Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-08-09
THE MOOSE AND HIS PARTY.

NOW we know All ABOUT IL IHtl'
is no longer occasion for conjectura
as to the position of the Great BnlI
Moose regarding his policies anc
his overwhelming belief in himself OF
his ability to lead the people" from
the present mire of misgOvernmcnt
and corruption in which they arc
floundering, to the broad plane Of a
"just and equitable government for
all the people, He has given us mis-
confession Of faith" and his follow
ers have applauded his utterances un-
til their thrOats ached. At his con
Venton i'm Chicago, Tuesday following
a demonstration which lasted So min
utes, according to the press dispatch
es. Mr. Roosevelt attempted to justify
his efforts to wreck the national pOllt~
ica organization which honorcd him
with the highest office in the gift Of
the American people. AS was to be
expected, he laid great stress upon his
willingness to lead the people. lie
claimed that whatever power he has
possessed in the past, came from the
people, and was given him only as he
demonstrated that his ideas wele
right. The people backed him up''
in all that he did.
A careful reading of Roosevclts
keynote speech" falls to convince
the unbeliever Of a good and sulII-
cent reason for desertng his political
affiliations and rallying to the sup
port Of the third-termer. Through 1t
all there runs the thread of ego which
is the most dominant characteristic
of the man. and clearly shows that,
without Roosevelt, there would be no
Progressive party. lie attempts to
show that the people are behind him
in his present ambition, in spite of the
fact that 1t is only he, himself, who
SAYS It. If he is really the choice
of the people why did he not leave
his presidential chances with the
people and remain quietly out OF the
pre- convention campaign? lie Gc-
clared that the people wanted him,
and then proceeded to see that the?
called him" The people are not
tmid in this regard. If they really
wanted him they could and undouot-
edly would, have so declared. EuL
he didn't propose to take chances. He
refused to remain in the background.
He rushed to his own defense and
hurled himself about the country In
n trail Of blue smoke in a trcmen"
dous effort TO see that the people
made no mistake in the calling bus.
ness. And right there, and in that
action, may be seen the dominant
feature Of the Roosevelt personality
lie never has been satisfied to do
what the people desired. He has naN-
er taken suggestions even from those
whom he affects to love so much. H."
has never followed but has always
led lie formulated theories, and
promulgated doctrines, and declared
this Is what the people want aEd,
by spectacular gallery stunts, has sue
ceeded i'm keeping his policies in
the forefront and in even making the
people believe in them.
Roosevelt devotes a large section Of
his speech to an attack on both the
old parties and condemns the priuc!-
pies OF the Republican party to which
he SO long subscribed and supported
so long as the party rewarded him hv
Official leadership lie rcnews his
peculiar views regarding the recall
of judicial decisions although he has
receded somewhat from his former
advanced position on this question,
and now believes that the recall
should be restricted to questions at
fecting the constiutionality of laws
lie demands the regulation of trusts,
in fact grows enthusiastic over tlis
portion of his platform, but torgcJs
that while ne was president and had
every branch OF the government uu.
der his control. congress friendly
to him and with his own attorney
general in office, he did absolutely
nothing To regulate the trusts ami
that their number greatly increased
during his official life. lie believes in
q tariff hut thinks that the matter
should be handled by commission.
declaring that the present powers ut
the national tarin board are made
quate. lie rCatlirms his well-kuuWn
conservation theories. which many ot
the we'll meaning and hard-walkin-
home builders OF oregon and of ,he
Pacific Coast have tasted 60 their