The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-02-19
The Republican Crisis.

The bitter resentment felt by Senator
La Toilette and his friends toward Mr..
Roosevelt has become a factor OF the
situation which the former president
would do well not to ignore. II he now
contemplates an early declaration OF
his candidacy. The charge OF treaeh-
cry. so boldly made by the La Toilette
| manager, Mr.. Houser, in an address
at Minneapolis, Is an ugly one which
need not be regarded as proved simp.
ly because Mr.. Houser made 1t, yet
the feeling behind II is certainly fast
OF importance. II indicates that Mr..
Roosevelt, far as he was before from
being able to unite the republican par
~ by his candidacy, could not now
unite even the progressive wing. And
II the man who hitherto has been the
acknowledged leader OF the republican
progressives In Congress will not fol-
low the colonel, upon what basis can
his claims to the republican nomina-
ton be said to rest
The La Toilette candidacy, II may
now be pointed out, is a tragedy for
the progressive cause no less than for
the senator himself In its complete
miscarriage, Il is reminiscent OF the
woful candidacy OF Greeley genera.
ton ago AS an agitator and even as
a legislator of constructive ability, the
Wisconsin senator has positive merit
which his critics should be generous
enough to recognize; but, as the &C
tive head of a movement designed to
make Its leader president OF the Uni
ted States, he has serious faults OF
mind and temperament which are now
known throughout the land. II was a
grave mistake to encourage his candi-
dacy. He had neither the judgment
nor the cool sanity. let alone the ply
steal equilibrium. to conduct such a
contest TO q successful conclusion.
His recent nervous breakdown was
the most logical development Of his
campaign.
| II Is to be doubted that any OF La
Follette's former supporters, among
whom Mr.. Roosevelt must be counted,
have been maliciously treacherous to
him. for the senator has made himself
impossible as presidential candidate
Those supporters and friends who
abandoned his cause have, in reality
come to see his fatal weaknesses. Had
they possessed foresight In the meas.
ure that they now possess hindsight,
they would have selected man like
Mr.. Cummins Of Iowa, In the first
place. to make the flight, and have
been sure at the least OF candidate
who would not dig his own political
grave. But the mischief has been done
and II is not likely to be undone. Mr..
La Toilette retains power and infiu'
ence enough TO make himself feared
In partisan vendetta, and not even
Mr.. Roosevelt's open and avowed can.
didacy would now be likely to force
the Wisconsin senator of the field
Nor can Mr.. Roosevelt's recent dal.
lance with a radical OF Mr.. La Fol
lette's type impress favorably the
more conservative people OF the coun'
try, who after all form the great core
Of the republican party. II was their
support that Insured the election OF
both Roosevelt and Taft, In 1904 and
1908. respectively, and they must be
seriously reckoned with In the pend
ing conflict OF factions and parties. As
IL Ia becoming more manifest day by
day that the nomination OF the former
president. under the conditions sure
70 exist, would split the republican
party, so Is Il gradually becoming clear
to the mass OF business men, profes
sional men and sober. sedate citizens
who have been the bulwark OF republl
canism for 30 years. that President
Taft IL the safest candidate the party
could. nominate His faults and weak
nesses are known. his lack Of dasha
brilllancy Is recognized. his capacity
for occasional laundering ia now fully
discounted. But In safety, he out
weighs all possible rivals. and safety
must appeal to the mass Of voters who
are stalwart In their allegiance e
y" the party Of government"