Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1910-08-17
WHICH WAY WILL ROOSEVELT TURN?
The Insurgents are Becoming Dissatisfied
Over his ProcraStinstion.

By Clyde H. Tavenner, special
correspondent of this newspaper,
Kansas City, Mo-, Aug 15.-
Thousands of Republicans through
out the land, and in the Jnsurgent
districts particularly, are becom-
ing impatient at Roosevelt's ap-
parent reluctance TO state exactly
where he stands on the subject of
insurgency.
The result is that Theodore
Roosevelt is nos quite as popular
as an ex-president as he WAS i'm
mediately following his return
from Africa.
This is an unbiased conviction
that has been forced upon me af-
ter having travelled from Wash
iDgton to the Pacific coast and
back. I haved talked with hun.
dreds of persons of all classes, aid
have sojourned especially in the
insurgent districts.
Roosevelt is not unpopular. ]
do not wish to convey that I'M
preston. He still tas d large
following.
But many of Roosevelt's ad-
mlrers seem to feel the ex-preel-
dent is waiting to see which fac
tion of bis party is the strcngest,
instead of making a decision Oh
the basis of which is morally
right.
If Roosevelt acts quickly aid
with clear-cnt candor he may pre-
vent further inroads on his popu-
larity. II he does Lot so act, the
movement which he is given CT, d.
it for hsriug started will march
On without him, with LaFollette
or some other genuine progressive
at the head.
WILL T. R AID LODGE?
Word has come into the west
via the Associated press that
Roosevelt will campaign for the
reelection of Senator Henry Cab
OF Lodge of Massachusetts,, who
declares the ultimate consumer is
myth.
Roosevelt's admirers are gulp-
ing hard over this informa ton.
They have been educated by La
Toilette and other genuine pro-
gressives to know Lodge as tool
of Aldrich and the special inter-
ests.
They also have the word of 40
lesser authority than Representa-
tive Butler Ames. a Republican
insurgent of Lodges own state Of
Massachusetts, that the political
machine of Senator Lodge 'is
backed by all the large corpora
tions'' and is used to ''advance
the selfish financial scheme of the
large railroads, banking and man
featuring interests he (Lodge)
servec in the halls of Congress.
Roosevelt's great popularity has
been largely due to the belief of
the people that he was the enemy
Of such corporation servers as
Lodge.
Therefore all over the land the
ex-Tresident's friends are asking:
'How can Roosevelt conscien-
ticusly speak for a man like
Lodge, when be does nothing for
men like La Toilette?
The mere asking of this
question has the tendency of
placing Roosevelt on the defen-
sive. And 1t is bad for any poll
tician, great or small, to be on the
defensive.
THE DEMOCRATIC POSITION.
Republican spellbinders have
intimated the Democratic party
stands for free trade. Absolute
free trade is practical with the
United States. Every country in
the-world, including Great Brit
ain, levies some tariff, and this
country must always do 80.
The Democratic position on the
subject is substantially as fol-
lows:
First: The government should
never collect one penny more of
revenue than necessary to admin
lister it's affairs with rigid econo-
my.
Second: The lowest rate that
will yield the greatest amount OF
revenue should be imposed.
Third: Luxuries should al