The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-27

4 to break the third term precedent Dy
nominating him: thus he was defeat
ed, and Garfield named and later
elected. just as Roosevelt is pretty
for the same reason, and Taft named
and later elected.
The wise custom which limits the
president to two terms and the feeling
against a third term are not, as is
conclusively shown by the Grant in
cident altogether a strong sentiment
against third consecutive term, but
against any sort of a third term, the
idea being. of course, that two terms
for any one man is long enough. A
third term might mean a fourth one,
and tend to turn this government from
Democracy to a practical Dictator
ship.
Before the campaign is over the lit
erature covering the third term prop
osition is likely to grow into volume
In this connection our friend, ]. E. H.
of the sober Second Thought column
in our neighbours paper says:
I'VE suggested at the time that our
friend, F. P. M, might not have heard
all the colonel said. The colonel, It
will be recalled, told T. p. M. he would
not be a candidate. But he added
something soto voce that F. P M
did not quite CATCH
Colonel Roosevelt never told this
writer, or anybody else SO far as he
knows that he would not be a candi-
date, and this paper is exceedingly sor-
ry if any reader SO construed anything
that has appeared herein. Colonel
Roosevelt's position all along was
this: Il am not candidate In re-
ferring to an editorial statement made
in this paper in October last to the
effect that if Taft should be nominated
he would have no more loyal support
er than colonel Roosevelt himself,
Colonel Roosevelt did say that his po-
sition was correctly represented.
When you are thinking over the sub
ject, it is not very clear upon just what
lines Colonel Roosevelt can consistently
oppose President Taft in the struggle
for the nomination. inasmuch as the
following situation VIII Oh exists must
be recalled:
The dominating figure in the Repub
lican National Convention of 1908 which
nominated Taft was President Roose-
Welt. He suggested him as the most
suitable successor to tho presidency. He
had tried him in manv capacities and ;
found him in every way worthy and
capable He gave him the finest testi
monial and endorsement possible for
one man to give another. 1t is pre-
sumed that President Roosevelt prac-
tically dictated the Republican plat
form as he did the nomination, for the
two went hand in hand.
President Taft has enjoyed the re-
marka bly, good fortune of writing into
law nearly every one of those self
same planks in the Roosevelt-Taft
platform, upon which the president
was elected. and upon which he is
standing today, with such other pro-
gressive planks and policies as seem
proper and have proven themselves
necessary to bring practical progress
execution of the laws and in promoting |
the welfare of the nation
Does the colonel purpose to repudi- +
ate both the man and the measures [
of which he was the prime promoter in |
1908, when too the latter were so sue |
cessfuny advocated by the former? /
velt's latest picture printed in the |
State Journal last evening and mails /
it to this Office with two new captions: /
"God Save the King, Shall We Do I
It?''
IChapter XCV Tomorrow