The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-04

Theodore Roosevelt in the foreground of the landscape.
 In this the principal needed but little assistance. He Is easily the feature of the show. He is the topliner, the star of ths aggregation. He would not be in the play if he were not the feature.
 But though he has been in the game now fo- one week, he has nothing to show for his activity but few promising contests. Taft continues to corral the few delegates that Me being instructed. But this does not seem to worry Roosevelt or his man. agers. It is the machine that Is instruct ing delegates and Roosevelt is bucking the machine He is buckng everything that is regular. He couldz't play if the game gave him no opportunity to buck. He waited and planned and intrigued for a fight and he got it. He jumped into the sport just at the proper time for excite ment.
 Roosevelt Is a great modern institution. He is the best newspaper copy of the age. He is a delight to the newspaper men. He keeps them on the jump. They never know where and when he will break out They never know what he will say or do to- morrow He is always live copy. The story of today may be contradlcted to- morrow. but that Is the delight of the newspaper men. It breaks monotony It
 
 have begun to understand the newspaper man is safe to plunge in and dare the Ananias club.
 The organizer and architect of the An anias club who positively announces that he will under no circumstances stand for a renomination and then deliberately jumps into a fight for h renomination con- fer sadded dignity to that organization and gives him undisputed right to it's parentage
 Roosevelt is thoroughly delightful.
 He is an incarnate inspiration to the young men of America.
 He Is the high priest of progressive Americanism.
 He allows nothing. not even veracity and honor, to stand in the way of ambition.
 Yet he has a following that is respect able His personality appeals to the young men of the country. He is compelling. He Is adroit. He is skillful.
 Where he does not win support he forces neutrality.
 Take for instance the case of Senator Henry Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts. Lodge is one of the wisest politicians in the country. He Is scholarly and well balanced.
 He would be expected under ordinary circumstances to support the present re- publican adnlnlStratlOn. lie IS pro- tectionist and standpatter. But he is personal friend of Theodore Roosevelt He has been for 15 years. He followed Roosevelt to the Columbus speech. Here he hesitated.
 He will not support MT. Roosevelt for the nomination, hut he will not oppose him. He will give no active support to Taft. He is neutral. What more could Roosevelt desire?
 Lodge is not alone in this position. There are thousands of republicans who may not be able to follow Roosevelt all the way, but they will withhold their support from Taft on account of their personal admira- ton and covert hopes for Roosevelt.
 This neutrality is just to Roosevelt's liking
 The net result of Roosevelts campaign will be to complete the split in the re- publican party, and it's inevitable defeat In November. This now can be counted upon as certain.
 The extreme progressives who will fol- low Roosevelt to the Chicago convention will not turn to Taft after his nomina tion. If by some miraculous peradven- ture Roosevelt should capture the nomi- nation it will be just as impossible for the extreme conservatives to follow Roose- welt.
 There is large and growing element of independence in the republican party that Is already becoming disgusted with the party methods and acts, and that is ready to support a safe democrat for a try out at least.