The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-01


SO much In the matter Of the recent election in
New Jersey In the alienation from him OF
many who only year ago were among his
warm supporters. but who have since been
alarmed by his radicalism 1t argues however,
tnat the governor has made more friends in tine
West and Middle West by his progressive"
speeches and legislation than he has lost In the
Last; and that more important still mo loss OF
strength with which Wilson may be threatened
IN the East could equal the support that would
there be attracted to him as the candidate VINO
would go furthest Inf defying the bosses and In
clipping their claws"
We are inclined to think that the Evening
Post is right. However, 1T leaves out Of the &C
counting phase of the situation upon which,
we think, more and more emphasis Is likely to
be laid the national Democratic convention
draws nearer. We refer to the capital which
will be made of the fact. not only that Governor
Wilson should have changed his views regarding
matters to which possibly more attention than
they deserve may be attached bu that he should
have changed them just at the time when he had
resolved to permit his friends to win for him
II possible the presidential nomination and
should have endorsed doctrines which for
OF years he. student and teacher OF
political science, had denounced as neresies.
That is the one page in the life OF Governor
Wilson scrutiny OF which chills the enthusiasm.
1t ia Qquite true, however, that whatever may
be thought of Governor Wilson In this respect
1t must be conceded that he Is particularly
fortunate in the enmities he has aroused and
that Govrnor Harmon, on the other hand has
suffered and. Is suffering account OF some OF
the endorsements which he has received. un-
sought, some OF them, as we iHAy well DeileVe.
The vague reports which have been circulated
Off and on for months that Wall street Is for
Harmon" have never been backed up with any
tangible evidence Whatsoever. They have had
their effect nevertheless. 1t is also patent that
only prsonai enmity against Governor Wilson
and the desire for revenge leads man like
former Senator James Smith. Jr. of New Jersey.
to come out for Harmon, but great many peo-
pie unfortunately will not stop to consider this
phase Of the matter and will jump to the con.
cluson that Harmon's support Is made up OF
men and of institutions commonly regarded as
nimcal to the people.
or course this is not true. The governor of
Ohio has made a record in the matter OF earnest,
forceful, intelligent, progressive public service
which has been surpassed nowhere. he was in
Quoted into the office of governor in 1908 with
a hostile legislature and hostile state officials
weak man would have contented himself with
making recommendations and crying that he
could accomplish nothing because the legislature
refused him the proper assistance. Governor
Harmon however. not only contrived to purify
the political atmosphere in Ohio by exposing and
Furnishing corruption in high places and without
regard to whether the offender had been Re
publican or Democrat. but by patient ana
persistent investigation and study he acquired
such fund of information with regard to pub
lie affairs in Ohio and displayed so firm and In
teligent grasp upon conditions that last sum
mer In the face of the strenuous endeavors OF
the Republicans assisted by the administration
from Washington with all its powers he not only
won for himself the most sweeping victory OF
any Democrat in the country but carried into
office with him Democratic legislature ana
Democratic administration
Governor Harmon Is less ortlliant imam Gov
ernor Wilson and less dramatic but 1t cannot
be maintained that in substantial achievement
his record entities him to less favorable regard
by the Democrats OF the nation. In practical
experience. a factor the value Of which u by
no means to be discounted. he has decidedly
the advantage Of the collegian. Either would
winning candidate. The Democracy II peculiar
ly fortunate In being able to choose at this crit
ical time between two leaders neither OF whom
can be matched in the other party and either
of whom command the support Of the DEM
ocrats and Of the Naturalization News and
Courier
ROosevelt's Singular Came
/ Taken at Its face value the article in yester-
to DO inspired by Col Roosevelt. would mean
that Roosevelt does not want the presidential
nomination himself, that he does not want Taft
to have II. and that Roosevelt will not support
anybody whomsoever for 1t.
Can that be accepted at Its face value? Were
Rosevelts name signed to 1t. were 1t = personal
utterance instead Of being voiced through an in
itermediary, were 1t as uneQuivocal. as at first
hasty reading 1t seems to be. and were there
ed with the case. Col Roosevelt would be en-
! titled to a courtesy OF credence which he has
/ by no means always shown to others. AT It is
the colonel will have to do certain things and
! explain certain other things, before he viii have
! shaken his skirts free OF the Third Term am
bition with which he Is almost universally cred
fled.
In the first place. It 10 more than q trifie odd
that Col Roosevelt should address the count
= Via the outlook, and then supply the COM
mentary through other papers. This Is the sec
ond time since his trust editorial in the Outlook
appeared that he has construed Tor " supposed
to have construed) his Outlook deliverance in
this fashion. few days ago the medium was
the New York World. Now 1t IL the Phila-
delphia North American. The World article
professed surprise the part of Col. Roosevelt
| that his editorial in the Outlook should have
been taken a bid for the presidency. The
North American article goes more into detail
But why, in the meantime, has the Colonel
not awaited himself Of the Outlook to make an
explanation? There has been sufnctent oppor-
tunty 1t looks queer, to say the least.
/ In spite OF the disclaimers with which the
North American article is prorusely sprinkied.
| It nowhere contains pledge that Col. Roose-
| Welt wouldn't accept the nomination II It were
| rendered him. 1t says he Is not a candidate 1t
deplores that there should be talk that he is a
candidate. But the real point-would he
take tho nomination II he could get t?--why.
Theodore is mum an oyster, The North
american story takes good pains to say. and to
| rub in. that Roosevelt has received repeated
proffers OF support from Republican leaders. 1t
| IL in fact, ingenious piece OF special plead
ing---clever enough to have been drawn by a
steel trust lawyer. 1t sounds positive a. Ulysses
/ s. Grant and is shifty Elihu Root The only
downright thing about 1t is its hostility to Taft
| It leaves Roosevelt just where he was before.
That IL where he intended II should leave him.
buffalo Times.