The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1914-06-17
THE coLoNEL's PROBLEMS.

On his return from abroad Colonel
Roosevelt will he called upon to deal
with several situations that might
prove awkward to less resourceful
Ipractical political strategst. The most
pressing pending problem relates to
his own participation in the New York
campaign. A question of large impor-
lance that must soon be settled in
wolves the craftsmanship of the ma
tional executive committee, now held
by George w. Perkins. Fusion as a
temporary eXpedient will have to
be approved or disapproved in prin-
ciple, with certain consequent compli-
cations whatever the decision may be.
The New York state situation is sur
prising and is reasonably sure to
prove dspleasing to the colonel, who
thought his index finger had pointed
out the course of events before leaV-
ling for Spain. During his conference
with the New York progressive lead
ers the chief indicated that he would
not be the third party nominee for
governor 1t was his idea that he
probably would be beaten and that a
defeat in New York this year would
prove an added handicap in an effort
to come back to the presidency in 1916
| Furthermore, the colonel dropped en-
phatic hints that fusion with the re-
publicans in New York, provided they
named Whitman or some other pro
gressive republican, would be good
politics.
Since the colonel has been absent
the New York state leaders have been
thinking over the situation and they
do not like the colonel's plan at all.
They fear fusion will to all intents
and purposes wipe the third party OIL
the New York map. This is not what
they want. They want to build up a
third party which they can run. They
enlisted for that purpose with the
colonel in 1919 and burned their old
bridges. Now they insist that the
thing to do is whatever will contrib
ute most substantially to the upbulld-
| ing of the new party. To this end
they want to nominate Roosevelt for
governor and muster all the votes he
can poll. They are not sure Roose-
welt can be elected, but they do not
care particularly about that, They
| WALL " SCI many iSPuc1'csAAAo 49,
possible over into the progressive
party, which they wish to make per-
manent political institution. They
feel the colonel owes it to his follow
ers to give them this kind OF leader
ship. They think he got them into po-
|litical trouble and now they look to
him to get them out. They talk about
forcing him to take the nomination for
governor. Already, without his con-
sent, nominating petitions are in cir
cuation When he gets back the
colonel may find he will have to ac-
'cept the governorship nomination or
! lose the confidence of his most en-
thusiastic supporters in his home
state.
| When, Amos Pinchot made public
his letter to Colonel Roosevelt in re-
ligard to- George w. Perkins a match
was set to a lot of inflammable ma.
terial that has been numbering the
progressive basement for many
months. Mr.. Pinchot, who is broth
er of the more famous Clifford, de-
manded the retirement. Of Mr.. Perk-
Inns from his prominent and powerful
position as head of the national pro-
Igressiyea executive committee. This
demand was based on the plea that
1 Mr.. Perkins stands for. the protection
of private monopoly and is opposed to
progressive principles in dealing with
labor unions. 1t is probable that II
i q referendum could be taken Of all
protesting progrcssives throughout
the United States Mr.. Pinchot's pro
ppsal would be Endorsed, by a vote OF
at least 90 or 80 to l.. The melancholy
truth is that Mr.. Perkins is Il bOgy
man. He is multimillionare init
mately associated with the harvester
trust, the steel trust and the so called
New York money trust While he
seems sincere in trying to be pro
gressive in politics, his circumstances
are not such as to permit him to share
the aims of the radical progressives
OF the west. His plan for regulated
|private monopoly goes over the heads
Of most progressives. Association
with him is uncomfortable to most OF
the minor progressive leaders. The
fact that his millions are being used
to finance the new party gives the old
Ier parties welcome preteXt for gibes
Although the Perkins millions come
handy, most prOgressives will agree
i with Mr.. Pinchot that The new party
would be better off If his personality
and his good trust" ideas were re-
tired to the background. a.
The demand for, the subOrdinatiOn
bf Mr.. Perkins must be distressing to
Mr.. Roosevelt, who is under many per-
sonal and political obligations to him.
Really the situation is not unlike the
one in which Woodrow Wilson found
himself, when he was being boosted
SO enthusiastically by Col. Harvey.
Mr.. Wilson solved the problem by
dropping hint to Mr.. Harvey to
make himself less busy. One can
hardly imagine the colonel doing like
wise. II he doesn't the Perkins bogy
will be a continuous mischief maker.
The fusion question which present
" will be put up to Mr.. Roosevelt
from many states, is filled with posi-
bilites OF confusion. Generally speak
ing, state leaders who have broken
away from the republican party do
not relish any program that means
eventually reamalgamation and prob
ably subordination of the men who
are now at the top of the new party.
If Col Roosevelt shall declare for
fusion the impression will prevail that
he Is looking to the republicans rath:
err than the progressives to make MN