The Washington herald., 1913-12-28
SUNDAY, DECEMBER Is. 1918.
POLITICAL SITUATION.


one in American politics.
1t will be the year in which the
American people will render their first
verdict upon the present Democratic
administration. 1t will be the year in
which the first test will be given to
the new constitutional amendment
which provides for the election Of
United States Senators by popular
vote. 1t will be the year in which the
future of the Republican party will be
largely decided by the attitude of those
who last wear became so-called Pro-
gressives.
During the year now about to close
it has been evident that the third party
is on the wane. With the early spring,
however-and this will be the first po-
litical incident of the new year-Theo-
dore Roosevelt will return to the
United States. He significantly de-
parted before the elections last fall in
Massachusetts, New Jersey. and Mary
Iand-left when Progressive candidates
for governor had been named in the
first two States and for United States
Senator in MARYLAND When he might
have been in the thick of the fight he
was sailing the high seas. What will
he do when he returns? Will he, with
out a word as to his absence at a criti-
cal JunCture, proclaim himself as the
saviour OF the world in general and the
United States i'll particular: This, as
they say in "Pinafore" is his custom
AIRY attitude Will he, disregarding the
diSintegration in his ranks. still insist
that there shall be a third party oppO-
Sition to every Republican candidate
for the Senate and the House?
Many OF his chief lieutenants have
deserted him Heney in California, Nc
Govern in Wisconsin, PrendergaSt in
New York, and many Others of less
note, have decided to return to the
Republican party. Frank NIunsey, last
year an ardent Rooseveltian. advocates
amalgamation. on the ground that the !
present division in the Republican
rank, leads nowhere. and men like |
Itadley OF Missouri who, at Chicago, |
were enthusiastic Roosevelt spokesmen,
are now actively identified with the !
Republican organization Under these
circumstances. what will Roosevelt do? |
Consistency was never d very marked |
trait in his character, and it is not i'm
probable that hcS too. will seek 10 come
back again into the Republican fold |
The opportunity may be afforded him
during the coming eventful year. If.
upon his return from South America,
he finds strong drift RepubIicanward
he may decide that his old party has
chance to win in the Congressional
elections. 1t would be easy enough for
him to declare that the party has
been purged of its objectionable fea-
tures and then, by the merest utter
ance, he could make Republican victory
certain. This turn of the wheel would
put him in position for the Republican
nomination in 1910.
Perhaps one of the most striking
incidents of the next year will be the
effort OF Roosevelt to regain prestige
with the Republicans. He has found
that he cannot wreck the party; he has
seen that the third party is dwindling
i'll strength. He is ambitious and
wants power. He will seek it where
it can be found. Ii does not seem that
he has any future in the role of dog
in the manger-a man who. because he
cannot get all the Republicans to vote
for him, would keep them forever out
in the cold by making Democratic VIC
tories continuously certain.