The Washington herald., 1912-01-28
THE POLITICAL SITUATION

The political situation does not re-
serrIble a crystal lake. 1t is a muddy
river, turbid and opaque, filed with
swirling whirlpools and currents that
lead in all directions.
Under these circumstances, it is diff
. cult to see clearly. Definite prophecy
is almost impossible The conditions
of to-day may be reversed tomorrow.
1t Is this very uncertainty, however,
which gives zest to the campaign. Nor
is It unique. We go through the same
experience, in greater or less degree,
every four years. Some of these days
We will adopt a constitutional amend
mcnt which will limit the occupation Of
the Presidential Office to a single term
OF six years. When this happens, the
periods of turmoil will be less frequent,
and the spectacle OF a President con-
oerned for his political future will be
avoided. Until this very desirable re-
form is adopted, however, we must ex-
poet a repetition of the conditions
which now exist
As far as the Republicans are con-
cerned, one man could clarity the Sit
uation in an instant His name is
Theodore Roosevelt If. months ago.
when some opposition to President Taft
had developed, and when Roosevelts
name was being used to conjure with,
the former President had made an en-
phatic and dignrici announcement that
I he would not, unocr any circumstances,
be a candidate for the Presidency, nor
accept the nomination, but would, on
I the other hand, support Mr.. Taft, the
way of the Republican party would
have been clear. The La Toilette
movement. which was never serious
, enough 10 menace the Presidents re-
nomination, would have died adjoining.
Practically the entire party would have
accepted Mr.. Taft as its candidate, and
no other ne would have been men
toned.
Mr.. Roosevelt. however, has not
seen proper to take this action. He
has remained silent He has not dis
couraged the movement in his behalf.
On the contrary, he has conferred with
those who are known to be friendly to
his denomination, and now it is an ac-
cepted fact that he will not decline the
honor If It Is thrust upon him Why
he should assume this attitude toward
the President for whose nomination
he so earnestly labored and whose cleo
tion he undoubtedly helped to secure
remains a mystery. No publicity has
been given at any time TO any specific
differences between the two men. vet
they have fnquestionably drifted apart.
Roosevelt says nothing; Taft remains
silent. Thus it has come about that
the Republican party, which might
present solid frent to the enemy. IS
divided into two factions. one loyal to
the President and the other seeking to
oust him through the agency of the
former occupant of the high Office
If Mr.. Roosevelt had intended to |
support President Taft he would have
made that fact known long ago. He
would have halted the activities of his
friends; he would have advised them
10 stand by the President 1t is hardly
likely that at this late day he will dc
clare himself out of the running. 1t
may be taken for granted. therefore,
that he will allow his friends TO con-
tinue their efforts in his behalf, and if
the convention should nominate him,
he will accept.
Whether he could be elected under
these circumstances is a question that
does not need 10 be discussed until.
should a remote contingency become a
fact, his name has been placed. at the
head of the Republican national ticket.
The Washington Herald has re-
peatedly asserted that President Taftt
ought to be and would be renominated.
While it is an old proverb that all
signs fail in Presidential year, the
refusal to renominate a President for
second term would overturn all prec-
edents for fifty years, with the soli-
tary exception of the case of Rutheri
ford B. Hayes, and it is well known /;
that the circumstances which attended I
his election made his denomination i'm !
possible. Mr. Arthur was not renoin- {
mated, but he had not been elected :
President. Even in that instance the /
fact that he was not given the indorse-
ment of q nomination was potent fac '
tor in accomplishing the elsetion 3 f.r
Cleveland The latter carried New ID
York by the smallest possible mafgiu--ie