The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-02

not feel that he is playing the game ac-
cording to rule.
The blacklist page in the record is Mr.
Roosevelt's treatment of Mr.. Taft Mr..
Taft was not nominated by the Repub-
llcan party. He was forced upon the
=, convention by Mr.. Roosevelt, who con-
trolled the Republican machine The
country took him on Mr. RooseveIt's
to stand by him and help make the
Taft administration successful. He
owed that to the Republican party and
to the country.
Grant was a receptive candidate for a
third term; but Grant betrayed no
friend, Grant sought to destroy no Re-
publican principles, Grant made no at
tempt to climb back to power over the
ruins OF his party.-New York World.
Roosevelt in the Field.
For the second time in the history Of
the United States a man who has held
the office of president for two terms
mas become an avOwed candidate for Il
third. Colonel Roosevelt'S reply to the
western governors bears out the predic-
lions of his most hostile critics, wha
have insisted that the various stages of
development of the Roosevelt boom
bore evidence of careful nursing which
would have been impossible without
the approval of the man chiefly con-
cerned. Mr.. Roosevelt has himself
most effective weapon they could pos
sibly have with which to destroy his
influence in public affairs henceforth,
if he should be defeated, and to assaiI
and wreck his administration if he
should be nominated and elected.
All great nen have their weak sides.
Mr.. Roosevelt's particular weakness, a.
those familiar with his career have
long known, is his proneness to listen
to the voice of flattery. He has owed
it more to good luck than to wisdom
that this has not hitherto led him far
astray But those who have besiegcd
him persistently on the question of n
third term we'll knew where his armor
was vulnerable and they have pene-
trated it. He has chosen his position.
There might be a better excuse for
Mr. RooseVe1tS candidacy if he had
any issue to represent aside from that
CT his own personality. But there is no
such issue. He announces none in his
letter to the governors and neither
he nor his friends have made any
during the preliminary agitation which
led to yesterdays decIaratio, for it
can hardly be supposed that the fan
taStic idea advanced in his Ohio speech
for a popular referendum on the de-
cisions of the highest courts ever will
be dignified into an issue. LaFollette
had certain definite propositions to
stand on, but Roosevelt cannot run on
the LaFollette platform. All that was
best in his two administrations has
been taken up and carried forward by
the Taft administration and is now j
part of the Taft record. Moreover, it
stands, not as academic theory, but as
accomplished fact. To a great extent
the opposition to Taft's denomination
represents reaction from the doctrines
which Roosevelt taught Reputation
in practice of what appeared very at
tractive in public discussion. This
RnOGnXyaltsG in iniy
ing and leading the opposition to Taft
the harder. to understand, and it Will
add greatly to the difficulty of mis-
friends in having his candidacy ac-
cepted by the people.
Thlrty-tWo years ago he considered
this issue 20 important that he made
his first plunge into politics in an at
tempt to organize an InSurgent move
ment against the third-tern candidacy
of General Grant. The Importance of
the issue has not been 1essened by the
substitution of Roosevelt for Grant as
the third term aspirant. The breaking
of the two-term precedent would re-
move all limitations on the reelection
of a president. Even admitting that
in Roosevelt's case there would be nc
danger in third, a fourth or fifth
term, his successors for as long as the
republic should last would need to be
very strong men to resist the pressure
to become candidates for third and
fourth terms also. Perhaps, as the
Outlook argues, that is no more to be
dreaded than is the indefinite continu-
ance In power of a British premier
But there are a lot of Americans who
don't like it, who think it is safer to
keep the door closed against too great
extension of personal ambition, to per-
NIT no further temptations to dema-
gcgy than now exist in the nations
highest executive office. They learned
in their school histories that it was by
the process Of continual reelection that
Augustus established a family dynas-
ty on the ruins of the last great re-
public which existed before our OWL
was organized. This is the feeling and
this is the issue which Mr.. Roosevelt
VII have to fight. With what and for
what is he going to fight it?-Buffa.o
Express.
Colonel ROOSevelt'S Announcement.
To US it is wholly inconceivable that
Colonel Roosevelt, if nominated, can
be elected. He has played the Ameri-
can people false by making a solemn
pledge that he would not again be a
when the lust of power and glory
again took possession of him. In one
form or another this pledge has fire.
quently been repeated. If it had been
adhered to the people would have be-
lieved that honor was more to Mr..
Roosevelt than the highest office in
the world. They would have given
him credit for good faith, for stability
of character In the conditions Gre
ated by his candidacy for another term
we cannot see how he can retain the
respect of any who have regard for
political morals. The colonel has free
~ called other men liars. 1t is now
plainly demonstrated that his own
word is worthless.
For the present the grave menace
of the Roosevelt candidacy need not
be discussed. That he is a dangerous
man goes without saying. The coun-