The Washington herald., 1914-05-26
Col Roosevelps Responsibility.

Coming to Washington today to give to the
National Geographic Society the details Of hts dis
covery of river in Brazil, Col Theodore Roosevelt
will continue here an exploration which he began
as soon as he set foot on his native soil again. the
object of which is the heart of the political situation
This he intends to examine before shaping his
toward new conquest
Col Roosevelt is to have extended conferences
with Senators Pondexter and Clapp, Representative
Hinebaugh and other leading Progressives for the
purpose of discovering whittier his party has drfted
during his absence in South America. 1t is impor-
.tant that they should tell him all they know and
that will not include the full schedule of damages,
for much has happened that these enthusiasts refuse
to recognize. The Colonel is also to have talk with
President Wilson, which, of course, will not deal
extensively with politics. crude surmise too found
publication to the effect that some heavyweight
regular Republicans, notably Senator Lodge, would
seek earnest confab with the returned traveller for
the purpose of agreeing some plan of campaign
this autumn against the party in power. Such an
nouncement is premature, say the least Col Roose
welt must ascertain the strength of his own follow
ing and what possibility there is of augmenting it
before discussing campaign plans alliances. Three
things he must speedily discover and no doubt they
have already been fairly well impressed upon him. !
The Progressive party has dwindled to shadow
everywhere counting process has been possible
The Democratic party has lost heavily in prestige
its policies have alienated hosts of supporters the
results of all the spring elections Proved dissatis-
faction, apprehension and business depression are
discernble in many sections
The Republican party has gathered under its
standard again large proportion of the deserters
of IN
seek vindication again at the polls.
Col Roosevelt has already denounced unsparngly
of President Wilson's policies, and he is Ger
tain to find more to disagree with. A calm, I'm
prejudced survey of the situation convince him
that with the Progressives abandoning the field the
regular Republicans to make heavy inroads
on the Democratic majorities in Congress this
autumn, with at least a chance of winning control
If he weighs the chances fairly his course whatever
it may be- from purely patriotic standpoint, would
naturally seem to indicate whether he abhors the
regular Republican men and measures more than he
does the policies of the party in power. If he would
dislodge the Democrats, he must withdraw his hat
from the ring and leave the battle ground clear for
their more formidable foe If the party in power
is less obnoxious or if he seeks merely to further
his ambitions as to 1916 he will give fight next
November.
Whatever Col. Roosevelfs decision, there will be
real struggle for control of the Congress
on altogether different lines from the election of 1912
With three parties in the field the Progressive
even though the number be as meager as the spring
balloting foretells-wil not all come from normally
Republican ranks. The Democrats are bound to
contribute share as web as a share to the regu-
lar Republicans 1t viii not be triangular fight
of united Democracy against two hating factions
of party. Rather there will be three separate
organizations, each standing for something the Demo-
Gratis on their record of nearly two years in Office
the regular Republicans their much longer record
of service and their opposition to policies of the
party in power which have worked disaster and the
Progressives on what they promise and have been
promising. Quite variety for the voters to choose
from, and their. decision, which is bound to be
greatly influenced by industrial conditions during the
next six months, will be awaited with intense inter-
est.
Much depends on Col. Roosevelt for the country
and for himself. Will he meet the regulars half
way and agree to plan of cooperation toward
deposing the Democracy, taking his chances for
personal preferment afterwards, or will be prefer
10 fight on at the head of party which seems doomed
for time, at least, to run third?