Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-06
HIS POLICIES THE ISSUE
Defeat Would Mean More Than Tri-
umph for Bryan.
PRESIDENTS FRIENDS UNEASY
Chief Executive Apparently Confd-
ent of Republican Victory-Not
Likely to Take Action Desired.
Special From STAFF Correspondent.

RooSeveft's friends-ald there are still a
few Of them in this town despite the cru
SADIE of the hostile trusts against him
are concerning themselves very seriously
about the campaign. Their concern is
personal, rather than solely political.
They would like, of course, to see the re-
publican p;rty victorious, but they are
also interested that the President shall
not be repudated at the polls.
These people say that one consideration
of this campaign is the question whether
Theodore Roosevelt is to be defeated or
indorsed. They contend that in this cam
paign the President is on trial. His poll
cies are at the bar Of public Judgment
He himself has made the Issue and his
friends desire see 1t decided in his favor
They contend that in making Mr.. Taft
his candidate for the presidency, in IN
dorsing him time and time again as the
representative OF the Roosevelt policies
in campaign document, magazine articles
and Veblic utterance. all Of which has
been accepted by MIR. Taft, the President
has cast in the Roosevelt lot with the
Taft barque Of adventure. Furthermore.
the President has gone on record as de-
mandins the election of a. republican
House of Representatives to support this
prospective President and to carry out
the Roosevelt policies
Roosevelt the Real Issue.
In all these considerations, the Presi-
dents friends go on to say. there can be
no question whatever that the real Issue
of this campaign is, Shall the President
be indorsed or not? There is nothing else
at stake. they say. Quibbling and hair
splitting about platforms Is mere begging
the question. There is not such great
deal of difference, after all, between the
democrats and the republicans on the is
sues Of tariff, publicity OF campaign con-
triout,ons, trust regulation and all that
sort of thing. Both parties it Is claimed,
are aiming at the same things in varying
degree.
So, brought down to the last analysis,
these foundations of the President repeat
that the main proposition is whether the
President shall be sustained or rebuked.
In that view of the situation there is
warmest admirers here over the possible
outcome. They would regard Bryan VIC
tory, for example, not SO much as a tri
umph of Organism as a rebuke to Roose-
veltism. They would look upon the cleo
tion OF a democratic House not altogether
as reproach upon the present organiza-
ton and management OF the House, but
more as a slap at the President.
Appeals to the President.
1t is in the light of this argument that
appeals have recently gone to the Presi-
dent from prominent friends of his in the
republican party to use his utmost erdeav-
ors to apply 10 the support of his can
didate and his House Of Representatives
all the Roosevelt sentiment Of the coun-
try. That does not mean alone the senti
mental support OF his myriads of follow
ers, but their financial assistance as we'll
The President Is besougnt to bestir his
Well-Wishers to high endeavor; to urge
them to contribute the necessary funds
and use every means in their power to
see TO it that ROoseveltism is not given
a singing rebuke in this, the crucial time
of its experiment.
The Presidents friends feel that they
would be humiliated beyond expression in
an adverse vote, taking the ground tnat
such a vote in these circumstances would
be more personal than political.
They think that the President himself
is aware OF his feature of the situation
and that he should use ali the means at
his command. vast and varied as they
are. to insure happy result.
When 1t Is retOrted that there is small
likelihood of the country repudiatIng
Roosevelt and his policies. the Presidents
friends over here say that no chances
should be taken In this regard.
The way the campaign appears TO some
OF the republican observers mere is this:
They fee! that the sober second thought
of a majority OF the people will decide
in favor Of Taft as against Bryan. They
cannot bring thems elves to believe that
the country is ready 10 take the radical
swing which Endorsement Of Bryan
would mean. They cannot see low the
existing tremendous republican naJori-
ties can be swept away.
Why Republicans Are Uneasy.
Now, despite that feeling. that near
conviction. they are confronted with a
number OF practical conditions, of dis
turbing character. which if universally
prevalent. upsets their calculations. They
See the labor vote sullen and reseiltfu,.
| They find the negro vo:e III !. state .:
insurrec-icn They observe democratic
harmony everywhere and republican dis
union widespread.
There are not the co,nrensat ting features
for al :.leSe unpron,iSinS conditions
ich existed III 1896 ana brought repuo-
Ncan victor. There IS not great eco
money Ia soiidify the conservatives inter
sStS irrespective of party. There IS not
. the mammoth campaign fund OF that
year. Tlera is not the orElnizd ton watch
Marx Hanna h,liit up. SO. these repub!i-
can observers w" ara honest with them
selves realize that II Is not certainty
that Mr.. Taft cannot lie bea: zen. Although
they do not believe Il Will happen ii is
within the range OF possibilities that 4
revolution in politics is brewing.
4 So they don't want TO take any chances
They want the President to get into the
canpaiGn and rally his people. They feel
assured that if lie points out what they
/ consider Il menace and asks for materia
I support for the campaign 4 will be forth
comin,s.
President Confident
! The reports which come to New York