The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-15
ROOSEVELT AND INSURGENCY.

HOOSEVELT AND INSURGENCY.
surely that was disconcerting news
Tor many Of the more prominent of the
congressional insurgents and their
friends at home which came from
Oyster Bay recently. 1t related that
Theodore Roosevelt announced with
emphasis that he had taken no stand
as yet in favor of either the insurgents
or the regulars in the Republican
party. Furthermore he desires to cor
rect any impression that he is showing
favoritism. He calls attention to the
fact that he has held conferences with
quite as many regulars as insurgents.
He mentions the names of some OF
these regulars who have visited him
and this is the first news that the pub
lie has gained that these regulars have
been to see him.
There has been no such lack of news
about the pilgrimages of the insurgents
to Oyster Bay or to the Outlook office
in New York city. They have always
taken good care to announce that they
were going. They have welcomed news
paper notoriety on their arrival and
courted it after their conferences with
the ex-president. OF course. they have
nature of their conferences. But they
have winked in intimating fashion 10
the newspaper men, have wreathed
their faces with smiles of satisfaction,
and dropped Just a gentle hint or two
that things were coming their way, but
that they really could not talk about
them. And these actions have been re-
sponsible for much of the news that
has come from Oyster Bay and New
York to the effect that Mr., Roosevelt
was giving the necessary assurances
to the insurgents that he is with them
It has been clever, If questionable
politics, for the insurgents to try ana
scatter this impression broadcast. They
realize that their cause will dwindle
away to almost nothing if it does 1T
get the enthusiastic support Of Colonol
Roosevelt. He has made it known that
he is not going to participate actively
in politics for several weeks as yet, or
until after the congressional nomina-
lions have been made throughout the
country So the next best thing 10
having his active support from the in
surgent standpoint is the creation Of
the impression on their part that he is
with them, even if he is not disposed 20
say so openly at this time. If the
voters could be imbued with that i'm
preston why the insurgent cause
would be helped materially in the con-
gressional campaigns now in progress.
But this impression has now been
shattered effectively and by no one but
Theodore Roosevelt himself. A week
ago he had to repudiate the statements
that he was going to Washington to
help 1nsurgent Miles Poindexter in his
campaign for United States senator
ship. Now he has felt compelled to
make the general announcement that
he has taken no stand as yet in favor of
either the insurgents or the regulars.
The insurgents are a cunning, crafty
let but they have overstepped them
selves in their endeavors to make the
people believe that they already have
the unqualified endorsement Of Theo-
dore Roosevelt. And the expose of this
canard by Mr.. Roosevelt himself will
have tendency to hurt the insurgent
cause. The people Of the United States
have never shown a prediction for
double dealing, even from the hands OF
self-professed square dealers.