Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-12-18
Mr.. STILLMAN'S LETTER
DOINGS OF INTEREST AT THE NATIONAL
CAPITAL.
Speculation Still Rife as to Intentions of
Roosevelt. Stories About Opening
Sessions Of Congress.

Sessions Of Congress.
Washington, ID. c., Dec. l6:-Spe-
cial Correspondence If the people of
Iowa find themselves in a condition of
perplexity with respect to the plans
and purposes of Theodore Roosevelt,
it may be comforting to them to be
assured that Washington is likewise
in the air and in the dense gloom of
uncertainty as to the real situation.
OF course it is quite natural that it
should be assumed that the big guns
here who are on the ''inside' politi-
cally and otherwise, must know to a
dead certainty just what are the
Presidents plans; whether he will
adhere to his declaration made three
years ago last month that he would
under no circumstances accept re-
nomination, or permit the use of his
name under certain circumstances not
anticipated at the time he made this
positive statement. But the contrary
appears to be the case. Nobody seems
| to know for dead certainty. 1t is
true that several times the past two
weeks incidents and interviews have
occurred that for the time being ap-
peared to settle the matter; first one
way and then the other. Subsequent
statements and interviews have
knocked these notions into cooked
hat.
The town is filled with visitors and
thousands of them are from the west.
1t is not surprising that large numbers
of these guests should be enthusiastic
Roosevelt admirers who are eager that
Roosevelt should again be the republi
can nominee. They call upon their
senator or congressman and intimate
they desire to shake hands with lhe
President. Certainly, it will be a
pleasure to present them. Thev are
presented and tell the President the
west demands his denomination (east-
! ern visitors are not telling him this)
and the President THANKS them and
SAYS in plain language that he cannot
accept and that another must carry on
offices linger swarm of newspaper
men. AS the visitors pass out the
scribes pounce upon them and apply
the reportorial pump. The visitor
narrates the conversation and the ex-
plicit declaration OF the President.
The evening papers, under big head.
lines say it's all off and that the
question is settled and begin to specu-
late as to who will lead in the con-
vention.
The next morning the papers have
another story. The President did not
say just that, or Mr.. So-and SO mis-
understood the President, or the Presi-
dent had reference to something else.
This statement emanates from the as
sociated press and the language indi-
Gates that it was carefully written.
There you are. Such incidents AS
the foregoing have occurred several
times within the past week or two.
Everybody says, What does it mean?
Various constructions are placed upon
the situation, but nobody seems to
have any absolute information it is
mere guess work or deduction. Some
politicians say the President does not
really want to run again but does not
propose to so completely eliminate
himself and burn all bridges that he
may not be able to get into the game
if the situation should make it desira--
BILE or necessary. Others say he really
does want the nomination but is play
ing to have it thrust upon him.
Others assert that he will not under
any circumstances again take the
nomination. but desires to keep the
interests that oppose him in the
air until the last minute when he
hopes to be able to drop his mantle
upon the shoulders OF man who Will
carry out his policies. A very large
number of newspaper correspondents,
who are as a general thing pretty well
informed, take the view that Mr..
Roosevelt wants the nomination again
but wants it to come to him in ava
lanche style. This may be the case
but have discovered already that this
demand is not likely to be partici-
pated ia by the delegates from the
east. A very influential senator from
the east informed me a few days ago
that Roosevelt would not have a dele
gate favorable to him from New Eng
laid.
Ii sounds queer to hear the reading