Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-20
Wrung It From Roosevelt.


Likewise they are pleased with his in
siStence upon unequivocal Endorsement of
Is.s administration by the republican
state convention and ROosevelts ac-
auiescence in the same. wrung from
Roosevelt, as il must have been, grudg-
ingly.
As a result of the conference two sub
iects of contention before the state con-
vention are removed. There will be no
contest between Taft and Roosevelt in
the convention and no slur upon the
administration. This leaves the fight in
the convention to center upon the ques-
tion of indorsing system of partial
direct primaries. Roosevelt and Taft are
apparently close together on that ques-
tion. although Roosevelt at the outset
was willing to advocate more radical
system Alan was the President.
Roosevelt was inclined to insist upon
the nomination Of candidates for all Of
fees by direct primaries. The President,
WELDING to suggestion from New York
city leaders. was willing to adopt the
convention system for some offices, SO
TO permit fusion on city tickets in Great
er New York.
Politicians here think that Roosevelt
will have to follow the President In this
(lorsed in his letter of August 20 to
Chairman Griscon.
Question as Now Presented.
The question now is. how far will the
old guard carry the fight against this
compromise proposition. and. more i'm
portant still. how far will the convention
follow the old guard agaist the wishes
of Taft and. Roosevelt?
Some of the more conservative politi
clans here were inclined to the belief
today that the old guard will be COM
pelled to yield some OF It's contentious
and meet the views of Taft and Roose-
velt 1t will be recalled that the very
proposition now advanced Tor direct
primary system was embodied In leg1s-
lation at the last session Of the legisla-
ture, and defeated by the old guard. 1t
remains to be seen whether the old guard
will be induced to change of heart by
recent events.
Politicians say that Col. Roosevelt, by
his conference with the President yester-
day, very cleverly established an appar-
ent or rather. ostensible agreement be-
tween himself and the President on the
direct primary proposition. That is to
say. he succeeded in causing the impress
sion to get abroad that he and the Pres
ident are In accord on this subject and
that they are not at odds on the matter
OF Endorsement in 1912
To that extent Col Roosevelt derived
advantage from the meeting. they say.
1t would appear that the struggle for the
direct nomination system will be between
Taft and Roosevelt on the one hand and
Petty bosses on the other. and if such
impression is created in the minds of the
rank and file AZ the delegates it is easy
10 contemplate the possibility Of the
Taft-Roosevelt combination winning.
Seeks Control Of Convention.
Now. do not lose sight OF one fact for
o moment. and that is that Roosevelt is
playing this direct primary plank as a
political asset to enable him to gain con-
troll Of the convention. He makes 1t more
popular by eniisting the President In its
support. What he is after is not the sue
cess Of direct primaries. but the success
Of q movement at the head Of which he
has placed himself in order to advance
hi0 own popularity and power.
Does any one suppose that II RooGe-
velt happened to be IN control of the re-
publican organization Of the state he
would for one moment contemplate the
suggestion OF diluting his power by a
system Of direct primaries?
II happens that he Is not in control: /:
he wants to gain control, and for the mo-
ment the direct primaries plan Is the
most utilitarfan project that presents it
xAlf n. 0. NJ,