The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-07-12
RoosEvELT's POLITICAL PERSPI.
CACiTY
IBy Smith D. Fry.l

| by Smith D. Fry.1
| WASHINGTON, July 11-Only
superficial observers OF political AT
! fairs and events have overlooked the
| palpable fact that Theodore Roosevelt
has tried to model his life after the
patterns set by Napoleon Bonaparte
On every occasion his brain has TEEN.
ed with the question: What would
Napoleon do under such circum-
Stances?"
Illustrations are numberless. but
one will suffice. When he was about
to return from his spectacular hunt.
ing tour of Africa, his henchmen and
adheTents in this country, as so many
mannikins pulled by one string, be
gan to shout: Back from Elba.''
Right now Colonel Roosevelt is
playing a Napoleonic game, and the
older politicians will awake and see
the results Of the game, when. it is
everlastingly too late. The greatest
of all generals used to enter upon
social festivities in Parie. apparently
forgetting all about war, past. present
or future. Secretly assembling his
armies he would seem to have no
other object in life than to eat. drink
and be merry, enjoying the fruits OF
his achievements. Suddenly, however,
Napoleon would leave Paris at night,
rush with relays OF horses right onto
the field of battle which he had pre-
pared. seize his unprepared enemies
with tiger-like ferocity, tear and rend
them and destroy them.
That is what Napoleon Roosevelt is
doing and preparing to do right now.
Apparently Indifferent to the trend OF
political affairs he has been in the
south and given secret orders for the
gathering of his clans in that section.
He is likewise segregating his bri-
gades all over the country. He will
have a big. enthusiastic, harmonious
national convention of progressive re-
publicans next May, and be unani.
mously nominated by that convention
for the presidency. In that gathering
there will be some big men, mighty
men of yalor" in politics.
In the meantime the anti-Napo-
leonic allies are being further misled
and encouraged to discussions. En-
couragement is extended to Borah of
Idaho. Cummins OF Iowa. Sherman of
Illinois. Fairbanks of Indiana. Burton
Of Ohio: and advantage is being TAX
en- Of the ambitions of Philander c.
Knox of Pennsylvania, so that the
Keystone state shall be like house
divided against itself, which cannot
stand"
After the adjournment OF the har.
monious and unanimous progressive
convention in May, there will as.
semble the republican convention In
July, wrangling and fighting for the
nomination: nomination which will
not be worth having, any more than
il was worth to Taft in 1912, IL the
plans OF Napoleon Roosevelt are not
anticipated and thwarted; as they
will not be. because the regular re-
publican. allies have no Wellington
nor Butcher to lead them.
In the year 1916 Napoleon's armies
we're inferior in numbers, and ulcI
mate defeat would have come, even
If there had been a temporary sue
cess at Waterloo. But in 1916, Napo
leon Roosevelt will have those super
Tor millions who followed him IN 1912
and the old guard Of the progressive
army will not need either to die OF
J surrender: and the commander Of
this modern old guard will not need
T to make use Of such q naughty word
as Cambronne uttered when he re
fused to surrender.
/ The republicans who underestimate
| the man Of Oyster Bay, and the demo
Gratis who underestimate the boy ora
tor Of the platte, will. get out OF their
nightmares, too late. Watch EN-!