The Washington herald., 1908-06-14

stan Correspondence The Washington Herald
Chicago. June l3-"The country wants
Roosevelt the delegates to this conven-
ton. IN overwhelming numbers. want
him, and the obviously wise thing TO do
is 70 nominate him. 1t ought to be done.
and in my Judgment. it will be done"
Thus said Hon. Jonathan Bourne. r.. OF
Oregon. United States Senator, this even
ing. soon after his arrival at the Audi
torium Annex. Foremost champion OF
Roosevelt for another term, he talked ag-
gressively for his denomination and. there
is no doubt expressed the sentiment OF
many delegates who are reluctant occu-
pants OF the Taft band-wagon.
Senator Bourne asserted dogmaticaIly
that Roosevelt would run. If the conven-
ton called upon him TO make the race.
If nc-1inated. he Will accept" said
/ Senator Bourne. I am ready 10 stake
my life on it, He must accept As pa
triot and a lover Of his country. which
/ needs and is demanding his further serv-
Ice, he cannot decline. He IS not can
didate. Everybody understands that. for
he has twice said so, but he has never
shirked public duty. and will not shirk
/ It now
Challenged TO Produce Letter.
Incoming delegates are noisiIy inform
ed by few who want some one else-by
those who do not want Roosevelt-that
he would iercely refuse 10 stand for re-
election. and disregard the conventions
Will 1t is not true They say he has
written letter within the past sixty
days. peremptoriiy announcing that he
would not accept If nominated. Il is
false. Let them produce such a letter. I
challenge them to produce IT, The sug-
gestion that he would run away from
duty and thus dIshonor himself, Is pre-
/ Fosterous- His harshest critic has never
/ accused him Of cowardice.
For six years Mr.. Roosevelt has
preached duty; duty Of all kinds; duty on
all occasions. and duty 10 all men Fur
thermore, he has thundered against weak
ness and timidity. He hates a coward
Would he now turn in his own tracks?
I Would we see him cast aside the prin-
ciples and practices Of his whole lie?
some Of the Presidents accredited
friends tell US that he would rather hunt
big game thar 10 be President again.
They say he Is weary. So was George
Washington; so was Abraham Lincoln.
We have a big hunt on In this country.
which Roosevett has led thus far. he
should lead II TO completion. His per-
sonal comfort is secondary. Shall he put
self ahead Of duty? His first obligation
is 10 the people. and if they call upon
him 10 complete the work he has be-
gun, they command it, he must obey.
Residuary LeEntee Dangerous.
ITO permit a President. no matter hov,
popular TO select mis- own successor is
destructive Of the basic principles Of our
form OF government, and if successful in
the election. would. in my mind. be a
sad commentary on the intelligence and
Independence of the American people Il
would open the door TO perils which
would menace the republic. Such a prece-
dent would be all the more dangerous.
providing the Presidents selection would
prove competent And the greater the
/ success Of the Presidents selection the
graver the danger.
Hostile interests-there is no occasion
to describe them-now out Of power Will
return some time. They always return
So far they have lasted only until the
people could vote them out again. But
once established, the right and practice
Of self-selection and self-perpetuity in the
would not be far away. To men who re-
fleet and who know history, modestly
submit the statement that the present
effort 10 name a residuary legatee and
establish the precedent Of a Presidential
endless chain is a menace to our country
and form Of government.
"Exultant over the mighty things al
ready done. savagely in earnest concern
ing the things which remain 10 be done,
the great mass of voters want Theodore
Roosevelt for President four years more
They are in command Of the situation
Choice of Party Almost Unanimous.
Never before has the temper Of the
party been so apparent; never before has
the choice OF the party been so nearly
an enthusiastically unanimous. No Pres
ident during his own lifetime ard the
period Of his service. has been so gener-
ally esteemed. trusted, and respected as is
Mr.. Roosevelt-the stern man Of the lash,
whose every stroke on the back Of nation
al and corporate iniquity brings the blood.
IF this convention does not nominate
Theodore Roosevelt. the party will wan
Itonly throw away the most valuable liv-
ing asset Of the nation and OF the world.
No man in sight can carry on his work
successfully. The greatest battle OF mod
ern civilization is being fought 10 a con-
cluslon on this continent. so far. under
Roosevelt, It has gone with the people.
] Change generals and the war Is PUT back
until the new commander can acquaint
himself with the situation. In cold. prac-
teal business such proceeding would be
idiOtic Time would be lost opportunities
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