The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1912-01-31
OFFICIAL PAPER OF cHoUrEAU COUNTY
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 81, 1912.
eADGERING ROOSEVELT.

BADGERING ROOSEVELT.
The favorite occupation of certain
politicians and newspapers nowadays
il the attempt to make Mr.. Roosevelt
appear as q presidential candida t
Efforts of this kind are being made by
many so.called friends of the former
president, and the movement lie en-
couraged by the bitter hostility arous.
ed among his political opponents by
the suggested possibility of his nomi.
nation and election.
In view of Mr.. Roosevelt's positive
declara alton several months ago that
he was not an aspirant for further
presidential honors, and earnestly re.
Quested his friends not to cause him
embarrassment by seeking to secure
his nomin alton, it is unfair to the
former president to disregard his
wishes in this connection. Some of
the political opposition declare he is
q party to the movement, because he
does not daily repudiate any sympathy
with it, but his former declar atoms
deprecating efforts of this kind should
be accepted a. sufficiently defining his
position.
Frank A.. Munsey. the we'll known
publisher and an old-time and init
mate personal friend of Mr.. Roosevelt,
makes q public statement as to the
only conditions under which he be.
iieves Mr.. Roosevelt could be induced
70 again lead his party. This is Sim
ply Mr. Munsey's opinion, and should
be accepted as such, his statement be.
ing in part as follows:
The question, which just now occu.
pies 80 much newspaper space, as to
where Mr.. Roosevelt stands, and what
he will do and what he won't do, is
not 80 very difficult, it seems to me,
of sane, analytical auswer.
That he is not a candidate for the
nomination ia certain. There Is {
wide difference between being q candi
date for q nomination and being
candidate for election after the nomi
nation.
If the nomination comes to Mr.
Roosevelt, it will come because the
party calls him of its own accord,
and not because of any manipulation
on his part &c compel the call.
If, between now and the assembling
of the Republican National Conven'
ton on June 18, it becomes q convic
ton with the party that MI. Roose
velt 10 stronger with the people and
would have q better chance OF election
than any other man, he will b.
nominated The whole question rest
right on this one point, and that Il
exactly where it should rest.
Mr.. R%oosevelt's nomination unde|
such conditions would put up to hin
responsibility that he would have T.
accept, no matter what his persona
wishes and no matter how serious th
fight ahead.
The nominee OF the republican part
will have no cinch in the coming cleo
ton. Pitted against q democra ti
candid ate of equal running strength
the odds would be with the latter, q
the voting strength OF the democrati
party is apparently greater than tn,
of the republican party.
But this fact would make no diffel
ence with Mr.. Roosevelt. He hs
never yet shirked an important r
sponsibility, has never yet shirked
hard job, and certainly would not E
out from under this one with the II
Of his party at stake.
The effort to ''smoke out" Nj
Roosevelt and compel him either
declare himself q candida ate for &
nomination or to say he will not q
cept the nomination If it comes to hi
will accomplish no more than has
far been accomplished in this respet
Situated as he is, my guess is tn
MI. Roosevelt is quite content to
political matters shape themselves
- they will. II no call comes to b;
to lead the fight he will keep right
having . good time with his work,
he is now doing. But If the call do
come, he will buckle on his armor q
Ego to IT, with all his old.time i
petuosity and energy.