The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1911-12-29
MR.. ROOSEVELT AND A THIRD
TERM.

The press has been filled lately with
the movements OF Ex President Roose
welt, and his intentions to be, or not to
be, a candidate of the Republican party
for third term as President.
The letter of Mr.. Sheldon, former
treasurer of the Republican party of the
State of New York, to Mr.. Roosevelt,
on the subject of the Hartman contribu-
ton to the campaign fund, which was
raised during Mr. RooSevelt's second
campaign, and Mr.. Roosevelt'S reply to
Mr.. Sheldon, has created wide spread
interest on the subject. The fact that
Mr. Sheldon did not say a word in expla-
nation at the time of the occurrence of
those events, when it was most import
ant that he should have spoken out,
both in the interest OF truth as well as
Of Mr.. Roosevelt, gives great signif-
icance to these two letters at this time,
and under the present circumstances.
Mr.. Sheldon has waited until Mr.. Har-
riman has been dead for several years,
and ur.til Mr. Cornelius Bliss, who was
at that time Chairman Of the Republican
National Commute, has been dead for
number of years. and until Mr.. Webster,
who was also familiar with the facts Of
the transaction. had been dead for sew
81, EnA I'D
with this new statement, and explana
ton of facts of seven or eight years ago.
when they were of the utmost importance
to be published then if they were true,
but not one void was then uttered or
published by Mr. Sheldon or Mr. Roose-
welt when both must have known them,
il they were facts.
1t seems to be self evident that the OBJ
ject of the letters now was to whitewash
that part Of Mr. Roosevelts tortuous
record. in order that it may not stand in
his way in the public mind at this time
for some special reason. If these letters
had been written and published while
those that we have named were alive and
who could have thrown a food of light
upon the whole subject, there would
have been some justification for these
letters. but to wait until all who know all
OF the facts were long dead, and then
publish them, looks, to say the least, of
very questionable taste, or sincerity
These letters and the unquestionable
flirting of Mr.. Roosevelt with the subject
of a third term nomination for the Presi-
denCy, looks very much like it is an effort
TO get this troublesome and dirty record
whitewashed. so that his road to the
nomination may be cleared OF this objec-
ton.
There seems to be but little doubt as
TO whether Mr.. Roosevelt will be a can
didate for the nomination for third
term. He will be sure TO accept the NOM
ination if he can only getit
Every act Of Mr.. Roosevelt since he
left the White House, if closely scanned,
all trend to this end His African trip,
his spectacular return. and his immediate
plunge into the Republican campaign in
the State Of New York. and his contn-
ued efforts to underrate and undermine
President Taft. and his efforts to run
with the S,awart hounds and the Insur-
gent hareS, and his constant playing to
the galleries. all point with unerrng GER
tainty to the same conclusion.
Besides all this he has himself said
that he belongs TO the governing class,
and was born OF the governing class.
Mr.. Roosevelt is an 0bsoutist in the most
extensive sense of the word. He was an
absolutist when he was President. He
had no respect Tor Congress, or the Su-
preme Court, nor for the Constitution,
nor for the peaple.
He was ready to override Congress, or
the courts, and publicly proclaimed the
doctrine that the Constitution must be
enlarged by Presidential construction
and by implication.
Mr.. Roosevelt had no regard for the
rights of the people, but trampled them
under his feet whenever he saw fit, and
he spent the peoples money with I'M
heard of waste and extravaganza, and
with an utter disregard of the right or
To give one instance namely: I
nearly million and half OF dollars
spent in travelling around in the govern
ment yachts on pleasure trips. and over
-ss;,,ta,.v noe;tions.