The Washington times., 1912-06-21

CHICAGO, June M.-Mr Roosevelt 10
apparently facing the crisis in his po-
litical career. Bolting Is easy where
one Is not a candidate, but II II a more
difficult thing where followers are
necessary. II Mr.. Roosevelt could take
his delegates with him, he could or
ganize a convention that would repre-
sent a majority Of the Republican vote
OF the country, but he cannot do so.
A considerable number Of his delegates
will not bolt. and his convention there
fore, would not carry with II the moral
force that goes with the majority. He
cannot tell until the split comes ex-
actly how many will walk out, for some
are unwilling to decide the question un-
I'll the time arrives for action.
He declares that he Is willing to ac-
cept a nomination. either as the candi.
date of the honestly elected majority"
meaning a convention made up Of the
Roosevelt delegates now in temporary
roll call with the Roosevelt contestants
substituted for the Taft delegates whose
title Is contested; to cover all pos
sible contingencies, he !s willing to ac-
cept a nomination from any part of the
progressives that IL willing to bolt. In
his own language, he says:
Will Appeal To Nation.
If some among them fear to take
such a stand, and the remainder choose
to inaugurate a movement to nominate
me for the Presidency, as a progressive
on a progressive platform. and II in
such an event the general feeling among
the progressives favors my being nomi.
mated, I shall accept" He adds: I'm
either case I shall make my appeal Il
every honest citizen in the nation and
l shall fght the campaign through. wtr
or lose. even II l do not get a single
electoral vote
This statement breathes the, spirit OF a
fighter and arouses the enthusiasm OF
the more radical Of the followers Of Mr.
Roosevelt. The only loophole in the
statement is the phrase and IL in such
event the general feeling among pro.
gressives favors my being nominated.
That would indicate an intention to take
little time after the convention to
ascertain the general feeling" And
the general feeling among progres.
sives" may depend largely upon the ac-
ton Of the regular convention after the
boilers leave.
Recalls Act Of Pizarro.
Mr.. Roosevelt very generously re.
leases such progressives as do moi
choose to follow him. His statement
recalls a dramatic act in the career oi
Pi:arro when his followers mutiniet
after a series Of reverses. The Spanish
cong ueror made a speech TO them. re.
counting the hardships through which
they had passed, and pointed out the
loI~ A..fA
drawing a limo on the sand with his
sword he invited those to follow him
who were not afraid to die. The story
need not be carried further. the crisis
VI the convention is at hand.
The standpatters regard his statement
as a bluff. and many of them would be
glad tn see him carry out the course
he has outlined. They want him tc
bolt. They have confidence in their
ability to drive him into retirement.
They have certainly given him every
prorocation; there has not been a
suggestion of compromise since the
fight began. They have carried out
their program to the letter and tht
steam, roller, as this machine Is called
moves on with regularity and precision
They even have chains on the wheels
to prevent skiddinS.
it Is no pleasant situation in which
the ex-President finds himself. nor !,
II an ordinary situation.
Twice Chief Executive Of the nation
the second time elected by the larges
majority that n President ever recefv
cd: the recipient OF honors In foreign
lands and supreme di :tator In his owr
party he now fnds the man whom III
nominated and elected pitted agains
him in tho most bitter contest that oul
country has ever seen, and he sec
that opponent operating with the skill
Of a past master the very machinery
which the tutor constructed 6nd taught
him to use.
The Ways of Mystery.
And then the ex-President, after fail
ing-as he seems to have failed-to con
troll the convention, announces his will
ingness to bolt and lead a forlorn hope
! the only probable effect of which will
be the defeat of both and the election
of a Democratic President. Surely tn,
ways of Providence are mysterious.
There is still a way of escape, how
ever. for the present and past occupan
of the White House. They can with
oio" o+Au oAAS" a thiiu mon W D.
chosen. This would seem to be tn,
thing most likely at present.
Mr.. Roosevelt has apparently lost out
but he has the power to make the vic
tory of his opponent a barren one. Mr.
Taft has received "vindication," tn,
value Of which will depend upon tn,
| opinion people have of the character o
his supporters and of the methods EN-
ployed by them.
Does Mr.. Taft want to convert hi.
convention vincication into a defeat a
the polls or will he content himself witt
| the consoling thought that by retirinl
lie sacrifices his own ambition TO hi!
party's welfare?
If the former Presidents follower.
bolt and nominate him he cannot tel
whether to accept or not until after thu
! regular convention acts and even theI
he will likely be Influenced by the ac
| ton of the Democratic national con
! vention. He NAV be put In the at
titude therefore of refusing to lead
bolt after he has encouraged 1t. II the
Democrats are guilty of the crimina
folly OF nominating a reactionary. they
will supply Mr.. Roosevelt with the one
thing needful, in case he becomes ar
Independent candidate, namely, an issue
and with two reactionaries running fol
President, he might win and thus in
| trench himself in power. This conven,
tin0 fharafnra fn