The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-06-23
His Retirement Kills Pro-
gressive Party and Endan-
gers Democratic Success
BELIEVE HE WILL
RUN FOR GOVERNOR
Even if He Foresees Defeat 1t VIII
Be Only Hope of Holding
the Progressives
Together
n, HUGH w. ROBERTS

| New York, June Especial. )-Whe
Teddy Roosevelt told the members of the
| London Geographical Society that in his
.River of Doubt" there were monkeys
which devoured men, everybody swallow
ed the information-with grain or salt.
| And thus it was when the former Presi-
dent declared that he would resist to the
last ditch the effort of his friends to
make him governor of this Empire State
of America
When Theodore Robinson resigned the
Craftsmanship of the executive committee
of the progressive party that action was
aseribed to his modesty--a characteristic
trait of the family. For Mr.. Robinson is
the nephew of Colonel Roosevelt, and
gossip had it that he did not desire to
pilot the campaign of a candidate whose
success would rebound to the fortune OF
the pilot So when Robinson left the
field, wise men with serious shakes Of
their heads declared Teddy will rum
This is the impression in New York.
Mr.. Roosevelt does not expect to win the
governorship. He is astute enough to
know that he would--or will-fafl But
he is astute enough, also to know that
his entrance into the field will mean the
defeat of the republican nominee, and
what is more to the pont--will maintain
the existence of the progressive party.
and make New York in the next presf-
Dental campaign an exceedingly doubtful
state.
Republicans smile complacently. In for
NAL interviews, leaders profess to be I'M
usually happy that Roosevelt will run.
They declare that his entrance will fore
run his defeat, and that his defeat will
eliminate him as a favorable presden-
tial candidate in 1916.
Democrats do not express themselves.
In the game of silence, they believe their
best play is to be made. They know that
with Teddy in the field the opposition
will be so badly divided that they will
name the next governor of New York. 1t
is needless to state that they do hope
for his appearance as a candidate for
governor and for president. There is
democratic fear-probably groundless
fear-that Roosevelt will abandon politics.
The progressive party would disappear
like the proverbial mist before the morn
ing sun, and the democrats would find
themselves up against the rather siren
uous job of defeating reunited and re-
joicing republicans
Progressive leaders advise Roosevelt
to become a candidate for governor.
Some such movement, some such activ
ity is necessary, they contend, to main
tain the fighting spirit of the new or
ganization. Roosevelt knows this, and
this knowledge coupled with the
knowledge that should the recalcitrants
enter again the republican fold, the
mighty discoverer of the River of Doubt"
would be forgotten--though not for
given-means it is taken that the for
mer chief executive will enter New
York politics.
Democrats curious but obvious
fact-pin their hope on Roosevelt. But
for Roosevelt, there might have been no
President Wilson. Should Roosevelt re-
tire, there might never again be an
other President of the people. And
should Roosevelt die between this date
and November, the democrats might
lose the House.
There has been no open discussion
of, no public reference to, a grave fear
which does exist in regard to the col
onePs health In New York, the report
that his larynx is diseased is consid-
cred a blind. 1t is believed that the
colonel has received permanent injury
in the jungles, and widespread sur
prise would not be expressed should
an illness of more or less serious con-
sequences develop.
Roosevelt breathes the steam in the
engine of the progressive party Should
he be taken off. the party would evapo-
rate With the open grumbling exist
ing against the Wilson administration,
there is no question but that on the
revealing of the factionists, the demo-
Gratis would suffer in the fall cleo
tons For before the coming of those
trials, the democratic programme VIII
not have received its thorough test.
At any rate, Roosevelt is today the
politician of America. On his action or
his fate hangs the immediate destiny
of this country. Democrats trust that
he will live forever and as strenuously
az he has ever lived.