The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-03

Colonel Roosevelt has just concluded
one of the most extensive campaign
tours that has ever been undertaken by
presidential candidate. He has travel
ed from the Atlantic to the Pacific and
back again. going into the northwest and
down and around through the south
west He made a dash through the
central west and has gone into the far
south. To be more explicit he has ira
versed no less than twenty-seven states
and accomplished the journey within
thirty days. This is remarkable cam
paign tour. But what its results have
been in bringing followers to the cause
of the Bull Moose are mere matters for
conjecture. They can be figured out
by any man almost to his own liking.
1t is doubtful, though. if the vote
pclled by Mr.. Roosevelt on election day
in the great section of the country
he has just covered, will prove that the
trip was worth while. The west has
ever been looked upon as the one great
stronghold of Roosevelt But on this
campaign tour. unless all of the I'M
Prejudiced reports of it are in error. the
colonel has not been received with as
much hearty enthusiasm as has been
the case on other trips he has made
in the same territory. At some points
the size of the crowds that turned out
to hear the rampant Bull Moose We're
reported to be disappointing. At other
places, where the crowds were large,
they were not exceedingly noisy with
their cheers and greetings. His Topeka
audience was a case in point. No can
didate pleading any cause could have
asked for q larger and more intelligent
crowd. But they did not greet the ap-
pearance of their distinguished guest |
with anything out of the ordinary in |
the way of cheers Nor did they wax
uTduIy enthusiastic over his preachines
OF the doctrines of the new party. |
Similar conditions appear to have pre-
vailed in many other centers visited by |
the colonel. And it is safe to assume |
that many, many people have turned
out to hear the colonel speak during |
his recent big tour. not because they
were his ardent supporters in his new
political movement but solely out Of
curiosity to see the man and listen to
his talk. That he made many con-
verts among such of his audiences is
extremely doubtful.
AS a matter of fact, larger and more
crowds greeted the colonel
during his pre-convention campaign for
the Republican presidential nomination.
Sc the conclusion seems reasonable that
Mr.. Roosevelt was much stronger vita
tie people while he was fighting within
the ranks of the Republican party than
lie now is while he is fighting so
strenuously against it.
None of the political wiseacres the
country over have anything that savors
Of an idea that Mr.. Roosevelt is booked
for a third presidential term They are
merely figuring on how badly he and
mis- followers will injure the Republi-
IAN party. A few weeks ago, it looked
IS though he would succeed in tear 4
rg the great party asunder. But the
complexion of things in this respect has
changed very decidedly of late The
Republican party appears to be coming
nto its own again, as the people are
being shown the wise and successful
leadership of President Taft There IS
'1so feeling that Mr.. Roosevelt is IN
he present political fight Just as much
through spite to deny reelection to
Mr.. Taft, as for any hope that he will
gain be chosen president of the ma. t
ion. And this is now hurting the
Roosevelt cause more than any other {
hing