The Washington herald., 1909-03-23
MR.. ROOSEVELT IN 1903.
Belief that Hanna Would Defeat
Him for Presidency.

From the Literary Digest
II Mark Hanna had lived, would The0-
6ore Roosevelt ever have been elected
President OF the United States? This is
an idle question now. but IN the light OF
Mr.. Roosevelt's own prophecy and com
ment upon the situation in 1903 the an
swer is by no means certain. Lindsay
Deuis0u. who accompanied Mr.. Roosevelt
as a newspaper reporter on his Western
tour in 1885. writes OF an intensely inter
eSting incident which took place az Des
Aioines and which gave an index 70 Mr.
RooseveIts ideas OF his political future
The tremendous crowd which greeted the
President AZ the Des Moines station had
inspired the reporter TO make a remark
about the ~wOrth-whEeness in being
President % the United States. We quote
further from Mr.. Denison's story in The
Circle:
Yes. Il IS worth while" he said "But
that is not the real thing. back Of all
this He swept hts arm. 70 include
that crowd. I know what this means
L does not mean we are for Theodore
Roosevelt Il would not even mean We
are for George Washington or Thomas
Jefferson or Abraham Lincoln or Grover
Cleveland or William Mckinley II
means. simply. I'VE are for the Flag"
The writer knows 5oh, he know. II any
body doesl that the President OF the
United States IS never 70 be quoted. %
But, surely, II ore IS ever 20 be forgiven
this IS the open season.
President OF the United States. said
Theodore Roosevelt, refectlvely. "Td
rather b elected 10 that Office than have
anything tangible Of which ! know But
I shall never be elected 10 f. They
don't want me"
WHO, Mr.. President" uaurmured. for
20 guess tto adopt the Toga diction}.
For didn't realize what was az large on
tie face OF the waters.
Hanna" he said. abruptly. Hanna
and that crowd. They've done ne.
They've finished me. Pm sorry 7 want
ed 20 De elected President OF the United
States Just once. Tn not ashamed Of
that Wouldn't YOU take TT"
7 would
But they've cut me of" ne continued
Il have no machine. no faction, no money.
And all this" sweeping hls arm out to-
ward Des Molnes. recediug with frs
crowds and enthusiasm. has no personal
significance"
I murmured 20 disagree.
''This isn't time 20 be compliment
ary." De said 'I said nothing but the
bare truth"
7 blufed 10 deny.
Here" said the President These
people are honest. simple. warn-hearted.
They love their country They have
heard Of the colonel of the First Volun-
Jecr Cavalry. But It isn't the colonel
who brings them here. II we could melt
them al down I know what would be
the residuum. for 7 don't fool myself. no
matter what they say Of me IN New
York. We would get q per cent United
States Flag. or whatever you choose 10
call concrete patriotism. you would set
Z per cent OF sentimental appreciation of
the tragedy or President Mckinley s
death. you would get per cent o. local
pride over the fact that the President OF
the United States IS IN our section an
undetermined percentage Of 'standin' by
Cummins' and in the end q mere trace
Of curiosity and hooray for Theodore
Roosevelt, once colonel OF Rough Riders,
7 know
But Pm afraid Il Is not 20 bel mean
my election You see. 7 can't hope 70 he
nominated without even the support of
my own State. And If YOU have read
the New York newspapers you have seen
the appearance on the horizon Of a cloud.
10 bigger than a mans hand-a quarrel
between Odel and Platt Neither of
them knows, but Hanna is the man who
started them fighting. Sooner or later
I VIII become the bone OF the quarrel and
a subject for elimination Then Indiana
Will "a Tgc.Dr-r~nr 30 ETa--.
luctaut though he may De % listen 20
such call other States viii be In doubt.
but with New York and Indiana against
me wouldn't I be foolish 10 look forward
90 being elected President or the United
States 80