Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-02-02
sTUBBs AFTER 7. r.

Governor Stubbs on Monday wired
Colonel Roosevelt, instruc'5ng him as
tH his duty and asked, not to say al
mostdemanded, a definite statement
by wire"
Governor StubbS, upon being asked
today whether he had received a ne
ply from the Colonel, by wire or other
wise, said that he had not
This was the governor s dispatch:
81 believe YOU owe it 10 the Amer
Can people at this time to make a
public statement concerning this mat
ter. am wiring YOU because of the
latenass Of the day, and ON behalf OF
vas majOnity of the Republicans
of Kansas would urge you to give us
this definite statement by wire.
Perhaps the State Journal is not up
on all of the proprieties, but it looks
to this paper as II Governor Stubbs
had sent a somewhat impudent tele-
gram 10 the colonel. We would Like 10
vOuchSafe this opinion, that no one
better than Colonel Roosevelt knows
what his duty is in this and O1her
premises, and just what he owes the
American people.
Furthermore, this paper believes
that Colonel ROOsevelt's position up
to date is a model one. A great many
people seem to be criticiSing the col
Onel for what he does mot say, but it
Is not for this writer TO enter any
criticism of that sort. In fact, he ad-
mires the colonel generally and es-
pecially for the stand he has taken
and his refusal 10 answer in any
other manner than he has certain
questions which were put to him by
people who should respect his wishes
and not endevaOr 10 force him 10 say
things which he does not want to say
or which he thinks he ought not to
say
Governor Stubbs and other inSur-
gents in Kansas do not seem to real
ize that Colonel Roosevelt means what
he says when he has repeated over
and over again that he is not a cam
didate and does not wish his friends.
to make any effort to secure dele
gates for him. Neither do these poll.
ticianS with more zeal than d,ScFe-
ton appear to understand that i'm de
serting La Folette and Cummims and
other typical Insurgents that they are
desarting the principles for which
they are fighting. It is their fayOrite
expression to say, THE movement is
more imp0tan than the man." Then
why do they not take up a man who
is typical OF the movement, and who
Is an avowed candidate and make a
fight ON these lines? BristOw is con-
Histent and 70 be commended.
Roosevelt does not want the office
and his friends should not embarrass
him by forcing their attentions. Of
course these friends will claim that
they are real friends, but as mat
ter Of fact it would appear that they
have discovered that they cannot beat
TAFT with one of their own number
and are, therefore anxious to beat him
with a man who favored him. Thus
far, however, the efforts to pit Roose-
welt against Taft have failed. Our In
surgent friends do not seem to COM
prehend the seriousness Of their pro-
eedure. The mpopuardty Of a third
term, no matter how popular the man
Is so thoroughly grounded into the po-
itical sentiment OF this country that
anyone who undertakes To go i'm the
face of it would take a greater risk
than the best friends of Colonel
Roosevelt should desire even him
with all his, prestige and power, and
popularity to undertake.-State Jour
mad.