Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-05-28
WILL I. r.. BOLT?

Dark horse talk as the result Of
the Chicago convention is growing
more and more pronounced as the
date for the convention approaches
and state after state registers it's ap-
proval of one or the other leading
candidates for President. While the
trend in recent weeks has been en-
tirely toward Roosevelt, it is proba-
BILE that Taft will control enough
delegates to prevent the former pres
ident's denomination, while, at the
same time, being unable to achieve
victory himself. At least such is the
present indication.
This probable deadlock has given
rise to the usual dark horse" talk,
and 1t has grown steadily stronger.
But T. r. has already declared him
self on this point. II will dictate
the nomination." declares the for
mer president and he emphatically
adds that the only man who will be
satisfactory to me, is myself" Thus,
while he does not say so, in SO many
words, the inference is at once ap-
parent that Roosevelt will head an
Independent movement and will be-
come the candidate of a third party
to be formulated by himself, for
president of the United States. 1t is
significant that neither President
Taft, or his supporters, have given
utterance to such sentiments. While
ne claims that he has already enough
votes to nominate he nevertheless adj
mits that some exigency might arise
which would prevent such possi
billty, although he does not expect
it even in the remotest possibility
As has already been said condi-
tions confronting the republican party
this year are somewhat similar to
those of 1880. with this difference,
that the party is much more hope
lessly split than in that year A sat
isfactory candidate was found and
victory came to the party in the fall
elections. But this feat cannot be
duplicated this time, owing to the po-
sition taken by Roosevelt that either
he must be nominated or he will lead
A bolt. If this shall occur, Demo-
cratic success in November is as GER
tain as anything can be that is not
already an established fact
If Roosevelt shall succeed in brow
beating his way to the presidential
nomination. If he shall bluff and bull
yrag the delegates into supporting
him, he win find that his pathway
o the presidential chair win be be-
et with many distractions. He may
,e able to lead or drive the Repub- |
lean delegates to the watering trough |
'ut can he force the rank and file 1
# the party TO swallow his doctrines /
nd his radicalism? If he had re- |
NAMED quietly at home after an 4
louncing himself as a receptive can /
lad nominated him. there would have /
een but little doubt that he would /
ave received the united support OF I
he Republican party In the fall
lectlons. But his course has been so
tterly at variance with established
ustom in this country; his campaign
as been so embittered and so fun
{ abuse and mud-slinging that he
as awakened the enmity Of many
Republicans who de-
lore such methods and. while they
hight have supported him under diff
erent conditions, they may not do so
ow. They demand compromise
andidate and believe that both OF
he principal combatants in the pres
nj struggle should agree to this
purse. The emphatic refusal OF
ROOSEVELT to permit such an outcome
nd his monumental egotism which
ominates his entire campaign and
roposes to force his nomination un-
er the implied threat Of a bolt. will
ill further widen the breach be-
yeen him and the old guard.
by assuming such a position he {
as clearly demonstrated that Il is Z
ot the success OF the party and the
-incipies IL represents that he really
ssires. He first and foremost seeks
establish his position as the su-
'eme dictator In the party, the one
ID only 1T to whom an others must I
w. He has already declared that
) Is the only man who can redeem !
e pledges OF the party, who can q
Ivern the nation as Il should be. in I
q that he is the one great states
an In the nation He does not
.alify this utterance. There are no
hers but himself. and no doctrines 8
e his own
Under such conditions. therefore. Z
cannot be expected that the stand :
tiers vii warmly support him. '
ouid he be nominated. IN fact he A
3 declared that he doesn't want