The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-04
LOOKING TO ROOSEVELT.
The Colonel II Hailed rs the Greatest
Conservative and tho Republican Hope.


Conservative and tho Republican Hope.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN--Sir: II
has been extremely gratifying to me to
note some OF the recent editorial articles
In THE SUN which recognize in some
measure the greatness Of the admnistra-
ton Of Theodore Roosevelt. The magni-
tude OF the nations debt to him is al
ready beginning to receive a little OF the
appreciation II deserves.
SO many OF the acts of the wonderful
virile and versatile man rebound to his
and his country's honor that 1t is difficult
to single out one brilliant achievement as
greater than all the rest
His settlement Of the great anthracite
coal strike In Pennsylvania, his media
ton between Russia and Japan. his mas
terful handling Of the great Industrial
problems without interruption OF the pros
perity OF the country. the clarity and
sanity Of his brilliant mind in the solu-
tion OF large questions. his Initiation or
the policy of conservation OF the national
resources. the institution OF the reclama-
ton of the arid lands of the West. the
building OF the Panama Canal. his brill
liant foreign policy maintaining the honor
and dignity of this nation among the ma
lions OF Europe. his marvellous leader
ship of the people into the paths OF
sound thinking. are sufficient clearly to
designate him as the greatest world
statesman OF his day.
This Is an age OF stupendous organiza-
ton OF capital and business 1t is also
period OF tremendous social unrest. The
former Is problem practically new, with
no landmarks or presidents OF the past
to guide U.S. The latter Is "a old as
civilization itself. Colonel Roosevelt was
the first President to treat this question
of big business" with anything more
than n comfortable application OF the
doctrine Of "laissez fairc,' 'let well
enough alone
He clearly saw the Unreasonable ad-
vantages to society of efficient productive
cooperation rather than wasteful, destruc-
tive competition. His policy was to
harness these great organizations to the
service OF society. but always bearing in
mind that the Government was greater
than all. the largest as we'll as the
smallest.
who can tell what Industrial warfare
in the years to come has heen averted by
that policy? I believe that Mr.. Roose-
welt with his far sighted president vision
foresaw the political dangers likely TO
arise from uncontrolled business organi-
cations and that he builded wisely to
avert them, endeavoring to preserve all
that was good In them.
In his dealing with the problem OF
economic unrest ne saw all the POSSIBLE
ties for good in the legitimate organiza-
ton OF labor, but he was not slow to
denounce the lawless anarchistic organi-
cations such as the l. W. ". and others
of that sort. He would remove as far as
possible all just grounds for discomfort.
He would enact adequate workingmen's
compensation acts. ne would regulate ana
control by wise legislation the hours OF
employment of women and children. pro-
vide proper safety appliances for the
operation OF railroads, adjust industrial
difficulties by wise governmental arbi-
tration. and IL the state Governments
were inefficient he would have the Fed
.ral Government enact such laws. l'o
these policies appear radical to-day? ON
the contrary they are very generally con-
coded to be just and salutary and the
wisest prescription to prevent the growth
OF European socialism After all, was
not Roosevelt the greatest enemy social
ism ever had in this country
He has been denounced as an enemy OF
the Constitution. On the contrary no man
ever had greater reverence for the Fed
eral Constitution. He would preserve the
great fundamental principles OF That
great charter by grating upon II SUCH
provisions as would render II adequate 10
the needs of to-day He would render II
even more precious To the people by
demonstrating its elasticity and its sus-
ccptibility to amendment To meet the
wish of the people.
believe. then. that Theodore Roosevelt
is the Great Conservative" OF his day.
use that term in the primary sense
OF the word a. one who preserves from
ruin, injury or radical change. one VINO
desires to maintain existing institutions
and customs. With such leader in
1916 the Republican party would have
the opportunity not only 10 r.hahilitate
itself but also 10 rescue the business in
terests OF the country from the scrap
heap and the bankruptcy court The
candidate himself would be no incon-
siderable asset.
The country Is In the 'hroes Of indus
trial depression. the spirit Of persecution
and reprsal is rampant nj Washington.
hankruptcv and receiverships threaten the
great railroads OF the country. hostility
TO thrift prevails In the high places, and
tho country waits ON the Republican
party for It's delivcrance.
, Let personal grievances and unreouited
political ambitions he forgotten
CoNsERNAVIvB.
WATERBURY Conn. May ,.