Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-11-02
CAN he "PUT 1T over"

The presidential campaign of 1912 is very
APPLY ilIust rated in the cartoon on the first page
of the Star-B bulletin today. Almost from the
beginning, ccrtai nly from th" moment that
Z RoOseveltiSm swept Illinois and Pennsylvania
Jhe question has been not much whether Taft
or Wilson could win as whether Roosevelt could
~put his thirdtcrm over" and the pictorial sim
lie OF the football field, with the Bull Moose
charging vaIiantly and vehementIy at his two
opponents, illustrates the aggressive spirit in
which Roosevelt has been %putting it over.'
In the terms of the gridirOn, Roosevelt is now
on the fivc-yard line and Taft and Wilson are
backed up into the shadow of the election goal
posts. Head on and teeth set, the doughty colo
mel is hurting humself toward the last white
line that spells election.
Politics is a kind of game after all, and the
red blooded American of whatever faith must
feel an admiration, however unwiIingly he ad
mits it, for man who can play the game with
such eDnsummate generalship and such ready
Drawn as Roosevelt displays.
To get back to football figures, Roosevelt is
an exponent of both the sold and the ''new'
game. He can hit the line hard, he can skirt
the ends swiftly, and he car hurdle an opponent
il necessary, or dodge with amazing trickery
He knows the value of team work. and he also
dash boldly into the thickset ranks of the
enemy With it all, he never forgets the direc
ton of the goa1line he is to cross. .
1t is small wonder that Roosevelt has created
such personal following or that within yeaI
he has built up an organization able to cope
with Republicanism and Democracy an equal
terms. Aside from his dominating and nspirit
ing personality, he is advocating a remarkably
strong platform. He does not stop for discus
sion on dry details of tariff revision. The un
erring insight that made him the greatest press
agent of all time found early in the game that
the American people are tired of issues more OF
less clouded in abstruse technical details He
found in the United States a deep social Unrest
and his platform is vibrant with appeal for a
new deal all around. 1t is frankly, socialistie
as measured by what the American people would
have called socialism eight years ago, or four
years ago. But they do not call it socialism
now. Rooseyelts, insistenees that humanity be
set above the dollar is not new cry, but his
energy and bis wonderful ability to choose the
word "with the punch" made that cry heard
where it never had been heard before.
And vet Roosevelt is widely distrusted. Like
many another leader, he has been ruthless in his
use of means to gain his end. $He climbed to Of
flee on the shoulders of loyal party men, many
of whom he has since kicked from under his
feet. During his term in the presidency he gave
small evidence of interest in most of the meas
ures he is champiOning today. They were vague
issues then, the people were not clamoring for
reforms as they clamor now, and Roosevelt saw
no profit in being too far ahead of his times.
j. If Roosevelt can be elected and carry out the
Progressive platform, it will he an immortal
work. If one is to Judge the future solely by
the past, most of the reforms would not be car
rie1 out under his administration. But at least
he would prick the national conscience daily
and keep it, like disturbed beehive, alive with
angry energy.