Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-03
LIFE RULE BY ROOSEVELT.
ISSUE OF HIS CANDIDACY IN
1912. WATTERSON Is CONFIDENT
Republican Party Not Likely to Ac-
cept Him as Nominee-Own
Party His Target.

LOUISVILLE. KY. September 3-Under
Mr.. watterson says in the Courier-Jour-
nal this morning:
TT does look as though the grand old
party is up against IT.
IF Theodore Roosevelt be not a candi-
date for the republican presidential nomi-
nation in 1912. there is nothing in outer
signs and tokens. That he Is q practical
politician of the first order will be readily
allowed: to his great popularity the cir
cumstances Of his western journey fully
attest: but just how he expects to make
the landing two years hence we confess
we are unable to divine.
Evils Of Republican Origin.
1.-THE evil conditions which the colonel
excoriates have sprung up under the
hand and rule of the republican party.
Every word he utters Is an arraignment
Of that party. The more salient Of the
abuses which draw his fire have come
into being within the life OF the present
republican administration.
There can be no escape for the republic
cans short of setting Taft aside and Of
placing Roosevelt again In command.
I'm short and fine, we do not believe he
can catch the republican ferry boat, even
with two jumps, but IL he should, 1t Is
our opinion that he and those who rally
about him with such unthinking enthus-
iasm would sink her before che could
get across the stream OF republican senti-
ment. which Is still wide and deep and
well within the banks Of the Constitution
and the law.
I'm case Taft refuses to stand aside.
the steam roller would be for Taft, not
Roosevelt, in the republican national
convention. The commissary stores, the
Quartermaster's supplies, the heavy ar
tillery would be with the administration.
Attitude Of Wealth.
wall street proper is not so much con-
cerned as the ex-President would have
the hayseeds Of the wild and woolly west
believe. The stock gamblers want &C.
tivity. and Roosevelt gives them that.
But the organized wealth Of the coun-
try is hardly yet sentimentalixed. With
Theodore Roosevelt back in the White
House, II might reason. no mans prop
erty would be safe
"The money would be poured out freely
for Taft. and In default OF Taft. for
some other representing the warp and
wool Of old-fashioned republicanism.
a great deal Of republicanism in the re-
publican party. Having Theodore Roose-
welt for the republican nominee, the Issue
Of life tenure il unacceptable.
"The back from Elba' crowd may de-
ride the man-in-horseback and laugh to
scorn the suggestion Of Caesar and
Caesarism. But all the same. these viii
not down in the popular mind. especially
in the republican mind: for precisely
as Roosevelt will propose to come back
have all the men Of history and destiny
got there.
Argument for Roosevelt's Return.
''The Identification in all points would
be perfect. The sole argument. the only
reason which could be put forward for
the return Of Theodore Roosevelt to pow
er would be the claim that representative
government IL q failure, and that the
strong arm Of q man rising above consti-
tutional checks and balances Is indispens-
able to the cleansing OF the Augean
stables.
"Mr Roosevelt may succeed In splitting
the republican party wide open. Judge
Douglas did that for the democrats. In
another way: SO did Mr. Cleveland Par
ties are not immortal. They are made of
flesh and blood. and what has happened
may happen. The crying need Of the time
is a change OF parties"