Omaha daily bee., 1912-02-05

A Pledge and q Campaign.
Springfield Cafassl Repuhl,esn ind reo.l.
As between Senator Norris Brown Of
Nebraska and Governor stubes Of KAN
sas. the issue comes down to this: Can
the colonel run again without breaking
his pledge never to violate the thirc-term
trad.tion9 The senator maintains that the
colonel intends TO keep his word. The
governor. after lunching at Oyster Bay
and announcing that his host weuld be
noninated at Chicago and would be
elected president IN November next.
argues that there is q vast difference
between man stating that he Is not .
candidate for and does not want office
and q statement that he would refuse 10
accept that office when the public vel
fare vas at stake and there was 3 wide
spread general demand for him to serve
his country"
The governor Of Kansas falls 10 remem-
Der the text Of the pledge. II was orisf-
naiiy uttered November q 1904 after Mr..
Roossvelt's reelection, and reiterated De-
csmbcr Il. 1901. thus:
''on the eth Of March next I shall have
served three and half years. and this
three and q half years constitute my first
term The wise custom which limits the
president to two terms regards the sub
stance and not the form. and under no
circumstances win l be q candidate for
or accept another nomination"
Under no circumstances" would he
accept another nomination" No condi-
ton, no time limit was imposed: II was
an unqualified and absolute declaration
Of an unalterable purpose. Perhaps Gov.
ernor Stubs would be entirely uncon-
cerned. but the candidate would find his
dcclaratlen dogging him from June te
November.
Men like Governor stubbs cannot have
seriously considered the obstacles TO the
election o- Mr.. Roosevelt TO a third term
as president OF the United States. whsk
makes them sure that he would be vie
torious? The political conditions Of 100
cannot be restored. and 1904 was the veal
Of the one great triumph of his career
There Is no great public exigency. NJ
grave national crisis that requires his
man" HIS nomination would involve ths
humiliation Of President TAFT and b
an affront 10 both him and his friend,
no less serious than the failure OF th'
democratic national convention OF lss
to indorse the administration Of President
Cleveland. He could not hope for sucf
heavy democratic vote as he received
In 1904. on account Of the detection Of
the Bryanites from the Parker candidacy
The democrats may not be absoiutel,
united. but they viii come much nearel
to unity than before In twenty years
Nor could Mr.. Roosevelt hope for tn,
Catholic vote which he received when h.
ran last. The Vatican incident" Of IN,
spring OF 1910 will ncx be forgotten.
The Nomination Of Mr.. Roosevelt woult
precipitate the bitterest and most des
perate fight upon him that he has ye'
experienced. How he could survive a
the bslidi box his record as the frient
and protector OF the Steel trust passel
the ordinary understanding. But abov,
all. his liking for personal government
his restless chafing under the restraint
Of law. his hrazen Indifference when IN,
mood seized him TO the constitutions
limitations upon executive power woui,
raise against him such q cry Of Caesar
ism as America has never known before
The notion Of q vast and irresistibl
popular demand for him Is too ridiculou
to be entertained for moment by san
minds. His nomination would mean sim
ply successful stampede engineered b,
the men Of one party who cannot viey
with composure another term for tn
present incumbent Of the presidential OF
fice nor the loss OF the government 4
the party which has been In opposition
TOR sixteen years The attempt unde
such circumstances TO capture the Unite
States for a popular hero who hal
solemnIy pledged himself never 10 accep
another nomination would deserved
arouse the most intense antagonism, and
with q suitable democratic candidate, 4
would end In ruin