The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-26
By the Position of Roosevelt Be.
fore the Country.
THINK THEY SEE PLOT
To Turn His Strength to Taft
at Proper Time.
Jealousy and Differences Among
the Insurgents.

| IeIlG leaders are IN distress over the
growth of the Roosevelt boom in the
west Back in their minds turks a
suspicion to which they are not giving
utterance, that possibly, in due sea-
son, the Roosevelt strength may be
turned over to President Taft. They
don't openly charge that the colonel is
working hand in glove with the sup
| porters of the president, but they fear
| that when the time comes for Roose-
welt to announce that he will not ac-
| cept the northumberland they believe
that such an announ cement will inev-
itably be made-that the Roosevelt
forces will line up behind Mr.. Taft.
The LaFollette leaders view with
alarm recent Developments in the
west. They point to the petition that
has been filed with the secretary of
the state of Nebraska that the name
of Theodore Roosevelt be placed upon
the official ballot to be voted for at
the forthcoming presidential prefer
ence primaries in that state They
are also concerned over the situation
in North and South Dakota and Ore
gon, where there is good deal of
LaFollette sentiment. North Dakota
and Oregon have presidential prefer
ence primary laws. The primary in
the former state will be held in March
and North Dakota Republicans will
thus be given the first opportunity to
indicate their choice among the vari-
Gus candidates whose names have been
mentioned.
Could Carry North Dakota.
The managers of the LaFolIette
movement have been hopeful of OBJ
tanning an expression in the North Da-
kOta and Nebraska primaries that
would be favorable to the Wisconsin |
senator. The injection of Colonel
Roosevelt's name into the politics of
those two states may seriously upset
their plans North Dakota particular
ly is strong for Colonel Roosevelt as
against both Taft and Ia Toilette fTniS I
is admitted by North Dakota regulars, |
among them Representative l.. Z.
Hanna, who said:
at would not be accurate to say
that North Dakota Republicans are
for the nomination of President Taft |
The president has many friends there, |
but there are many Republicans who |
against him, some of whom are
against him because they are for La
Toilette and others who are bitter be-
cause of the presidents espousal of
Canadian reciprocity. There is I'M |
QueStiOnably a strong Roosevelt senti- |
ment in our state. and if the former
president would consent to become a /
candidate he would sweep North Da- !
kota. Colonel Roosevelt is known in
North Dakota better than he is in |
most of the states for he lived on |
ranch there for years. I, think there |
is no doubt that Roosevelt could get |
he surely would carry the state in the
election"
Jealousy Among Insurgents.
Roosevelt's popularity in North Da- |
kota is conceded by the La Toilette |
managers. They are apprehensive that /
his name will be used in the presiden-
tial primary to be held in that state in |
March. Under the North Dakota law,
petition signed by Republican voters |
to the mum Der of l per cent of the |
vote cast at the last election would |
make any man a candidate for the |
presidency in the primary, far as
North Dakota is concerned. In the /
congressional elections of 1910, $4,000 {
Repu blican votes were pOlled in North /
Oak ota- 1t would thus take only 500 /
signers to make Col. Roosevelt can
didate before the Republicans of the
state. The La Toilette leaders would |
like to see the former president note
his disapproval of any movement in
North Dakota to bring him into the |
race.
Oregon Republicans according to
information received here, are strong
for La Toilette at the present time. 1t |
is the general belief, however that Mr..
La Toilette would lose ground there if /
Senator Bourne came against him. Mr..
Bourne advocated the denomination of
Mr.. Roosevelt in 1908. He held out
until the Republican National conven-
ton of that year had registered its |
will. There is bad blood between SEN
ators La Toilette and Bourne. The |
suspicion haS long been entertained |
here that Mr.. Bourne believes he is |
presidential tImDer nl1nSen ana Indl
he is enViouS of the prominence given /
the La Toilette boom. Where he will |
line up is problematical.
Upsets Their Plans.
That the La Toilette movement Will |
be halted unless Col. Roosevelt soon |
makes it clearer that he will not be a,
candidate next year is generally admit
ted by the friends of the Wisconsin
senator. Everything was moving |
smoothly at the La Toilette headquar
tiers until the prominence given Col.
Roosevelt as a possibility in 1912.
Since then the La Toilette managers
have been in a state of uncertainty, as
have Republicans identified with the
regular factions.
In the meantime Senator La Fol-
lette is going ahead with his cam
paign He will soon start for Indiana
and Ohio, where he will deliver Sc
ries of speeches, in which he will out
line his platform. Upon his return to
Washin gton he will present tariff bills
designed az substitutes for those that
are to be passed by the Democratic
house Mr.. La Follette's tariff pro-
posals will be a part of the platform
upon which he is to go before the Re
publican National convention of 1912