The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-11-18
FUTURE OF ROOSEVELT,
ROOSEVELT, ROOT AND BRYAN
SENATORIAL TIMBER.
rohticianS I'm Washington Trying ID
flgnre Out the Future OF the
Ihrea Most Prominent Publ, Men
In the United States.

In the United States.
washington, Nov. 13.-It is a
mighty inviting picture Dame Rumor
paints for us, that Of Theodore Roose-
welt, William j. Bryan and John W..
Kern as members Of the United States
Senate, but it is not to be realized vet
a while, at least The Dame had if
Planned that Kern should succeed
James A. Hemenway and Roosevelt
Thomas c. Plat on March next. and
that two years later Bryan should
Join them as successor Of Elmer ].
Burkett. Kern may come from In
oiana to the Senate, but Roosevelt is
out or 1t. so far as succeeding Platt is
concerned. 1t is learned from the
highest authority" and in the mast
that has frequently meant Secretary
Loeb, that election as Platt's success
or does not fit in with Mr. Rooseyelt's
plans.
Besides, President Roosevelt is COM
mitted to Elihu Root, his chief OF Cab
met, as the next Senator from New
YORK. Mr.. Roosevelt frankly admits
that the success Of his administration
mas been due in large measure to
the help Of two. men. William Howard
Taft and Elihu Root Taft has his
reward in election to the presidency
and Mr.. Roosevelt feels that he is
bound by, every obligation to further
any ambition Of Mr. Roots, and that
ambition just now leads to the sena-
torship.
1t will be remembered that Mr..
Roosevelt's original plan of reward
was to elect Root his successor in the
White House and appoint Taft Chief
Justice OF the Supreme Court. Fate
and the American people stepped in
and decreed otherwise. With that
sagacity in politics that amounts al,
most to second-sight, the President
discerned that Root would not be
strong as a presidential candidate. and
though Root was ambitious for the
nomination and Roosevelt was under
heavy obligation to help him. he had
the courage to throw the weight Of
his influence to Taft This step was
taken only after many long and earn
est conferences with the Secretary of
state, and Root at last came to view
the situation as the President saw It
and to accept the verdict with good
grace. Now Root wants to be SEN
ator and all men must see how inn
possible 1T Is for the President not
to give him every assistance in his
power, to say nothing Of the impossi-
sibility Of Mr.. Roosevelt himself ac-
cepting the office.
But things may be different when
1t comes to the election Of a successor
to Chauncey NJ. Depew, whose sena-
toriai term expires March 3, 1911.
That Depew will not be elected to sue
,ceed himself goes without saving. New
York decided quite number Of wears
ago that Platt and Depew were not
the calibre OF men who ought to rep
resent the Empire State in the Senate
and their retirement at the end of
their present terms has been regarded
az matter OF course Platt has re-
cognized the impossibility of retaining
MS seat and Is not seeking reelection.
There Is every reason to believe De-
pew will see things in the same light
There is no reason known now why
Roosevelt should not aspire to be
Depew's successor. He then will have
finished his African hunt and his
programme Of absenting himself from
the country until the Taft administra-
tration was we'll under way will have
been carried out.> 1t is impossible to
see how his duties az associate editor
OF the Outlook would interfere with
MS duties as senator. and Mr.
HooseVeH mas made no secret Of the
tact that he regards the United States
Senate as fitting field for the actiyi-
ties or an ex-president. Politics would
only be following normal course.
therefore. should Theodore Roosevelt
take the oath as senator from New
YORK on March 4, 1911.
Mr.. Bryan's chances Of succeeding
senator Burkett would have To de-
pend in the first instance on the
ability OF Nebraska Democrats 10
elect majority OF tho legislature two
years hence. They did II this year. but
the legislature elected ,his wear will
not elect senator, SO the question
Will have to be regarded a. an omen
tsVh