The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1916-01-06
DO THEY WANT ROOSEVELT?

DO THEY WANT ROOSEVELT?
| Press reports from over the coun
try seem to indicate that Theodore
Roosevelt is regaining some of his
lost prestige with the American peo
pie in general and the Republican
party in particular, and is really
looming strong as a possible candi-
date for the republican party in 1915.
The following is taken from the New
York Tribune
Do the republican leaders in Wash
ington desire to make Theodore
Roosevelt the republican candidate
for president in 1915? Do they desire
to see Mr.. Roosevelt nominated and
elected?
Colonel Roosevelt's weaknesses are
better known than those of any other
American. The years since he left
the White House have been years
which have subtracted from, rather
than added to his stature as a public
man. There have been times in the
last three years when his fellow coun-
| trymen have been almost convinced
that his usefulness was at an end.
But in the last few months there
has been no mistaking the fact that
there has been real change in pub
lie opinion, and men who were long
and steadfastly opposed to Mr.. Roose-
welt as president and as a candidate
are daily confessing to change of
opinion and feeling.
The reason is simple and it is ex-
planned by an almost uniform state
ment. Thousands and thousands of
Americans believe that if Theodore
Roosevelt had been president of the
United States there would have been
no Lusitania tragedy. Those who hold
that the tragedy was inevitable be-
lieve that without war and without
peril of war Mr.. Roosevelt would
have obtained from Germany dis
avowal and a guarantee against a
repitition of the crime.
There is one point on which Mr.
Roosevelt's strength has never been
questioned. He is patriotic, loyal
aggressive American. He has from
the beginning of his life stood con-
sistently and sturdily for an Ameri-
canism which is the natural out
growth of the Americanism Of 1775
and 1861. At all times, under all
circumstances, without hesitation and
without qualification, Colonel Roose-
welt has championed, fought for
served, an ideal of national honor
which came down from other gener-
ations of Americans.
In the present crisis in American
history, when we are involved in 9
dispute with Germany, because Ger.
many has murdered American citi-
zens, when we are facing a situa-
tion of anarchy and domestic strife al
home, Colonel Roosevelt is the one
American who has, without hesitation
and without thought of the politica
effect of his words, spoken frankly.
Other public men have caviled and
crawled. They have not dared to say
the invasion of Belgium was crime
even though not a crime calling fol
political intervention on the part Of
the United States, because such dec.
laration would repel German-Ameri.
can votes. They have not dared to as
sert that all that America stood fol-
in history and tradition was at stake
on the European battlefield, and that
our cause was the cause of France
and OF Great Britain. But Colonel
Roosevelt has said it's saying 1t
Other men in public life and office
have mistaken the conditions Of neu-
trality for that of neuter, and the
mistake flows from political anxieties
and concern for hyphenate vote.
Now, If the republican leaders in
Washington believe that they can i'm
itate Mr.. Wilson, preserve discreet
silence upon the things that are up
permost in the minds and hearts OF
most Americans, keep the votes of the
Americans without repulsing those OF
the German-Americans, invite to the
republican party the votes Of those
German-Americans who are angry at
Mr.. Wilson for the little he has done
to preserve American self-respect
while enlisting the support of those
who resent his course, as cowardly
they are making grave and fatal
mistake.
The issue of the next campaign will
not be the tariff. 1t will not even be
preparedness. 1t most assuredly will