The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-03-15
DO WE WANT ANOTHER PAR
TV7

Theodore Roosevelt has seen tit to
sever life long friendships; to break
the most solemn pledges; to go to the
last extremes of radicalism. To think
that a most serious condition does not
confront his party and country, in the
mind of this eminent man, is the
grossest irony and an insult to the in
telligence of the people of the United
States. In our mind Col. Roosevelt
has greatly exaggerated the Ills OF
the country and the virtues of his
own nostrums. But the Republicans
must keep in mind one thing and that
is that a man who will go to the
lengths already gone to by Mr.. Roose-
welt will not hesitate to go another
step. In other words to justify him
self in rebuking friends, repudiating
pledges and breaking faith, he must
repudiate the Republican nominee tor
the presidency in case it is not Col
Roosevelt. Such condition must
exist in the Republican party and i'll
this country, that there is only one
man capable of saving them, and that
man is Theodore Roosevelt. If such
be the case Roosevelt's failure to land
the Republican nomination will force
him to head an independent ticket
Otherwise his present candidacy is
simply the result of vain, selfish am
bition. To be sure he now says that
he will support the nominee OF the
Chicago convention, whoever he may
be. Not many months ago he said
that under no circumstances would he
again be a candidate for the presiden-
cy Force of circumstances altered
his former pledge and force of cir
cumstances may again change his
mind. At least it is not unfair to Mr.
Roosevelt to say that he is subject
to change of mind at most any mo-
ment.
Assuming so much, Republicans
who are Republicans from principle,
and who have firm belief in the
policies of government advocated by
the party, must hesitate long before
thew take to themselves such man,
and entrust him with their leadership.
They should not permit him to de-
velop strength enough in the Chicago
convention to make decent show
ing, for the simple reason, that in case
he does he will have at hand the nu-
cleus of his new party. Already his
supporters are paving the way for a
bolt in case they do not control. They
are accusing the national administra-
ton of using the patronage OF office
to accomplish the denomination of
President Taft. If Roosevelt goes
into the Chicago convention with two
or three hundred votes he will claim
that with fair show he would have
received the majority. The trap is
being set to catch the Republican par
ty. If Roosevelt does not get the
nomination he will beat the nominee
at the general election either by means
of an independent party or by going
over to the Democratic party. This
course is so logical that there is no
gainsaying it by any intelligent man.
Do the Republicans of Canyon Coun-
ty and of the state of Idaho propose
to be willing victims on the altar OF
the ambitions of Clifford Pinchot,
James R. Garfield and Theodore
Roosevelt? We are inclined to think
that self respect and patriotism will
assert themselves in this state and
ultimately at Chicago in manner not
to be misunderstood by any one.
Tho Dao,,h1,ca, cortv bnc rnu, ~,