The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1912-05-17
ROOSFVHT'S APPLICATION
OF THE square DEAL"
PractiCed in Massachusetts What lie
breaches the Country Over


preference vote, has excited the ad-
miration and approval Of newspapers
and individuals the country over, re-
CARELESS OF political affiliations. Taken,
as it was, of his own volition and with
out consultation with his political adj
visers, the action OF Col. Roosevelt has
with few exceptions received the COM
mendation of newspapers of every po-
litical complexion, and among several
Of the strongest administration or
gans of the country.
The New York Times, than which
there is no stronger supporter OF Mr..
Taft, comments editorially on the Col
oneps action as follows:
In sunendering to President Taft
the eight delegates at large from Mas
sachusetts who were elected as pledged
to vote for himself, Mr.. Roosevelt has
done manly and honorable thing. 1t
is an act that will have instant re-
spouse OF praise and approval for him
the country over.
The voters declared a preference
for Mr.. Taft, and that, under the law,
is the exact equivalent Of resolutions
of instruction in a State convention.
1t should be binding upon the dele
gates at large. This Mr.. Roosevelt
frankly and with most commendable
candor acknowledges, and he will urge
and continue to urge the eight dele
gates at large to support Mr. Taft at
Chicago"
From the Hartford Courant, bitter
anti-Roosevelt newspaper, comes the
following editorial paragraph:
Theodore Roosevelt has released
the eight delegates-at-large from their
pledges to vote for him and requested
them to vote at Chicago for VIM. H.
Taft as being the choice of the prefer
ence primary. II is very sportsman
like action
THE Detroit News places the re-
linquishment of his delegates by Col.
Roosevelt as an event of equal impor-
lance with his success in the Bay State.
The News comments in this wise:
This voluntary REIMBURSEMENT Of
support is easily the big event OF the
contest. 1t is a concrete demonstra-
ton of the square deal" which Presi-
/ dent Taft has so recently charged
Roosevelt with repudiating. 1t makes
more evident than ever before the
fact that Mr.. Roosevelt is fighting for
principles more than votes for Office.
1t is singing rebuke to the methods
of the Taft managers who have grab
bed off votes wherever possible and by
any methods at hand, even to the con-
testing and unseating OF regularly
elected state Roosevelt delegates. 1t
is Theodore Roosevelt's most powerful
exempliication of his sincere and dis
interested belief in his doctrine that
the people should rule"
The New York Evening Post, one Of
the strongest Taft organs in the country
and one Of the bitterest opponents OF
Col. Roosevelt comes to the front
with handsome acknowledgement OF
his honesty Of purpose in relinquishing
his Massachusetts, delegates-at-large.
The Evening Post says:
1T would be unfair to question Mr.
Roosevelt's motives in announcing, as
he did so promptly, that he did not
want the eight delegates-at-l arge, OF
Massachusetts,. Elected by ballot
mistake, and in opposition to the
clearly expressed preference Of the
majority. he declares that they ought
to vote in the convention for Mr.. Taft,
and that he will strongly urge them to
do so. This is one of those square and
manly actions in political life which
everybody must admire, and which
should not be meanly criticised. 1t
is in line with the early tradition about
the character Of the ideal Roosevelt,
which he has unfortunately done so
much to shatter. For our part, we
give his course in this business un-
grudging praise, and shall not join
with those who are intimating that it
was all a trick, designed in the
first place to effect public opinion and
then 10 make sure of 20 or 80 dele
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