The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-14

ness. What an unpatriotic view of
manufacturers and of our greatest
American. The State Journal holds
no brief for Colonel Roosevelt's poll
cies and performances, but Roosevelt's
life has been largely an open book.
He is typical example of virile man
hood, of patriotic, able, forceful, ex-
perienced, practical statesman, versed
in history, politics and economies.
Knowing Roosevelt as we all know
him., do we imagine for a moment
that Roosevelt would not say to these
munition makers: This country IS
not preparing for the purpose of lining
your belly or your pocketbook. You
make those munitions on a per cent
or 10 per cent or reasonable basis or
the government will make the NUM-
lions and you will make none of
them
1t is flippantIy remarked that
countries in Europe are going to at
tack this country because they will be
weakened and exhausted by the war.
Possibly some country may be weak
ened and exhausted, but do you re-
member that at the close of the civil
war the United States, with a trained
Europe will have at the close of their
war, told France to remove from
Mexico, and the Monroe Doctrine was
exemplified?
1t was Roosevelt who recognized the
japanese as proud and worthy and
progressive. 1t was his diplomacy
that caused better treatment of the
Japanese, who are naturally our
friends and have been our friends
since Perry went to Japan in the mid
die of the last century.
None better holds the training,
craftsmanship and diplomacy and pre-
paredness to be president in these
times fraught with history making pc
RODS than Colonel Theodore Roose-
welt and he has the faculty of drawing
strong men to him, into his cabinet
and condolences. He consults men of
moment. Wilson's disposition is to
retire in seclusion to work out his
grave problems.
1t has been said that the delegates
to Chicago cannot be turned to Roose
welt. Well, most of them are uniu-
structed. The man who now has the
largest number of delegates in
structed in his favor is impossible;
Fairbanks, of Indiana, a fine gentle
man, but not up to present demands.
Indiana itself admits this.
Does the reader imagine with the
changing political feeling that the del
egates could go to Chicago and not be
apprized of that change and act on it
or be unable to look their constituents
in the face?
But things are happening. Popping
is the word. The standpatter of last
month is for Roosevelt today. In this
community men can be named today
who believe that Roosevelt is the man
CT the hour, and yet a few months
ago, even week since, thought the last
man in the world they would favor
would be the colonel. .A.- r.
The changing and crystallizing
sentiment in this community must be
lke the changes taking place in the
minds of men elsewhere, who were
for Taft, or Weeks, or Burton, or
Borah, or Cummins or other states-5
men of worth. With Root and Roose-
welt together, it is not unlikely that
w. H. T. and T, r. can assemble on
preparedness and protection.
The State Journal favored Taft four
years ago, but it never lost its admir-
alton for Roosevelt. 1t regretted that
he ran for the presidency in 1912, but
he was and. is a man of courageous
convictions. He believed that at that
time he was warranted in throwing his
hat into the ring. 1t was an error of
judgment. We all err. 1t is human to
make mistakes, but if we make them
in the interests of humanity, they can
be forgotten and forgiven. There were
errors in the Republican convention
in 1912, questionable errors, that is
debatable ones, on the delegates.
Roosevelt taught us to admire Taft.
We admire him yet. If Root and
Roosevelt can bury differences, it is
pose any skeletons in their closets, in
scary times like these. The time
might come soon when this nation
would be compelled to rally behind
President Wilson, but it is hardly
likely. But if it came Colonel Roose-
welt would be in line. Meanwhile let
us think and think hard, forget some
unimportant things and remember big
things and a big future if we are
worthy of it and them.