The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-05-31
DEMOCRATS AFRAID
OF ROOSEVELT
c~ontlnued From Pare one

EE-
In view OF the fact that Colonel
Roosevelt did mo monkey with the
tariff while in the White House or
permit congress to do so, the demo-
Gratis realize that it would be exceed
ingly difficult for them to keep that
issue to the fore throughout the cam
paign with the colonel on the firing
line against them. Colonel Roose-
Welt, with his usual alertness, would
seize upon some issue that the demo-
Gratis were particularly DESTROYS of
subordinating, play 1t up in the lime
light and make them take to the tall
timber. At any rate, this Is the view
which some admit in private CONVEX
sation.
The democrats were perfectly satis-
fled to have Mr.. Taft make the race
for another nomination ON an UNI
troubled political sea, without any OPP
position worthy the name when judged
from the standpoint of instructed dele
gates. They had It all figured out
that the president would be so easy
a defeat They still believe the pres
ident would be an easy mark, but are
fearful that Colonel Roosevelt and the
capable politicians with whom he has
surrounded himself will manage to
capture the nomination at Chicago and
smash their calculations to smither-
Gems.
With the tariff subordinated as an
issue, the democrats are at a loss
| what to do. They have reasons for
believing that the question OF trusts
would play an important part in the
! campaign IL Mr., Roosevelt were nomi-
mated at Chicago. But the democrats
| are not agreed upon a trust policy.
They have been trying to agree among
themselves and formulate legislation
supplemental to the Sherman anti
trust law, thus reducing their propa-
Eanda, to legal print. So many side
! shows have developed, however, that
the chance Of enacting legislation
along this line that would pass muster
with the people is anything but good.
If the Archibald case had not come
along the Judiciary committee of the
/ house might have succeeded in agree
ing upon. some antitrust legislation.
but that highly important inquiry has
crowded out everything else in the
committee.
tuner LnluSB uAYG Q6FGlOpGQ WHICH
are calculated to embarrass the demo-
Gratis, especially at the house end OF
the capital. Consequently, they are
all UP in the air on antitrust mat
ters. AT the same time they are
well aware that Colonel Roosevelt has
a faculty Of raising an Issue in a way
that IL certain to command support.
Therefore, while they may be badly
muddled on the subject Of trusts and
their wiae control, they are afraid the
~colonePs views. when given public ex-
preston after the nominating conven-
tons will be so clear and convincing
that the democrats will be at once
placed on the defensive. That the
colonel would have no difficulty In
pointing out any glaring inconsistent
cies in the democratic trust record
republicans have no doubt. Some Of
| them are apparent. Furthermore, II
the colonel could convince the people
that the democrats really had nc tan-
gible and practicable solution for the
trust problem which is about the big
gest economic question extant, his OPP
ponents would be In an even worse POI
sition. The people sometimes forget
past Inconsistencies when the prom
ises for the future Il the prospects
for real performance are sstisfac-
tory.