The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1915-12-31
n. Y. TRIBUNE SAYS
ROOSEVELT VS.. WILSON
Republican Organ for Sixty Years, Op-
posed Roosevelt in 1912, But
Sees the Light Now

commissioner OF spokane county, re-
turned last week from an extended
visit turnout the eastern states and
gave to the Spokesman-Review an ac-
count Of the political trend as he saw
it in the states he visited. His i'm
preston is that there is but one man
in public life who can defeat President
Wilson for president of the United
States next fall. The impression is
gaining ground that Roosevelt is the
only really big man who can command
sufficient strength among the republi-
can and progressive voters. OF course
the opinion OF one man, made up from
what he heard and saw, does not count
much among fifteen million voters, but
the opinion OF the New York Tribune,
an old line republican journal that sup
ported Lincoln in 1860 and Fremont
back of that, and has supported every
republican presidential nominee with
the sole exception of Grant in 1872,
when its editor, Horace Greeley, was
himself a candidate, has a significance
that cannot be denied.
The Tribune opposed Mr.. Roosevelt
in 1912. 1t perceives now drift Of
public opinion that may make him the
republcan-progressive nominee Of 1916,
and in a leading editorial that has
attracted nationwide attention indi-
Gates its readiness to regard him as the
strongest man before the public today.
Tribune Says They are Trusting Him to
the Front
The Tribune's editorial opens with
the assertion that the republican leaders
are drifting on policy that is thrusting
Roosevelt to the front-a policy Of soft
speaking and -shoeing for the n.y.
phenated vote.
Colonel Roosevelt's weaknesses are
better known than those OF any other
the Tribune admits, but
in the last few months there has
been no mistaking the fact that there
has been real change in public opin-
ion, and men who were long and stead
lastly opposed to Mr.. Roosevelt as presi-
dent and as a candidate are daily con-
Tossing to a change OF opinion and
feeling.
THE reason is simple, and it is ex-
planned by an almost uniform statement.
Thousands and thousands of Americans
believe that if Theodore Roosevelt had
been president of the United States
there would have been no Lusitania
tragedy-that without war and without
peril OF war Mr.. Roosevelt would have
obtained from Germany a disavowal
and guarantee against a repetition OF
the crime.
There is one point on which Mr..
Roosevelt's strength has never been
questioned. He is a patriotic, loyal,
aggressive American. He has from
the beginning of his life stood consist
emily and sturdily for an Americanism
which is the natural outgrowth of the
of 1875 and 1861. At
all times, under all circumstances, with
out hesitation and without qualification,
Colonel Roosevelt has championed,
fought for, served. an ideal of national
honor which came down to him from
other generations of Americans.
TIE One American Who Has Spoken
Frankly
I'm the present crisis in American
history, when we are involved in dis
pute with Germany because Germany
has murdered American citizens, when
we are facing situation Of anarchy and
domestic strife at home, Colonel Roose-
Welt is the one American who has, with
out hesitation and without thought OF
the political effect Of his words, spoken
frankly.
THE issue Of the next campaign
will not be the tariff. 1t will not even
be preparedness. 1t most assuredly
will not be Mr.. Wilson'S Mexican poll
cy. The issue Of the next election
will be the preservation of American
honor abroad and American existence
at home. The issue can not be es-
capped, it can not be lodged, it can
not be forgotten by mutual consent.
Millions OF American citizens in the
last few weeks and months have awak-