New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-23
THE SQUARE DEAL
It's Meaning as Interpreted by Theo-
dore Roosevelt

To the Editor OF Tho Tribune
Sir. Theodore Roosevelt poses as tho
one man above all others who champions
the square deal He insists that every
man shall have the right To his own But
hc is striking illustration OF tho old
proverb that it is easier to preach than
to practise.
when he was finishing his second term
AS President he put forward William II
Taft az the best all-round qualified man
for the Presidency that ever was nOmi-
mated" and ne labored hard for his cleo
ton When he returned from africa as
President Tafts first term was nearing Il
close and the country was casting about
for "A successor we naturally expected
Roosevelt To champion the cause Of his
friend Taft for 4 second term. Instead
he himself rushed Into the race TO seize
the prize for a third time. and thus cheat
President Taft out OF his justly merited
second term. We ask, I'm all good con-
science. whether this was square deal?
When the Chicago Republican conven-
ton met to nominate candidate for the
Presidency. and it was felt after days OF
struggle that neither Taft nor Roosevelt
could get the unanimous support OF the
convention and some of the wavering
factions got together TO try to unite on
some dark horse as an end Of strife,
Roosevelt would not listen 10 such a
suggestion. He must be nominated though
it disrupt the Republican party-the party
that made him what he is She took
Il. Il
king" And now he turns against his
benefactor and with one fell blow aims
to sever II I'm twain. Without conscience
or gratitude he filings away all the past.
In the name Of all that is sacred we ask
Where is Rooseyelts square deal with
the Republican party?
When the delegates TO the Progressive
convention met in Chicago to lay down
the platform for new party. and those
wise and astute statesmen Were about 10
enter upon their task, Colonel Roosevelt
wrote them that they should. not attempt
to lay down a single plank or write a
line until he got there and made his ia
nous speech, and thereby told them what
TO put into that platform He virtually
said: You fellows are only a lot of
plckanlnnes and know nothing about
craftsmanship. and | am the only man In
this country competent to frame a plat
form for great political party" For the
love of liberty ! want to ask: Where Is
Roosevclts square deal with these men
who are to constitute the Progressive
party, elect him President and administer
the affairs OF the country with wisdom
and sound Judgment? Does he arrogate
TO himself the sole prerogative OF arbiter
of all the various questions that enter
into our complex system of government?
Does he assume to sit on a throne i'm
perial and dictate to this nation what the
people shall believe and do?
For my part. feel sure that the people
of this country. who are the real SOW
ereigns, and who have an innate love q
liberty and fair play will not sign away
their rights by placing Boss Roosevelt In
the Presidents chair again and suffer the
scourglng of his big stick" They will
not suffer themselves TO be tied hand and
foot while the supreme boss Yields his
club to compel absolute obedience. "A
government of the people, by the people
and for the people" will not tolerate an
autocrat I'm the seat OF power.
FAIR PLAY.
Fernald, Iowa, Aug. 10, 1912.