work
ing in his interest for another term in
the Presidential office arc striving un-
doubtedly to bring about situation
which VIII repeat the pressure of 1900.
If they can work things according to
their plan, Mr.. Roosevelt will be cor
ncred and will be absolutely unable to
refuse the nomination which will be
forced upon him; because, provided these
schemes win, it will be shown to him that
there is danger in nominating any one
else; that he is the logical candidate:
and that the situation impeLativcly calls
for the rcnunclatlon by him of all per.
sonal preferences and yielding TO the
popular demand. That popular demand
they will take care to see is properly
worked up.
That President Roosevelt is perfectly
aware of this programme, that he gives
it quiescent support, that he helps it
along rather than does anything to
smother il, is perfectly evident. Those
who oppose him for third term, out
black list, and If in Office they are per-
emptorily ousted Those who shout for
him for n third term are not molestcd
bat are encouraged to keep shouting.
This means that the third.term move.
ment is gratifying to his feelings: that
while he apparently opposes it, he in
fact nurses 1t along, and when the time
comes will without doubt be found
ready to play his part in the deccitful
game.
1t looks very much as if the plotters
will be able to work their scheme
through, too, because Of the popularity
of President Roosevelt, in spite of
everything that may be said against
their efforts, and in spite of the alleged
revolt of the financial interests, which
the White House calls conspiracy
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