The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-01-20
IS HE THE WAR CANDIDATE?

At the present moment Theodore
Roosevelt looms as the most likely
candidate of the republican party in
the coming campaign. 1t would not
be true to say that he is the favorite
against the field; it is true to say
that his strength, at this time, out
ranks that of any other single asplr-
ant for this position.
Root, whose candidacy was prac-
tically agreed upon by the party man
ayers, has been thrust aside by the
defeat OF his personally conducted
constitution in his home state.
Hughes, unquestionably the choice of
the better element of the party, is
on the Supreme bench and refuses to
drag the ermine into politics.
The remaining candidates are little
more than ''favorite sons" with local
regulations, slightly nationalized by
publicity campaigns. Not one OF them
measures up to Roosevelt in either
fOrcefulness or following.
This being true, it becomes impor-
tant to know what Mr.. Roosevelt pro-
poses to do if the fates make him
not only candidate, but success
full candidate. His domestic policy,
indeed, need excite no curiosity; it
will be written for him by his hosts
at the Gary dinner. But, for the
moment, the foreign policy OF the
United States is uppermost in the
minds of citizens.
How will Mr.. Roosevelt guide this
country in international affairs, if
the helm is put in his hands?
He has been a most unmeasured
80
present administration. He has de-
nounced patience as weakness, calm
ness as cowardice; he has declared
that We forfeited our national honor
by not going to the defense of Bel
GUM and our good standing in the
world by not intervening in Mexico.
All that, however, relates to the past.
The Journals interest lies in the fu-
lure. If Mr.. Roosevelt becomes pres
ident, what will he do to redeem our
lost honor and restore the high
standing we had when we took Pan
ama?"
Will he be as warlike in action as
he has been in speech, and II so, with
whom will he go to war?
viii he consider the Belgian griev-
ance still valid, and make war on
Germany over that!
Will he choose rather to make a
war issue OF che sinking of the Lusi-
tani;l, in case Germany fails to make
due reparation before he comes to
the White House?
Will he select Austria as the
whipping boy CT the central powers,
and begin his campaign against her?
Will he demand that congress de-
clare war on Turkey because OF the
Armenian massacres?
Will he consider the increasing
Taparese navy a menace to be re-
moved by immediate martial action?
VIII he intervene in Mexico?
The Journal, in the old phrase, in
quires for to know. 1t is not con-
cerned now to take issue with Mr..
Roosevelt's program. 1t merely de-
sires to know, clearly and unmistak-
ably, what that program is. 1t recog-
nizes that many estimable people be-
lieve the United States should have
declared war on Germany over the
Belgian invasion, and that perhaps a
still larger number would like inter-
vention in Mexico-indeed, the Jour-
nal itself has expressed the grave ap-
prehensicn that sooner or later We
shall be obliged to restore order
south of the Rio Grande.
But the Journal insists that Mr..
Roosevelt declare himself, not only
as to the past, but as to the future. 1t
it not fair to attract the jingoes by
warlike denunciations of accomplish
ed wrongs while holding out the
hope to peaceful minded people that
some unwarlike methods will be
found for righting those wrongs.
If Mr.. Roosevelt wishes to be the
leader of a war party, he should say
SO, and make it plain.-Chicago
Journal.