Evening journal., 1912-08-08
THURSDAY. AUG. 8, 1912
ROOSEVELT AND JOHNSON.

n HE National Progressive Party has done its work
i Colonel Theodore Roosevelt Of New York has been
nominated for President and Governor Hiram W. John
sn OF California for Vice President platform
that almost conceivable political question
has been adopted The fight is
II would be folly for friends Of President Taft to
solsce themselves with the thought that the third
party movement will go TO pieces between now and
November II has at its head men who are expert
enced In big politics and who will know how to hold
It together as effective fighting force Colonel
Roosevelt strong in all sections Of the country He
has large personal following That shown by
the preferential primaries held prior 10 the meeting of
the Republican National Convention. Governor John
son also is popular man, particularly on the Pacific
With two such men running on platform that
has been framed to draw TO them every element Of
political discomfort in our land goes without saying
that they will poll big vote The friends Of Presi-
dent Taft may as well reconcile themselves 10 that
TACT and prepare 10 do the best they to meet
condition that oonfronts them
What strength the party will develop and how
much will gain lose between now and November
cannot foretod It occupies IN the political situa-
tion position which makes II impossible 10 measure
with sny degree Of hy ordinary political
standards Assertion may be made. however. without
Vry dsloyay whatever President Taft, that If the
party develops much strength = In Republican
stronghods like PENNSYLVANIA and Ohio, as did Colon
el Roosevelt when he made his great fight for control
not fail be disappointing to the President and his
friends
There Is telling Of course. what may happen IN
great political contest such now is on in our
nation Some untoward incident may spoil the
chances Of any candidate. In the Blane-Cleveland
campaign. for Blaine seemed have the ST.
tuatior well in hand Then Burchard made his ia
nous speech the face Of the situation changed
night and Cleveland victory defeat The
men who have charge Of President Taft's campaign
count with any degree Of certainty however,
upon such untoward incident arising for the bene-
At of the President They deal with the situation
it exists. snd not they would like 10 have It
st II the campaign managers Of the President can
victory out Of that situation they will pass into
history the gre atest politicians America has
produced
As 70 the platform adopted by the ProEressves, IL
contains many planks upon which any Republican
might stand without doing violence his convictions
There other features Of IT, however which will fail
to appeal 10 the Republican voters who not com
mitted 10 them already. The document shows that Il
drawn to attract and hold only discontented
elements in the Republican party, but also those in
the Democratic and all other parties. On its face Il
shows with what adroitness IL psnders the feeling
Of political and discomfort Il covers a multi
tude Of subjects. dealing with national and local
No doubt it will be accepted at its face value by
thousands Of American voters who are seeking re-
lief from political and economic ills from which they
think they suffer