Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-05-27
Republican Party Merely Name; Roosevelt Rules

that the record OF the last twelve
years might be obliterated and the
precedent set during that period might
now be set aside
1t is extraordinary, how strong this
feeling is. 1t is not reflected at all
adequately in the newspapers. because
the men who will talk in this way to
correspondent or TO political friend
will preface their remarks by saying
that they must not be quoted by name
For example. a New England senator
never mind whom-a senator who
has been quoted for some time as be-
ing one of the '.alies" opposed to Mr.
Roosevelt. told ME Sunday that the
fight was up: that Taft would be NOM
mated. and nominated not by the con-
vention. but by the power of Roose-
welt. He did not like the nomination
Rather was he for Fairbanks or for
Cannon. But he said that the tre-
mendous power. of the administration
being put back Of Taft had already
accomplished the nomination and that
1t was idle now to attempt further to
accept the inevitable and Mr. Taft
would receive the nomination. But
said he. "a nomination grudgingly
granted is not equivalent to an cleo
ton. even though granted by the ma
jority party. You are likely 10 find
In the coming election mary Republic
an public men who have ordinarily
been out fighting in the open for the
Republican candidate who this year
will look upon the campaign season as
a good time to take trips to Europe
and who will shed no tears II Mr.
Bryan is elected There are many
who will be entirely content with four
years relief from the present domt,
nant influence in the White House
Of course we will be back In the fight
| four years hence. with determine
ton then to keep your friend out of
power for twelve years more"
Newspaper readers would be aston
f, ished to know how general this feel.
ing is among Republican politicians iD
| both house and senate and of course
| to he in either the house or the senate
| means to be politician The defeat
| of the Republican ticket by Mr. Bryan
| this year. which is expected would
| cause very few regrets among tbs
men who occupy desks IN the twc
halls of the capitol The autocracy OF
| the White House. the absolute despot
| ism of the speaker and his four allies
in the house of representatives, the
| puissance of Aldr.ch and his steering
| committee have reduced the ordinary
| Republican senator or representative
| to position of complete impotence
| They resent it. and they would like
&c substitute for the widely advertised
square deal new deal.
| The Future of John Mitchell.
| When JOHN Mitchell. the former
| president of the United Mine Workers
| OF America. was in Washington las
| week somebody started the story tha
| he might be the candidate for VICE
! president on the Democratic ticket
| The suggestion took like wi.dfre
Everybody was talking about it. ex
| cept John Mitchell One of his habit:
| is to talk little and to dc much Par
| ticular.y is he disinc,ined to tall
| about himself have known hin
| since The days of the anthracite STRIKE
and have admired him much as an ex
| ecutive Perhaps he would make, {
good vice president. because the duty
of the incumbent of that office is I,
sit on the rostrum and let gentlemen
like the Hon. jeff Davis or tie Hon
Chauncey Depew talk to him. Mr.
Mitchell would be admirably equipped
for the place of a sagacious listener
4 He did. however. say to me that
while he admired President Rooseve,
for the many good things he had done
In the cause of labor. he himself wa
a Democrat and had been all his life
He now holds no Office in the gift O
his labor organization. and indeed de
clined pension from that organiza
ton. How far the suggestion of hi,
candidacy may go no one can tell, blu
if the favorable opinion it awakened
in Washington affords any criterion i
may go far indeed
Washington, D. G.
WILLIS ]. ABBOT.