The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-09
STRUCK AGAIN.

from some party paper or speaker that 1t cannot withstand with any degree of complaceney or equanimity. It may be that the saiubrious Democratic at- mosphere of old Missouri renders 1t less patient with Republican intoler- ance and blundering. Be that as it may it is none the less true that it cannot read with patience some of the deliverances of Republican allies.
 One of the latest pills it has been called on to swallow was administer ed by Nicholas Longworth. Congress man and Presidential son-in law. We don't know that Nick has ever exhibit ed any remarkable evidences of sound judgment and hard sense and it may be that what little of greatness he enjoys comes from his reiationship tc Roosevelt, Whether that is a matter to add to his political and intellectual stature may be a matter of doubt. but he seems to shine in the reflected light of the Big stieker, and that goes with some people We have no doubt that he got a good wife, but whether he also obtained a good dad-in-law is another thing.
 But letting that pass and coming down to the question in hand. readers of The Advertiser remember that Mir Longworth in a recent public address to a large audience was reported as saying that Roosevelt is to be the presidential nominee in 1916, after MT. Taft has served out his two terms. How is that for gall and snohbery? The first assumption Is that Taft will be twice elected and will serve out two full terms. Then the people are to put Roosevelt at the bat again and let him run things another term or two. Perhaps Nick thinks that he will inherit the diadem and let the dynasty contihue.
 Nice scheme, that is. but it doesn't suit The Journal little bit. and 1t refyses to swallow it. eff" it says. Nicholas had designedly conceived an utterance calculated to do injury to the candidacy of Mir. Taft, he could scarcely have thought of 8 better one than this proposal to enter Roosevelt in the presidential race of 1916 as the successor to his own successor. The best friends of MT. Roosevelt can see the political folly of such a proposal at this time. when Mir Tafts chief em- barrassment Is the necessity of estab- fishing himself as his own candidate and not the heir apparent of the Roose- welt line. There are any number of good Republicans who believe MT. Roosevelt has served a useful purpose. but that there is no longer a demand for the head-rapping policies of his system of administration"
 There is no doubt in our judgment as to the hurtful results to Taft's can didacy of this promise. His chief load. as The Journal intimates. has been to convince all interested citizens that he is not in any way beholden to Roosevelt and that he is not in any degree the candidate and factotum of the administration. Plainly, however, his efforts and. those of his friends in this direction have not been a brilliant or notable success. The gen. eral opinion of those not blinded by partisan prejudice Is that Roosevelt had him nominated and that he is to be governed by his boss, both before and after election, if he shall be elect ed.
 It Is plain what an unhealthy effect on public opinion this reported deliver- ance of Longworth must have. The reasoning will be about this way: Roosevelt prepared the way for Taft and will have him elected If possible Then Taft will use his eight years of service and influence to have Roose- welt again made President. Sort of endless chain by which each pulls the other up but will intelligent and patriotic Americans fall in with such a scheme as that. or vote for one who is party to it-assuming that Long worth was supposed to speak with authority? We hardly think sc and that remark or statement of Nick's is calculated to add immensely tc the load Taft is already carrying.
 But to come to another feature of the case, Is 1t at all likely that son-in- law Nick would have thus publicly de- livered such a message to the people unless he was inspired thereto by the head of the family? Was he not coached by Roosevelt to thus sound public opinion and see how 1t would take? Of course, if the suggestion meets with the opposition and con- demnation it deserves Roosevelt will disclaim all Knowledge or responsi- bility and declare that he had never even thought of such a thing. He has a somewhat confirmed habit of shift ing the responsibility for his many lapses and will do so in this instance unless the idea proves popular. We can safely assure that 1t will not go down at all, and poor Nick will have to bear the burden, And we beg to tender our sympathies to The Journal Even if Nlck's remarks were intended as a