The Detroit times., 1914-05-27
BIZ gibson GARDNER.


which Roosevelt will set himseh
when he gets back from keFmlts
wedding IN Spain.
told the colonel / had come 70
get a political story. / told him
was going to write a political story
and that he might talk TO me on pol
tiles or not Just as he thought best.
I am not at liberty TO quote him or TO
say what he did or did not talk about.
I am Just going to write political
story.
But first a parenthesis. All that
has been said about the ColoneFs
physical hardships are true-and
then some. He is thinner by 40
pounds than / ever saw him HIS
neck. Is thin, his clothes lack that
bufke and wrinkle about the arms and
shoulders that they used 10 have; but
more noticeable to me than anything
else Is a peculiar huskiness in his
voice, suggestive OF the patient who
is weak and speaks with difficulty.
Not that Roosevelt is very weak;
far from II, he Is still the human dy
namo. sat with wonder in hrs office
and watched him dispatch more bust.
ness In ten minutes than us husky
men could get through in a forenoon.
And he has the old-time grip and the
old-time jubilant snappy way: he
promises I'm short time TO be as
much the bull moose as ever. and
with the aid OF some considerable
food and exercise no doubt he Will,
That ends the parenthesis.
Now for the politics.
Roosevelt's public utterance on the
subject OF his party (Progressive) and
his own activities in the future were
de ,,Ntn at
dinner given by friends on the night |
before his departure, eleven months |
ago:
THE party is solid. and II is the |
firm determination OF rank and nle. |
no less than leaders, TO preserve its !
political entity, It's solidarity and in
tegrity.
"This year we shall enter undaunt.
ed as national party on another ma
tional campaign. | will not rest con-
tent until every single principle |
enunciated by us Is put into practical |
operation In this nation.
This movement will never go back |
aud whatever may betide in the |
future, OF one thing the disciples OF |
an e1sy opportunism may rest as
sured.
Il will never abandon the princi- |
pies TO which we Progressives have |
pledged ourselves, and I will never |
abandon the men and women who !!
drew around me TO battle for those |
principles.
They and | stand with our faces
toward the morning; we will never be |
snndered from one another and we
will never yield the ground we have
taken nor finch from the fight 10
Which we are pledged"
That is where Roosevelt stands to-
day The quotation answers several
questions.
The disciples OF easy opportunism"
are the Republicans and Progressives
who are talking about matchmaking
the Republican and Progressive par
ties on platform OF United we win"
Roosevelt will not lend himself 10
that plan.
The division between the Progress.
sives and the Republicans and the i'm.
possibility OF harmony between them,
Is made conspicuous by the choice OF
Boise Penrose as Republican nom.
inee for United States senator in
Pennsylvania. That state Is to be the
battle-ground In the fall campaign and
Roosevelt Will be In 1T denouncing
Penrose In no moderate terms, while
In terms no less emphatic he will urge
~.
Progressive Candidate for the senate.
Eill Roosevelt go to California? II
Hiram johnson wants him, yes VIII
he campaign generally for Progress
sive candidates for congress-? Yes
as much as physical limitations will
permit. But II must not be expected
(. that no will do a cart.tail speaking
campaign over the whole country.
That would be too great drain on his
strength, and Il not necessary. There
wil'be support for worthy Progress
siWs, and even for Republican Pro
gressiyes where their records show
them 10 be such
VIII Roosevelt be candidate for
president in 1915?
II Is my personal conviction that
he will. II heSliyes and goes on fight.
ing or the Progressive policies az he
says he viii. no human power can
prevent that.
VIII the Republican party. In a final
desperate EFFORT 10 regain lost power.
accept him as the candidate after the
Pfogressives have nominated him.
Would you, Colonel accept the
Republican nomination."
That II question which VIII he
DECIDED without any assistance from
Col Roosevelt
That Is a question which Roosevelt
will never answer
n viii be put 20 him In one way or
aTpthef, IN the next two years. many
Kindred times. As often as Il is pu,
to him he will decline 20 answer II
Gan the Progressive principles De
fnfced Into the Republican platform?
Can the reactionary leadership OF the
Republican party be overthrown9
Cth Penrose. Barnes. Crane, Taft and
ciInpany be dumped upon the pollti.
./cdl scrap.heap and the party turned
OUR 20 leaders who are abreast OF
thit most enlightened political thought
81 Che day.
Wen these questions are answer.
- Roosevelt vi, be ready to answer