The Washington times., 1912-06-08
ROOSEVELT IN 1884 AND 1912.

Wnen the KepuDllcan natlonal convention or
1884 was called to order in Chicago, June 3, Chair
man Sabin, Of the Republican national committee,
said in addressing the members: ....
I'm conclusion, gentlemen, and at the re-
quest of the Republican national committee, i
propose to you as temporary chairman Of this
convention, Hon. Powell Clayton, of Arkan-
! sas."
. Back of that proposal were months of manipu-
lation upon the part of the Blaine men, scandals in
every Southern delegation, and the boxing" Of the
Republican national committee which was to select
the temporary organization and make up the tenn
porary roll call of the convention.
The term steam roller" had not then been in
troduced into political lexicon but its archetype
found form and substance in the Republican national
committee Of that year. Despite vigorous protests
that committee had selected Powell Clayton for tenn
porary chairman. The Blaine machine was running
smoothly and with victory won in the national COM
mittee it expected all opposition to disappear.
But no sooner had the national chairman, acting
upon the authority of the national committee pre-
sented the name Of Powell Clayton for temporary
chairman, than delegate from the floor, Henry
Cabot Lodge by name, addressed the chair and put in
nomination against Clayton, John r. Lynch, Of Mis-
sissippi. 1t was complete surprise to the Old
Guard of that convention. That the first intima
ton it had had that the cut and dried program Of the
national committee would be contested
The fight was on. The stock-n-trade arguments
that Steam Roller Politicians always make against
popular government were advanced. The action was
Unprecedented 1T was in violation Of the COM
mon law Of political organizations" at was an Of
fense to the dignity and reflection upon the honor
Of the national committee" Nothing like it had
ever been known before in Republican councils
young man Of twenty-sx mounted a chair in
the middle of the New York delegation and said:
"Mr. Chairman | trust the motion made by
the gentleman from Minnesota chairman Sabin)
will be defeated, and that will select chairman
Of this convention that representative Republican,
Mr.. Lynch Of Mississippi.
Mr.. Chairman, il has been said by the distn-
guished gentleman from Pennsylvania that it is with
out precedent to reverse the action of the national
committee. Who has not known numerous instances
where the action of State committee has been
versed by the State convention? Not one of US but
has known such instances!
Now there are, as understand it, but two dele
gates to this convention who have seats on the ma
onaf committee, and hold it to be derogatory to
honor and to our capacity for ebgopernmem to say
that ne must accept the nomination of another body
and that our hands tied and dare not reverse
its action
Now one word more. | trust the vote will be
taken by individual members and not by States Let
each man stand accountable to those whom he repre-
sents for his pote! Let no man be able to shelter
himself behind the shield of his State! What pe say
that of the cardinal doctrines of the American
political government is the accountability of each
man to his people, Let each man stand up here and
cast his pote and 60 home and abide by what he has
done"
The youngster was Theodore Roosevelt, then
delegate -atarge to the national convention from
New York State.
What he said then sounds very like the speeches
he has been making recently and the conditions that
called forth the sentiments very similar to those
existing today at Chicago
Does the Republican national committee con-
stitute the party? Are its decisions rrevocable !?
Cannot the delegate body reject its recommendations
and reverse its findings?
Would there not be a different story coming out
of Chicago if the members of the national committee
now deciding, unable to hide their identity in viva
voce uproar?
Yet the position taken today by Roosevelt and
his friends that the national committee not supreme
and infable, and that each man should stand per-
sonay accountable for his vote, is denounced as rev.
olutonary The action of the convention of 1884
which nominated Blaine, in repudating Clayton and
selecting Lynch as its chairman answers this charge
of revolution.
1t is alleged that this is new position for Roose-
welt to take, that he is questioning the supremacy
and 6nality of the national committee only because
it stands between him and his ambitions to be a
dictator. His speech as young man of twenty-six
against just such a steam roller is moving in
Chicago is full and complete refutation of the allega
ton that his defiance of Dartv nrecedents todav is