Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-02-27
STRIPPED TO THE BUFF"
IS ROOSEVELT'S LATEST
Colonel Adopts Another Pictur-
eSque Phrase to Say He Is
in Race,
ny RALPH SMITH


WASHINGTON. d. c.. Feb. "a
Colonel Roosevelt's remark in Cleve-
land, my hat is in the ring" was sup
2lemented here today by another state
ment attributed tozthe colonel
One OF the Washington statesmen
who recently journeyed to the outlook
office has told his friends that tile
colonel greeted him with this state
ment, emphatically banking the desk:
We'll, the fight is on; 1 am stripped
to the buff" although there is abso-
lutely no longer any doubt that the
colonel has entered the fight. it is a
significant fact that Mr.. RoosevelIs
friends and supporters in Washington
are slow to indorse the radical speech
delivered by him at Columbus.
There has in fact sprung up among
the progressives in congress a strong
opposition to Mr.. Roosevelt's utter
ances on the recall of the Judiciary and
the progressive Republicans tonight
were more respondent over the outlook
than they have been at any time since
Senator La Toilette broke down at the
Philadelphia banquet.
Several of these progressives, who
up to this time, have insisted that
Roosevelt will sweep the country, now
acknowledge that he has committed po-
litical hari carl by his advocacy of the
extraordinary proposition of applying
the recall to judicial decisions. The
gloom of the insurgents stands in mark
ed contrast to the joy in the camp OF
the Republican regulars over Roose-
velt's speech.
Colonel Roosevelt's speech" said
one of the well known progressive lead
ers in congress sand a Roosevelt sup.
porter. may give his candidacy renew
ed impetus for 60 days, but 1 appre-
bend that the reaction will prove too
much"
He said further:
1T viii be a weight attached to his
neck and this with the third term ar
gument VIII be too much even for him
to carry" f.--
This Republican added that while tile
people of American favor progress they
are conservatively progressive and be-
lieve only in sane and well considered
reform. He did not regard Colonel
Roosevelt's advocacy of the recall of
judicial decisions as representative or
sane progress. He declared further
that the coloneFs proposition was abso-
lutely impracticable. that even the colo
mel with a dozen stenographers would
be unable to draft law that would
effectively cover the points Of his Co
lumbus utterances on the judiciary re-
call =,
Senator Cummins, of Iowa, who is
himself candidate for the Republican
nomination, and is thorough progress
sive, was quoted by senators as having
declared that Colonel RoOsevelts c..
lumbus speech makes the simon-pure
progressives look like standpat reac-
tionaries. Senator Cummins does not
agree with the colonel on some of his
propositions, and is said to be unwill-
ing to 60 to lengths advocated by the
ex-president.
Senator Borah, who is a progressive
with conservative leanings, but who is
a warm admirer OF Roosevelt. obvious
ly was dissatisfied with the speech. He
declined to discuss it, but finally said
There are parts of the speech which
think cry strong and present in a pow
erful way the questions treated but
you know, utterly disagree with the
proposition of recall Of judges and i
utterly disagree with the proposition
as presented by Colonel Roosevelt as
to the recall lof judicial decisions.
Senators BristoW and Clapp, whose
leanings are more radical, indorse the
Roosevelt speech, but even the more
radical Of progressives acknowledge
that the colonePs utterances are dis
tasteful to the lawyers among the Re-
publican insurgents and that 1t may
take considerable time to bring them
around to a support of Roosevelt prop
uganda '--
There was a noticeable Discrimination
on the part OF Republican insurgents
in the house to express any public
opinion on the Roosevelt speech as a
whole. Apparently the Washington
statesmen desire to let the speech SOAK
in and get some idea Of its effect upon
the country before committing them
selves absolutely.