The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-16
His Latest Attack on the
 Roosevelt Methods
PERMANENT BREACH
But Everybody Is Wondering Which Candidate MT. LaFollette Will Finally Support for the
 Presidency
BY C. E. STEWART.

Washington, August 16-(Special) )-Sen- ator LaFollette is as peevish as a col- ored delegate at a national republican convention after he has been locked up by the steering committed, over the way Roosevelt took his little progressive boom away from him, like he was taking candy from baby Folks thought the senator would get over it, but not so. He is get ting a worse grouch against Teddy every day and that he is going gunning for him as soon as the Congress adjourns there can be no doubt.
 Using as an example the case of Judge E. B. Dillon of Columbus, who recently withdrew from the Ohio republican ticket as candidate for governor, Senator LaFol- lette is out in this weeks issue of his publication in a scathing attack on Col onel Roosevelts tactics. His onslaught leaves no doubt whatever that from this time on in the campaign the senator's voice will be raised for war on the chief bull moose.
 The senator asserts that How do you stand on me- is Roosevelts sole test of qualification for a progressive. He charges that the colonel himself is adopt ing boss methods through threats of coercion of candidates for office and threatens to beat senators, representa- tives, governors, sheriffs and coroners un- less they declare for him In proof, La Toilette cites the case of Judge Dillon. Loyalty to progressive principles, he says, has nothing to do with the matter. In Ohio, Judge E. B. Dillon was nomi- mated on the republican ticket for gover- nor. Dillon was enough of a progressive to be acceptable to progressives and was assured that no opposition would be made by them to his candidacy. Upon this In- derstanding he accepted the nomination. But Roosevelt thereafter demanded that Dillon declare for him (RoosevelD or face defeat in the shape of opposition of an- other candidate. Dillon very properly re- fused, and unwilling to take the chances of defeat, withdrew as a candidate
 The senator depicts the sober side of the proposition. He proceeds: Governor Deneen of Illinois was not asked by Roosevelt's agent how he would stand as to Lorimer's successor-a matter of grave importance to the whole nation, or whether he would support progressive state programme. The Illinois representa- tives were not catechized as to their po- sition on national legislation. But they were plainly given to understand-and some of them are the most pronounced re- actonaries in public life-that if they de- clared for Roosevelt they would be aid- ed, or at least would not bt opposed, by Roosevelt That is the meaning of the telegram which each one received from Roosevelt's managers in Illinois.
 If Cannon and Mckinley frightened at the sight of the big stick should promise to come out for the Roosevelt party, they would have no progressive opponent in their districts On the other hand, Hadley of Missouri and Borah of Idaho, neither of whom will go into the Roosevelt party, are to be punished by having Roosevelt tickets put up against them in their states"
 The senator apparently warmed up as he wrote, for next he says
 How do you stand on me?' is Roose- velts sole test of qualification for a progressive. Imagine a Congress elected on this basis. Of course 1t would be re- actionary. Roosevelt is not concerned about progressive Congress. An Aldrich Senate and Cannon House are satis- factory to him, if he can win more easily with that kind of a combination. What would become of the progressive move ment under such leadership? And yet it is exactly the plan that Roosevelt pur- sued when President It is the Roose- welt way. He supported Lodge for United States senator two years ago, and Lodge for United States senator four years ago. He has always played this kind of a po- litical game.
 Tt Is this characteristic of Roosevelt that while he seizes upon issues that make good propaganda, and gives them pub- licity. he has not the patience nor sta- bility nor depth of conviction to prevent his sacrificing essential principles and per manent results to personal considerations and temporary advantage. It was this that made his administration as President, although a time of reform agitation bar ren of constructive legislation and a pe- riod for growth of evils that might have been avoided under wiser leadership.
 ''The third party movement promises to flumine this inherent weakness of Roose- welt as has no other phase of his political career. He completely dominates it's pol icy, and the real significance of his tac- tics is revealed as 1t could not be in the more complex political situations in which he has been conspicuous figure.r
 Now you must admit that that is hand ing it to the colonel--eh, what? But the absorbing question is who is LaFolette for? We knew all these things that the senator has so kindly repeated, but he has not yet told us where his stand will be.
 The republican party is certainly up against it, when two shining lights like Roosevelt and LaFollette refuse to play unless they can be it. Both have a grouch in very large and interesting proportions. LaFollette will simply have to start him a party if he wants to be in the colonels class. otherwise he has no right to kick. Roosevelt simply beat him to it.