The Washington herald., 1912-02-22
ROOSEVELT SPEECH
FOUND TOO RADICAL
Members Of Congress Believe It
Will Not Aid His Candidacy
Against Taft.

The speech of former President Roosc-
tion OF Ohio, at Columbus. yesterday,
had been awaited with the keenest in
terest by men in Congress Many OF
them expected that in this speech Roose-
welt would declare his attitude toward
another nomination for the Presidency.
But all OF them seemed to understand
that the speech would be the platform
on which he would appeal to the coun-
try in his canvass for denomination.
Not few OF the Senators and Repre-
sentatives realize that the character OF
the speech and the way IL was received
by the people would have a tremendous
effect on Roosevelt's political chances
this year.
For several days intimations have been
handed out around the Capitol that the
speech would be radical. In the opinion
OF practically everybody this prediction
was justified by the published report OF
Col. RooseveIt's speech. The conserva-
tive Republicans. friendly TO President
Taft, as n rule. declined TO comment on
the speech for publication.
Alarmed at Recall.
Some Of the more conservative among
the progressive Republicans. ''near-in-
surgents." as they have been called.
were disappointed in that part OF the
speech demanding the fecaI Of judicial
decisions. But even these progreSsives,
who are not attempting to conceal
their disappointment at this feature OF
the speech. were ready to justify the
utterance as a whole because Of the
other things that the colonel uttered
that have been dear TO the progressive
heart, such as the initiative and refer
endum, direct election OF Senators. and
direct primaries. including Presidential
preference. On the whole, everybody
agreed that 1t was progressive"
speech.
Some Of Senator la Follette's ardent
admirers declared that the colonel had
not only appropriated Senator La Fol-
Iette's boom. but had made way with
his platform. built up through many
years Of laborious political toll. But
they liked the speech.
II am delighted with IT," said Senator
Moses E. Clapp, one OF the most aggres-
sive and militant of the Republican in
surgents in the Senate.
1T is a radical speech" said Senator
and It viii be popular With the progress
sives"
Even some OF the more radical Demo-
Gratis approved It. For example. Senator
George E Chamberlain, OF Oregon, said:
1T was a delightful surprise to me.
or course I approve the speech
President Taft's friends in the Senate
were not disposed to discuss 1t.
The immediate effect OF the speech is
60 hrfn If The eefx -
Republicans who have been following
Senator La FoIlette's leadership into line
for Roosevelt. He is admittedly the
leader Of the progressive Republican
movement from now on. In the judg-
ment OF political observers, the colonel
seized the colors of the insurgent Re-
publican column as they fell from the
hands of La Toilette. But the question
most frequently asked by conservative
Does the speech reflect Republican
principles?''
The reply in most instances is that
II did not. President Taft's friends are
pleased by the character Of
the speech. estimated from the viewpoint
Of a political adversary. They believe
that II is so radical in character that II
makes Col. Roosevelt unavailable as the
candidate of the Republican party.
rear Tor PlnNIOrm.
All of the ideas advanced by Col.
Roosevelt on the initiative and refer
endum. and especially on the recall OF
judicial decisions and judges them
selves. are abhorrent to President Taft.
At the White House no comment was
made on the coloneTs speech. but Mr..
Tafts deep concern over the possibility
of any OF these new-fangled notions
creeping into the Republican national
platform is we'll known TO his advisers.
So deeply CUes the President feel on
the question of the recall OF the ju-
dietary that he would decline to accept
a denomination for the Presidency rath- !
er than stand on a platform which con- |
tained such a plank.
Now that Col. Roosevelt's long-awaited
speech has been delivered. the Presi- |
dents political advisers are confident
that the coming campaign is TO be one |
In which the lines between radicalism |
and conservatism are to be as sharply |
drawn as they were in the famous 1886 |
free silver campaign
II President Taft Is renominated, the |
Democrats. in the opinion OF the Presi- |
dents political advisers. will name either |
Woodrow Wilson or Champ Clark on a /
platform containing all OF the modern |
IDEAS advanced by Roosevelt In his
speech in Columbus.
In that event, the President and his |
followers expect to see the business in
terests and the thinking people of the
country rally to Tafts support as they /
lid to the support OF Mckinley in the
Two campaigns against Bryan.