The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-07-19
IBy Smith D. Fry.]

WASHINGTON, July 19.-Before
departing for his cross-continental
journey, Colonel Roosevelt gave to
the press statement political which
will bear careful analysis and synthe-
sis. At no time has he stated that
he is not and will not be presiden-
tial candidate. Nevertheless he has
created that impression and cultivates
it. Believing that he will have Wood
row Wilson to beat, he has begun be-
lifting Mr.. Wilson, and on this latest
occasion has compared him disparag-
ingly with the vacillating president
who might have averted the great
civil war in 1861, IL he had been man
Of such calibre as Andrew Jackson or
Grover Cleveland; or. may be. Theo-
dore Roosevelt.
He states that In order to defeat
Woodrow Wilson he will give his sup
port to any decent republican who may
be nominated; but he does not indi-
cate that any republican convention
can be trusted to choose such man.
Whether or not proposed candidate
is decent will be determined by Col.
onel Roosevelt himself.
But, astute politician as he is, the
colonel is mistaken in presuming that
lie will have Woodrow Wilson to beat.
Not one single metropolitan newspa-
per or editor has been able to pene-
trate the veil of Wilson's political pur-
poses. All of them take 1t for granted
that he will seek to be his own sue
cessor and that he will use all Of the
power Of official patronage to compel
his denomination. The writer hereof
ventures to assume the seemingly
risky responsibility of predicting that
President Wilson will not seek his re-
nomination, and would not have done
SO even If Mr.. Bryan had remained
loyal to him. So long ago as last Feb
ruary it became known to a chosen
few that Woodrow Wilson will abso-
lutely adhere to the one-term plank in
the Baltimore platform; but William
Jennings Bryan was not one of that
chosen few.
This is where the shoe pinched
the presidential toe of Mr. Bryan's
ambition, and he knew not the chirop-
odist who might have removed the
pressure for him. If Mr.. Bryan could
have known positively that the presi-
dent would not seek second term,
he would have remained in the cabi-
net, most likely, and trimmed his sails
conventionward accordingly. But he
did not know that fact, and every ef-
fort made by him or his friends to
ascertain the presidential purpose met
with failure, and occasional rebuff or
r.aproof.
Numerous newspaper men have
been analysing New Jersey lately,
and they all agree that there is no
boom for Woodrow Wilson in his own
home state, nor any sign of a boom.
interviewing prominent and loyal ad-
herents of the president they have
found not one who predicts second
term for Mr.. Wilson. And yet. the
news-seekers have not seen In this
peculiar condition the fact that Mr..
Wilson will not permit the use of his
name by those who would most desire
to base and build boom
If Colonel Roosevelt fips his cap
or hat into the ring, as he now intends
to do, he will have the allies against
him exceedingly we'll divided. His
lieutenants are keeping the name OF
Elihu Root before the New York re-
publicans. and that is done to over.
shadow Charles S. Whitman and for.
mer Governor Hughes. The latter is
exceedingly popular in New York and
good presidential timber despite his
emphatic announcement Of his com.
p1eet retirement from national politi.
cal affairs. 1t is the Roosevelt lieu.
tenants who are keeping alive the