The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-27
THE ROOSEVELT STATEMENT.

' flt iIltN wv WAS
licau nomination for president il it
is rendered to him sets at rest all
doubts as 10 his position in the mat
tor. There are Republicans h were
no, for him because he would not
state his position. but who We're ready
lo Join in the movement TO nominate
him jus, so soon AS the public dec
larntion was made. They now know
whcr. he stands and what his wishes
i'm the matter are.
So far AS the itself is
concerned it is much like John the
Revelator said of tho scripturc--i;
cannot he added 10 or taken from. IL
is clear, concise, terse and uneuuiNo-
cable. 1t can neither he misconstrued
nor uuihhled over. 1t says what its
author wanted it To say In a few
words and without evasion OF ctrcum-
locution. 1t places Roosevelt in no
new light, nor constructs for him no
new tenets
The governors who addressed their
letter to him stated that this is not
the time to consider either the inter-
ests OF the preference of II man. We
do not for a moment doubt that
Roosevelt would have preferred to re-
main G. in his place in history
and in the hearts of his rountrymcn
rather than risk the uncertainties of
politics in Il contest in which If he is
successful. can d nothing Ia his
present place of honor and confidence.
lie recognizes the danger that con-
fronts the Republican party, however.
and believing that he can say" the
country from the calamity of Demo-
cratic success. he fOrsakes the con-
forts OF Il distinguished private life
tn enter the turmoil of politics. 1t is
n sacrifice SO much at variance with
the policies of other candidates both
in the Republican and Democratic
parties. that it should appeal to all
patriotic minded men who believe the
presidency should be the result of Il
demand from the people and not the
result of a scramble of politicians.
1t will he argued. especially by
those newspapers which have been IN
the political bargain support
ing Democrats when properly nour-
ishcd and Republicans when the hope
of the loaves and fishes from tina
source seems better. hat Roosevelt
by announcing his Willingness TO ac-
cpl lHe UbIIllIldtlOh. Has SIioNI Il
mad desire to secure the position. But
no intelligent man can draw such con-
clusion from either his statement OF
the events preceding it. A public
demand. the greatest this country has
ever witnessed. placed him into Il po-
sition whore fairncss and justice de-
manded that he state his intentions.
lie Toes not ask the nomination, but
merely says he will accept it il ten
,lcred to him. ON top of this he In
sists that So far as it is possible to do
so. the people be permitted to express
their preference. This is certainly
taking the party rule direct to the
party members.
There are those. of course. who will
honestly question the policy OF Roose.
velt's candidacy. If they have been
loyal to party principles. they are en-
titled to fair consideration. They are
not in the class with those who seek
to destroy the party by Fastening fac
%tionalisnl, I'M stand ready to upport
the Democrats if sufficiently encour-
aged. Party men who do not agree
with the Roosevelt movement are en-
titled to the square deal. But they
should consider one or two particular
features Of the situation. They de-
sire the nomination of either Presi-
dent Taft or Senator LaFollette. The
men who i~naugurated and have push
ed the Roosevelt movement do not
believe President Taft's chances Of
election. in case he were nominated,
are certain. They. therefore, in the
language of the governors who ad-
dressed Colonel Roosevelt. believe that
Roosevelt's candidacy will insure sue
cess in the next campaign. That is
the difference between these two can
didates for the nomination. 1t may
be party expediency. but party ex-
pediency when it requires no sacrifice
Of principle. Is justifiable to save the
country from another reign of Demo-
crazy with it's soup houses. Frustrated
industries. idle workmen and fifty cent
wheat. II President Taft has failed
to hold the confidence Of the party,
he alone is to blame and he can not
complain II the party refuses to fol.
low him to defeat merely to crafty
his personal ambition and satisfy his
personal pride.
The case Of Senator LaFollette's
supporters is different. We do not
believe Roosevelt would ever have
been considered or hat he would ever
have been a candidate had Senator
La Toilette shown that he was able to
unity and rally to his standard those
who were opposed to the renomina-
ton Of President Taft In sufficient