Evening star., 1915-09-16
Perkins and the Constitution.

Elihu Root asked George w. Per-
kins to lend his name to an appeal
| to the voters of New York in behalf
| OF the ratification of the new con-
stitution, and received the following
reply:
LAS at present informed. | regard
| the result OF the conventions delib-
erations as unsatisfactory, and until
| | know more about the constitution
| and whether it is to be submitted in
whole or by sections | cannot say
what my attitude will be. Further
more, assuming that some of the
dozen men referred to will be promi-
nent republican leaders, | should be
obliged in any event to decline, for
| under no circumstances would | asso-
ciate my name with some of those
mentor instance, the republican
floor leader of the convention recent
ly on the floor of the convention
thanked Mr. Barnes for what he
termed that magnificent fight which
he (Mr. Barnes) conducted three
years ago. which laid the American
people under everlasting obligation to
him. That utterarfce, of course, is
formal Endorsement three years after
the event of Mr.. Barnes participa-
ton in the theft of the republican
nomination of 1912, an act not only
grossly immoral. but wholly respon-
sible for the existence of the present
national administration"
Here is an argument as inconclu-
sive as that which takes place in the
trees in summer. Katy did, Katy
didn't"
The republicans have always felt,
and still feel. justified in their action
at Chicago in 1912. Mr.. Root told
Mr.. Taft upon returning from the
convention that his, Taft's, nomina-
ton was as free from taint as any
| that had ever been made. Mr.. Root
had presided over the convention,
and knew the whole story of the pro-
ceedings. He was then, as now, one
of the first men in the country, ex-
perienced in political affairs, and a
safe adviser. This opinion of his has
always been, and still is, the basis
of the charge that Mr.. Roosevelt
bolted without just cause, and thus
made himself responsible for the
election of the democratic ticket.
The Perkins opinion challenges
this, charges that Mr.. Roosevelt was
| robbed, and therefore justified in the
step he took. Had there been no rob-
berry there would have been no bolt.
Ergo, the robbers were responsible
for the election of the democratic
ticket.
How many of the bull moosers who
have returned to the republican party
still question the integrity of Mr..
Taft's Chicago credentials it is not
| important to inquire. Such as do
have evidently subordinated that
matter to other matters. They have
turned from 1912 to 1916. They see
democratic administration in power
which they do not like; and their
chief concern is about putting it out
of power. They want to make them
selves useful to that end. Hence
their resumption of affiliations with
the party to whose policies in gen.
eral they have never ceased to sub
scribe, and which at present holds out
the only hope OF the realization of
their desires.
How much longer Mr.. Perkins will
remain out of the republican fold is
question. He may come into camp
| before the next national convention,
! and thus have a voice in the nomina-
; ton, or he may come in later. But
come in he will some time before
election day is the general expecta-
ton. Bull moosery as national
force is dead, and Mr.. Perkins does
not indorse a single thing of a do
mestic character the Wilson admin
! istration has done.