Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-11-11
SWING BACK TO ROOSEVELT
Astonishing Change in Attitude
of New England Republicans.
Leaders Believe Tint Colonel Has Re-
gained Strength and That II May
lie Manifested in the In
dinna Primaries.

Regarding political conditions In New
England, a staff correspondent Of the
Philadelphia Public Ledger writes from
Boston as follows:
New England politicians expect to see
the temperance of Theodore Roosevelt
in national politics in the Indiana pri-
maries on March next or not at all.
If he decides to get into the fight for
the republican nomination for President
in 1916 it is thought that he will show
his hand then for the first time
1t Is astonishing to note the swing back
TO Roosevelt among republicans In this
section and while condolences cannot
be violated by the publication at present
of the names of prominent republican
leaders who frankly, in private. admit
their preference for the colonel as the
national leader In next years campaign
a list of their names would contain many
big figures whose republicanism has new
er been questioned and who are active
leaders in the party.
| This Roosevelt sentiment appears to
be based upon two considera tons, first.
that with his customary assurance. as
| If making n discovery. he has made him
! self a leader in the movement for an
adequate national defense. and this con-
sideration has gained weight rather than
lost 1t since the announcement of Presi-
dent Wilson's program, and the breach
between Wilson and Bryan has made 1t
| likely that nothing adequate. sensible or
economical is to be expected at the hands
of the Democratic party. The second
consideration is the feeling entertained
| by a surprisingly large number OF re-
publicans that while another candidate
might win, Roosevelt surely would defeat
| President Wilson.
| Mr.. Roosevelt took no part In the re-
cent campaigns in any of the States.
| The elections have passed, and he has no
more enemies now than he had before.
The return of the progressives to their
old allegiance in Massachusetts has soft
ened animositles that had been nursed
since 1912. There is a new EZRA OF good
feeling here.
The Massa chusetts Bull Moose tried to
| hold their party intact through the re-
| cent campaign, frankly for reasons con-
corning Roosevelt and 1916. They failed
in that, but their failure simply means
that there are more erstwhile progressives
to-day in the ranks of the G. o. p. than
there would otherwise have been. and
these neutrality-suspicious.. more than
900 OF Them are a factor who must be
counted upon in the primaries to be held
in this State on April %, when delegates
to the next republican national conven-
ton will be chosen.
The New Hampshire primaries will be
held on March IA. In both States. judy
ing by the present outlook. Senator John
W. Weeks of Massachusetts has the in
side track. In Vermont. where the pri-
maries will be held in March. there Is
strong sentiment for an uninstructed
| delegation.
| But before any primaries are held in
New England. Indiana will speak, and
the primaries there on March I. the first
to be held, may prove to be highly sig
nincant. The next battle-ground will be
In Minnesota on March "A. Neither Of
these States. whose delegates would give
the candidate fortunate enough to secure
them a big lead. has favorite son OF
large proportions. Charles w. Fairbanks,
or congressman Watson. if put for
ward, would be no more than stalking
horse. and behind him would be the real
candidate who might. or might not, be in
the open as the second choice.
Some politicians here believe that il
Roosevelt threw his hat into the ring he
COulu carry lHuIdna anu AllllltSOtd IN tne
primaries. In this connection it might be
| important to note that during the recent
campaign in Massa chusetts an interest
ing conference which did not figure in
the newspapers was held at d Boston
hotel between Matthew Hale, the Roose-
welt leader IN Massachusetts,: Albert =.
Gardner, n progressive leader in Maine.
and ex-senator Beveridge Of Indiana Mr.
Hale, has been in close touch with George
| W. Perkins.
Mr.. Hale has now gone on q mysterious
western trip. He has gone to Pennsylva-
MIA. and from there will fit westward into
Indiana. His temporary address next
week will be St. Paul. Mimi. and he
may even get as far west as North Da-
kota where the Rough Riders come from,
and where the primaries are scheduled
for March
All over the country now there are
pow-wows in the lodges of the warriors.
and the chiefs are making big medicine.
Is Theodore Roosevelt making any?
That's the question, and there are nu-
, nerous New England politicians who
4 would like to know tho aDauer