The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-17
\ MEAN or BIG BUSINESS.


Now that LA Follette's eyes opened he and
other of the "Insurgent'' elements are claiming
that Theodore Roosevelt is the candidate or
big Business"
BY process of elimination this would seem
to be the case. 1t is true that Roosevelt still
carries with him host of those who once
maniacs, are forever hopeless of recovery.
Rooseveltphobia is d phenomenon which will
die as hard as the "unreconstrueted rebel and
the waver of the bloody shirt Just now
those afflicted with 1t are still numerous, but
so far as being a definite factor ia concerned,
negligible
Barring these enthusiasts Roosevelt must be
the candidate of big business" or else he is
nobodys candidate save his own. He utterly
denies his persona candidacy. He is
awaiting Il call. Who is calling him?
The insurgents" used to create the demand
by which he was to profit, deny the imputation
Big Business, for reasons of Its own. also denies
it. Yet. In the face of the Coonel's Reputation.
the paraphernalia is there, the system Is at
work, the card index is being utilized. All
the familiar signs of candidacy are at work
In the open We know who the candidate IS
Whose candidate is he?
Some light on this question may be CLEANED
between the lines OF recent speech of one
William Barnes, Jr., up to the time of its de-
livery supposed to be the dearest enemy. the
most prominent Ananias, the longest horned
imp of darkness In the Roosevelt armory of I'M
por uor Will uhn
Roosevelt returned from abroad, grappled ct
Saratoga and threw for the first fall. only to re-
ceive the Barnes blade under the fifth rib
e5orsparei &c, me reefprotaf feelings or THESE
two a Corscan feud is no more serious than the
gossip of a church sewing circle. Yet hear
Mr.. Barnes at this juncture drop the melliiluous
oil of compromise into wounds supposed to be
still red and gaping:
M greater error could he committed at this
time In the interest of the Very principles to
which adhere than to revile or uphold any
man. deluded through he may be In his en-
deavor to break down those fundamental
principles of individual liberty and constitu-
tional rights which form the foundation or
our government and which must be the re-
aiitv of the Republican party because for
few hours or DAYS or weeks ne "hoM
we hav. found honorcd and whom We have
in the past given our votes has strayed, through
devotion to false gods. from the real principles
of the Republican party. We must not forget
that during the term in which he held the
presidency of the United States he performed
n wonderful service to the people of this
otntry. and that, although do not believe
in establishing of this country pure indivi-
dualisIn. YET We do not forget ali the great
service he haE rendered to the people in those
days o. the Spanish war and of the Inaugural
ton OF the Panama canal--although today
may utterly deprecate what apparently is
unfortunate error of judgment.
Mr.. Barnes. within hts limitations. is an up
standing man with mind of his own What
his own mind is concerning Colonel Roosevelt
the country generally well knows. To
power. and one power only. does Barnes sacri-
fee personal opinion. when its saci ifce IN
ciudes praise however qualified. of Roosevelt
it follows that Big Business has spoken the
word.
Let us. therefore. drop tear for Big Bust.
ness The. very people who trusted that every
lion would do It's duty" now looks for succor