The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-01-18
BY ellison Gardner

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16.-Inat
ex-President Roosevelt will cast
his fortunes with the newly organ
izing PROGRESSIVE PARTY is a
hope that is rapidly turning into
fixed belief.
Efforts quietly made by the
Taft administration to secure
from the famous African hunter
something which would seem like
an Endorsement of the course
pursued up to date, have entirely
failed.
On the other hand it is known
that Roosevelt's closest friends
men who have kept in touch by
correspondence with him even
since he reached the distant hunt
ing grounds-are in excellent
spirits, and show full confidence
that there is rescue now in sight.
What little is said takes the
form of a statement of general
reasons why Roosevelt is certain
to lend the weight of his admit
teddy great influence to the pro-
gressive movement. Such a
statement follows. Ut is not in
any sense an authorized or official
presentation of Roosevelt's views. }
Roosevelt is progressive. Nat
urally his sympathies are with
that element of his party, which
holds progressive views.
Roosevelt always has been a
regular party man. He always
has believed in organization, and
his work has been as a reformer
within the party. When he came
into office he found the repub-
lican party dominated by the bus
mess interests party of reac-
ton. He announced his purpose
then, to save the party from it.
SELF" Under his direction the
republican party stood for pro-
gressiveism.
The last big task undertaken by
Roosevelt, was of perpetuating af-
ter his retirement, the character
of the republican party as he had
stamped it.
II do not want to see an era of
reaction" was Roosevelt's state
ment in discussing what should
follow March 4, 1908.
For IS months previous to that
date Roosevelt, then president,
fought to keep control of the ma
tional convention in order that the
candidate might be a man commit
ted to progressive" policies.
He won an empty victory. Will
liam Howard Taft proved to be re-
dictionary.
With the presidency went the
party organization. The leadership
of congress had long been shown
to be in reactionary hands. So all
that remained was the small group
insurgents" in the house, "pro-
gressive republicans" in the sem
ate.
Before Roosevelt left the coun-
try. and before the special tariff
session had shown how complete
had been the executive surrender,
II was evident that reaction" was
again the dominating note. The
Roosevelt policies had lost. The
Roosevelt influence had waned. All
things were most pleasing to the
people whose influence Roosevelt
had struggled to resist in naming
Taft.
1t is year and two months
since Taft learner of his election.
An era of reaction has been in full
swing. Congress has done the
bidding of the special interests, and
the White House has kept hands
off.
Such is not the record hoped for
by Roosevelt when he fought Can
non, Knox, Fairbanks and the 9TH
er "allies" In behalf of a candi-
date pledged to carry out my
policies.
But Roosevelt had also made
some promises. He had promised
the public and himself not to in
terfere with Taft's administration.
He arranged trip to Africa in or
der mot to embarrass Mr.. Taft"
He later adhered to his hunting
program mot to embarrass him
self"
The Taft administration has
made its record. That the record
Is react.opary there is scarcely any
further effort to deny.
Roosevelt will return to the
United States as the leader of the
progressive wing of his party. He
HUnu lat lHA