The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-14
THE ROOSEVELT CONTESTS.


sation with the truth. It seems to b'
an inherent trait with humans to &C
cept Immediately at it's face value any
scrt of a charge that any one may care
to make. 1t becomes rooted in then
minds as a fact, and the proof that II
isn't one is frequently given scant at
tention. In this particular the early
bird always appears to catch the worm
All this has been true of the charge
OF Colonel Roosevelt that he was rob-
bed of the Republican presidential
nomination through the theft of dele
gates that belonged to him. This is
the excuse that he gave for the organi
zation of his new party. Undoubtedly
this has been the reason why many Re
publicans at first looked with such favor
OF the Bull Moose movement. Actual
dishonesty in politics did not appeal T.
them any more strongly than would
dishonesty in any other field of human
endeavor. But as time has rolled on
since the Republican national conven-
ton and there has been an opportunity
tc give calm consideration to the con-
tests that raised such a hubbub in it
and which finally resulted in the
Roosevelt bolt from the party, the evil
dence is accommodating that Mr.. Roose-
velt's case before that convention was
not as strong as he believed. 1t has
been pretty effectively demonstrated
that all of the contests before the con-
vention were decided on their exact
merits as the members of the Republi-
can committee and later the members
OF the credentials committee of the
convention viewed them. OF course. in
a matter of this kind there is always
room for differences of opinion concern
ing the justice of decisions reached.
The losing side is seldom willing to
admit that it was entirely in the wrong.
That would be too much to expect of
human nature.
So the excuse given by Colonel Roose-
Welt for the formation for his new party
turns out to have been DO valid excuse
at ALL and for that reason many Re
publicans who would not tolerate de-
ceit and treachery even in their own
party and who therefore were attract
eG to the Bull Moose movement, are
making up their minds that it was
through a false or mistaken
~ emise and for that reason they are
to the Republican ranks.
Certainly the charge of stolen delegates
is not now being pressed by Colonel
Roosevelt and his friends to any ex-
tent, if at all. They seemed to have
dropped it entirely. And if that was
the. real excuse for the new party, and
was a perfectly valid one, it would be
the biggest campaign weapon that the
Bull Moose could have 10 draw honest
minded Republicans to their cause
There is also another phase of the
contests before the Republican national
that is now being given
some of the attention It deserves. And
il certainly does not put the Roosevelt
forces in an enviable light. 1t concerns
the many contests that were brought
by Mr.. Roosevelts friends which may
be properly described as having been
D. the fake variety. The great bulk
5f the contests brought in Mr.. Roose-
velts name were decided unanimously
in favor of Mr.. Taft by the Republican
national committee, and were not even
crossed seriously before the credentials
of the national convention
When the contests We're being decided
members of the national committee
7c ting against them, the Washington
Times a newspaper owned and edited /
" Frank Munsey was asked by a cor
to please explain how it wa 8
hat so many contests brought by Mr.. |
Roosevelt were being unanimously de- |
,ided against him. Mr.. Munsey has
been one of the chief spokes in the
Roosevelt movement for third term. |
He has contributed much money to It |
He is familiar with the moves that |
nave been made in it. And here is the
'eply he made in the Washington Times
lrder date of June 9, 1912. 1t shows the
cal basis for most Of the ROOSEVELT
contests.
"On the day when Roosevelt form
lily announced that he was candidate,
over hundred delegates had
,ctually been, selected. When Senator
Dixon took charge of the campaign
abulated showing of delegates selected
0 date would have looked .1opelessly
'ne-sided. Moreover, q number of
southern states had called their con-
rentions for early dates and there was
10 chance to develop real Roosevelt
strength in the great Northern states
ill later. For psychological effect as
move in practical politics it was nee
.ssary for the Roosevelt people to start
contests of these early Taft selections
n order that a tabulation of delegate
strength could be put out that woald
how Roosevelt holding a good hand.
r the game a table showing Taft $50,
Roosevelt 10 contested one would
lot be very much calculated to inspire
confidence, whereas, one showing Taft
$. Roosevelt 10. contested 1877. looked
yery different That is the whole story