Arizona republican., 1912-03-03


 national affairs can be described by just one word-"tumultuous.
 The announcement of Theodore Roosevelt's candidacy and the fur ther announcement of the platform on which he purposes making his race, as contained in his speech be- fore the Massachusetts legislature. combine to produce situation full of intense interest and vast moment to all the people of this country. In this connection n little personal his tory will not be out of place.
 Just one month ago The Repub- lican said editorially:
 Here is the situation. Two states men of world wide reputation have been brought before the people of Arizona for approval. There is no discount on the commanding ability, the unswerving integrity. or the ab- solute fearlessness of either. As all ready intimated. The Republican sup ports either President Taft or former President Roosevelt. and feel, in so doing. that it is working for the highest interests of the people Of the whole country
 That is what The Republican sa:i January 26 and that is what it meant. Moreover that is what it would say again under like circumstances. Un- der circumstances as they existed at the time that editorial was written and published The Republican would stay out Of the nomination fight and give Mir Taft and MT. Roosevelt clear field. so far as the influence Of this paper is concerned. But here is the fact-the Theodore Roosevelt of one month ago is not the Theodore Roosevelt of today.
 The simple truth is, no man could have foreseen that Mir. Roosevelt would adopt. as his personal plat form, the principles he has adopted. And believing that these doctrines, if carried to their logical conclusion, would mean the subversion of our American institutions and eventually tlie destruction Of free government itself. this paper cannot, in con- science do other than protest against their adoption by the republican party. Reduced to it's simplest terms the proposition is this: The Repub- lican thinks more of the integrity of our American institutions and of the principles embodied in the constitu- ton of the United States than it thinks of the personal advancement of any man living.
 And The Republican feels sure that hv the time the representatives of the party shall have assembled in Chicago next June the exploitation of these theories will have provoked such g storm of opposition that they will be buried so deep they cannot be resurrected in a hundred years.
 Here is another thing.
 Not even Theodore Roosevelt him. self believes in the square deal more firmly than does this news paper. In all candor, is MT Taft getting q square deal at the hands Of Mir Roosevelt? Let us see.
 Every man in America had the right to believe that when Mir. Roose- welt said he would not again be a candidate he meant what he said
 Now. let us take a look at the rec ord.
 On the eighth day of November 1904. Theodore Roosevelt said:
 "On the fourth day of March next I shall have served three and hall years and this three and half years constitute my first term. The wise custom which limits the president 10 two terms regards the substance ana not the form. and under no circum- stances will I be candidate for or accept another nomination.
 December II, 1907. MT. Roosevelt said:
 "I have not changed and shall not change this decision thus announced.
 Those statements are not open to argument They are as plain as It IS possible to make any statement m the English language. Everybody understood what they meant. MT Taft understood what they meant Ang against his will. but at the insist cnt request of Mir. Roosevelt. MT Taft consented to become a candi- date for president. Mir. Roosevelt himself in 1908 published the core spondence between himself and MT. Taft proving this statement.
 Furthermore. on the eighteenth oi Iunc 1908. Theodore Roosevelt had this to say of Mir. Taft:
 flO IOl bNi4'NH found in the whole country a man SO well fitted to be president He IS not only absolutely fearless abso- lntely disinterested and upright, put he has a wide acquaintance with the nations need, without and within. anu the broadest sympathies with all our citizens. He would be as emphaucal- lv a president of the whole people as Lincoln. yet not Lincoln himseit would be freer from the least taint of demagogy, the least tendency 10 appeal to class hatred of any kind.
 That is MT. Roosevelts estimate ot MT. Taft and with that estimate me Republican most heartily concurs. IL is because The Republican believes sincerely in the truth of that esu mate. to say nothing of the fact that Mir. Taft has earned a renoninauoh' that if believes he should be again chosen as the standard bearer Of the republican party.
 Now. if MT. Roosevelt had adhered to his determination regarding ms own candidacy; if he had given MT. Taft square dear'; if he had stood'
 , cnr,piimentS Mir Taft for