New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-13
Ia Toilette FLAYS 7. R.
Arrays Bryan's "Moral Power"
AGAINST CoI0neI'S Ambition.

washington, July NV. ]. Bryan is
praised and Theodore Roosevelt IS de-
nounced by Senator La Toilette in an eds
torial on The Case Of Mr.. Roosevelt in
the current number OF La Follettes
Weekly"
Bryan at Baltimore, foregoing all chance
of his own nomination. uarshalling all his
forces, Drawing Tammany and the trusts
to rescue his party from their domination
carrying the convention for the adoption of
the most Progressive Democratic platform
yet offered. and the nomination of the most
Progressive Democratic candidate available
was a towering figure of moral power ana
patriotic devotion to civic righteousness
says the editorial, which continues;
Roosevelt at Chicago, backed by money
derived from the stock watering operations
of the Steel Trust and the Harvester Trust
organizing what are now confessed 70 have
been fake contests as TO nearly TWO nun
cred delegates in order TO control the ICE
publican convention and secure ms own
nomination, refusing to aid IN making
Progressive platform, bound TO nave tue
nomination or destroy the Republican party,
was a most striking example of misdirectCu
power and unworthy ambition.
Roosevelt had as great an opportunity
TO serve the Progressive cause at CnlCa&p
as Bryan had at Baltimore. But Roosevelt
was serving the man, not the cause. lie
wanted one thing-he wanted the nomna-
ton And yet, he did not have enough
votes 10 nominate himself upon any honest
basis
He did have enough delegates in that
convention ultimately to have nominated
real Progressive and adopted a strong pro
gressive platform. He could even have
nominated hadley on such platform, ono
Progressive Republicans could have sup
ported Hadley in much the same spirit rs
hundreds of thousands of them will now
support Wilson. Neither Hadley nor WI
son is veteran in the Progressive ranks.
Neither OF them has been tried by the se-
verest tests. Both appear to be men OF
high ideals. whose records, though short,
give promise.
But Roosevelt would not consider Had
ley" asserts Senator La Toilette. He
would have no one but himself. At the
first suggestion of Hadley he or1sred the
third party mannuvres, lest he lose his
followers" The Senator goes on:
If he had the evidence to prove that Taft
could not be honestly ard fairly nominated
why did ne not direct his lieutenants TO pre-
sent that evidence TO the national commit
tee and then TO the convention ana Tue
country so clearly that the convenTu NJ 81
and that Taft could not, in honor, have
accepted the nomination if made?
! The reason is obvious. An analysis OF
| the testimony Will, am COHNllNCO silON
that neither Taft nor Roosevelt had a ma
| jority Of honestly or regularly elected deie-
| gates This the managers upon ootn sloes
| we'll understood. Each candidate was Try
! ing TO seat a sufficient number OF fraudp-
! lently credentialled delegates, added 10
! those regularly chosen TO support him, 20
secure control Of the convention and steam
roll' the nomination. 1t was a proceeding
with which each was acquainted and which
| each had sanctioned In prior conventions.
This explains the extraordinary conduct
Of Roosevelt" declares the Senator. He
could not enter upon such analysis Of the
evidence as would prove Tafts regularly
| elected delegates in the minority without
inevitably subjecting his own spuriously
| credentialled delegates to an examination
| so critical as would expose the falsity Of
his own contention that he had an hon
esty elected majority OF the delegates. He
| therefore deliberately chose TO claim every
| thing 10 cry fraud, 10 bully the national
committee and the convention, and having
thus created q condition which would make
| impossible a calm investigation of cases
upon merit. carry the convention by storm"
The editorial concludes:
That this is the true psychology OF the
Roosevelt proceedings becomes perfectly
plain. He was there TO force his own nom
nation or smash the convention He was
not there 10 preserve the integrity OF the
Republican party and make II an instru-
ment for the promotion OF Progressive
principles and the restoration OF govern
nlent TO the people Otherwise, ne would
have directed his floor managers 10 con-
test every inch OF the ground for Pro
gressive platform before the committee on
resolutions and IN the open convention.
But Mr.. Roosevelt was not governed by
a suggestion OF that spirit Of high patriotic
and unselhsh purpose Of which Bryan fur
nished a magnificent example one week
later in The Democratic convention at Bal
tinore Instead, he filed the public ear
with sound and fury. He ruth!essly sac
r,fced everything 70 the one idea Of his
being the one candidate He gagged HIS
followers in the convention, without putting
on record any facts upon which the public
could base a definite, intelligent judgment
regarding the validity Of Tafts domination.
He submitted no suggestion as 70 plat
form Of Progressive principles. He clam
ored loudly fer purging the convention roll
Of tainted delegates. without purging his
own candidacy OF his tainted contests and
his tainted trust support. He offered no
reason for a third party. excepting his own
overnastering craving for third term