Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-23
3, PROMPT ACTION NEEDED
Crisis Will Develop in Fight Over
Platform.
RESULT TO DECIDE TICKET
If Principles Unacceptable to Presi-
dent Are Adopted He Would
Decline Nomination.

Go to it, Mr.. President, Accept the
challenge, meet Roosevelt's declaration of
his policies with reiteration of republic
an doctrine.
Get your coat off and fight. Don't let
him set UP populism as the standard of
republcanism."
1t is no exaggeration to say that the
foregoing voices the heartfelt adjuration
of the republicans of the House and Sen
ate who have not gone over absolutely
TO the extreme radical faction.
Heartfelt, because they realize, they
say, the necessity of prompt and sturdy
action by the titular head of the repub-
lican party in a great party crisis.
The Presidents recent speech IN New
York put more ginger into the republican
campaign, more hope into their hearts.
more confidence into their course than
anything which has happened during Mr.
Taft's administration. They want him
TO keep 1t up along the same lines and
20 farther.
1t is with sigh almost of WEAKNESS
that the old line republicans ask each
other if they must again take up the
burden of factional contest for the SUI
premacy of the established tenets of the
party.
Recalling the eXhausting struggles of
the past-thte fight against populism,
against free silver and back of those the
other contests with isms small and great,
out of all Of which the party came VIC
torious because 1t stood for the best in
terests of all the people-the old line men
are ready to buckle on the armor again
If necessary, and they fear it will be.
Clash Over Principles.
The politicians on Capitol Hill say that
the coming fight in the republican ranks
will not be contest of personality be-
stween Roosevelt and Taft, but a clash Of
policies versus doctrines
Col. Roosevelt has so framed up his
game that outwardly the question wheth-
er he is to be elected President or not is
secondary to the question of whether the
policies he enunciates shall be the prin-
eipies of the republican party.
OF course. he has No psfsoaal ambition
in this al all: far be sJh from him TO cher
ish selfish ambitions. But, naturally.GM
the national convention should accept
ON such platform, and in that event,
much against his will, but for the public
veal. Roosevelt would accept the nomi-
nation = X
SO the politicians already are realizing
that the crisis will develop at Chicago
before the committee on resolutions and
On appeal to the convention when the
party platform is made.
III they should build a Roosevelt plat
form on which Taft could not stand, and
he should decline denomination. there
would be noshing to do but nominate
Roosevelt, and the colonel would have
ie rtsh of tai1 IL
lratified.
Taft Urged to Go Out and Fight.
Therefore the old line republicans in
House and Senate. who include some of
the great men of the party in the ma
tIon, are beseeching the President to go
out and fight the new doctrine. They say
ne need not attack his old friend he need
not mention his name, but confne him.
self to riddiing the Roosevelt policies
But they want the President to do il
now and to do 1t vigorously. They urge
him not to finch, not to use a soft pedal
not to mince words. but to call spade
. SPADE and a populist a populist
They ask him to let the country know
the significance of the present factional
movement in the party. and to be pre-
pared to send delegates to the conven-
tion who understand the seriousness of
IT all, and who will be prepared to han
die wisely the great question of party
platform, which will decide the question
Of selection OF the nominee.
Jubilation of Democrats.
The democrats are in great state of
Jubilation over the advent OF Roosevelt
intO the fight. They welcome him with
hospitable hands to what they believe will
oe bloody grave.
AS their convention follows the republi-
can convention. they will shape their
course at Baltimore largely by what is
done at Chicago The conservative demo-
Gratis. in the event of Roosevelt stamped
ing the convention and setting up a radi-
cal platform, will urge their party col
leagues to nominate a man of conserva-
i've mold and issue a platform to ap-
peal to the wisdom of the people. They
will advocate inviting business and prop
erty to rally to a safe and sane standard
and they will use the third-term objection
for all that Ii is worth.
And nine out of ten democrats in the
House will tell you that they believe they
can beat Roosevelt at the polls.
rpoopc tn Yrrp npnrp