New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-11
HOLY CEsAREA PHILIPPI!
So an Old Line Republican Creets the
Pronosed Return Of the Colonel.


To the Editor Of The Tribune,
Sir: A letter bearing the headline THE
Only Man to Lead Republicans Out OF
the Wilderness" which appeared in the
PEOPLES column Of The Tribune on June
4. at once arrested my attention and
presumably that Of many others OF your
readers.
Tho reference in the headline was not
to William H. Taft, nor Elihu Root, nor
Henry Cabot Lodge. nor Joseph H..
Choate, nor to any one Of several other
statesmen held in honor by the Repupn-
can party, but to the great and only
apostate leader and successful enemy OF
that party, Theodore Roosevelt.
What would be thought OF owners
who re-engaged the services Of a retired
captain with a record. after retirement,
of having attempted to scuttle the snip
of which but recently no had been In
command? The Republican ship OF state.
having on board as honored guest a re-
tired captain Of the line, was sailing
calamity over somewhat troubled seas
when there hove in sight piratical craft
whose truculent career had won for 1t
the nickname of 1.-THE Insurgents" On
drawing near it's captain, La Follette,
shouted forth a command to the Repub-
lican chip to lower It's colors In token OF
surrender. The reply on the part OF the
CHALLENGED officers and crew was spon-
taneous outburst the refrain OF once
popular song, "shoo. fly; don't bother
mer'
Judge Of their amusement when sud
denly their honored guest sprans forward
from the hatchway. brandishing an axe
which he called tho will of the people"
but which was. in fact, the output OF Q
factory styled seven little Governors"
and with which he had been below en-
deavoring to scuttle the ship. With one
mighty leap, screaming the while like
one possessed, Liars" Thieves"
Thou shalt not steal!' he cleared the
bulwarks and landed thunderously In the
midst of the pirate crew. Received with
reclamation, he straightway threw the
captain overheard and took command. In
a trice the name of THE Insurgents"
was changed to 1.-THE Progressive Party"
and the new commander. confident that
the vessel he had hacked and deserted
would founder. triumphantly sailed away.
But, alias! on reaching port he found
there had been some mistake as to the
will of the people. For him and his crew
there were no rewards, either Of spells
or glory. The latter slowly skunk away.
Joining this. that or the other party. or
taking to the woods. as the humor
seised them: but the great majority.
sobered by disappointment and weary OF
the folly into which misdirected enthusi-
asm had drawn them. found their way
back to the ship they had wantonly for
saken.
And the captain? Oh. he took early de.
parture FOR UNEMPLOYED regions. in quest
of unknown rivers and primitive peoples,
determined that as he had once returned
from Africa with the reputation Of q
mighty hunter. 80 now he would return
from South America with the renown of
a great explorer.
He has returned. The Republican ship
did not founder. And now 1t 10 proposed
that the renegade captain be re-engaged.
What! Theodore Roosevelt ever again
to lead the hosts Of tho Republican party
Holy C@sarea Philippi! SAM TEST.
Flushing. N. T.. June I. 1914.