Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-29
WANT REINSURANCE
Republicans at Capitol Discuss
RooseveIt's Party Loyalty.
WANT FURTHER Statement
Would Like Him to Mention Party
by Name.
HAS RECORD FOR FIDELITY
Will He Now Be a Republican
Through Thick and Thin or
an independent
WANT FURTHER Statement
LAS RECORD FOR FIDELITY

Republican politicians at the Capitol are
still speculating over the question whether
Col Roosevelt, in the expected event of
his failing to get the nomination. will
support the candidate of the republican
party or bolt. Col. Roosevelt stated at
Boston a day or two ago positively that
he would support the nominee of the con-
vention.
What aroused the doubt in the minds Of
the politicians here was the astounding
omission of all reference to the repub-
lican party in his letter to the governors
announcing his candidacy. Coupled with
that consideration was realization of his
intense ambition and his intolerance of
being thwarted in any undertaking.
The republicans would feel much easier
If they could be sure that the colonel will
stand by his party and take his medicine.
1t may spell the difference between de-
feat and victory at the polls in November
whether he holds his followers in line for
the ticket
To be sure, they have reason to expect
him to stay in the party based upon his
course in the past. But they also had
| reason they say, to expect that he would
not enter the contest for the nomination,
and the disappointment of one expecta-
tion weakens the other.
Col. Roosevelt in the past has stood
out consistently against bolting his party.
He has jolted it at times, but it yet
remains for him to leave it.
Refusal to Desert Blaine
The politicians recall that away back
| In 1884, when he was but twenty-sx
years old, the temptation was first laid
| before him. when distinguished repub-
licans were deserting Blaine. Such men
as Carl Schurz and George William Cur
tbs were leading the disaffected republic
ans Roosevelt made his decision and
announced it as follows:
7 intend to vote the republican pres
idential ticket. A man cannot act both
without and within the party: he can do
either but he cannot possibly do both.
went in with my eyes open to
do what could within the party; / did
my best and got beaten, and I propose
to stand by the result.
1T is impossible to combine the func-
tions of q guerrilla chief with those Of a
fceaonel in the regular army; one has
greater Independence OF action, the other
| Is able to make what action he does take
vastly more effective. In certain contin-
gencies the one can do most good, in GER
tain contingencies the other: but there is
no use In accepting a commission and
lone hand.
81 am by education and inheritance a
republican. Whatever good I have been
able to accomplish In public life. has been
accomplished through the republican
party I have acted with it in the past
and wish to act with itfig the future"
Again Declined 10 Bolsi
A second time in his career Roosevelt
had to face the question of staying II. his
party or playing a lone hand as an inde-
pendent. This was after his return from
the Spanish war in 1893. when they tried
to induce him to accept the Independent
nomination for Governor of New York
He refused the temptation and in his let
ter of September % Of that year said:
My name will probably De presented:t :to
the republican state convention at Sara
toga the 21th. If l am nominated then
1t will be on the same ticket with those
| who are named for the other state Offices
The republican party will also have con-
gressional and legislative tickets in the
field. National issues are paramount this
year: very few municipal officers are to
be elected.
"The candidates will be my associates
I'm the general effort to elect a republican
governor, republican congressman to sup
port President Mckinley in the cause Of
sound money and a legislature which
win send to the Senate a republican
United States senator
1t seems to me that | would not be
acting in good faith toward my fellow
candidates IL 1 permitted my name to
head ticket designed for their over
throw. / cannot accept nomination on
terms that would make me feel disioyal to
the principles for which stand or at the
| cost of acting with what GEMS to me bad
faith toward my associates
The result is known to all: he was
elected governor on the republican ticket.
Reinsurance Wanted
| Now the politicians are anxious to have
| the colonel reassure them as to his inten-
| ton after June. There is another ma
tional campaign at hand. there are repub-
Iican representatives in Congress to elect,
republican governors and republican leg
| islatures to be chosen. with republican
senatorial fortunes at stake.
VIII he be q republican through thick
and thin or an independent?
4 M -