The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-02
HUGHES. ROOSEVELT AND
WILSON.
re-Conventlon Straws in the Presi-
Dental Gale.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sfr. In
THE SrN of May 81 I read the astound-
ing statement that n self-appointed com
mittee, largely of Taft Republicans
Is planning to stampede the national
convention for Colonel Roosevelt. How
In the name OF sanity should they be
doing anything OF the kind?
| understand a Taft Republican to he
one that voted for Mr.. Taft in 1912.
In so doing he must have considered
Colonel Roosevelt clearly a traitor to
the party that has given him all he has
ever enjoyed In political life. striving
to the uttormost to get It's nomination
again, and then, because Of his failure,
refusing an honorable compromise that
would have insured success at the polls,
b~etraying the party n giving the re-
public into the hands Of an incompetent
and ridiculous Administration. And
now. forsooth, those Taft Republican,
wish TO put this man into the Presi-
dency! II they had lived during our
struggle for independence. would they
have striven to put Benedict Arnold
into the place OF George Washington =?
II they really were Taft Republicans
In 1912 they are daft Republicans now.
II would be well for that committee
TO remember that stampeding is a game
at which two a play. The number OF
BO-Cdlitu TokIeSrlNes WIN Will TCluSc
to progress backward and vote the
ticket unless Roosevelt is the candidate
Ia. in all probability, small compared
with tho stanch Republicans who, II
he should be thus nominated. would
stampede In another direction In No
vembar. Have the gentlemen compos
ing that committee forgotten that a very
large number OF Republicans voted for
Mr.. Wilson in 1912, bitter as that pill
was. because they thought II the only
way TO defeat Roosevelt? Have they
never cad of the Republican stampede
IN the New York state election OF 1882
Let them consider It's far reaching con-
sequences. And that was a small cir
cumstance compared with what they
may be inviting In November.
In the published statement o. the
stampeding committee I read the re-
markable declaration that Colonel Roose-
welt, better than any other man.. rep
resents the spirit OF Americanism awak-
ened by the present crisis in the nations
history" The only possible comment
that can be mad on that exhibition
OF ~effrontery IL NAT II IL a bald false
hood. II the committee. instead OF bet
ter h any other man" had written
louder, more s~trenuouslv. n more fol
his Advancement there would be
a measure OF truth in Il. We might
easily name more than ono man who
has expressed the needs Of the crisis
quite as clearly as he. and much better
for they have dom Il In the n OF
a statesman and patriot mindful of his
country, not IN that OF a eelf-seekins
demagogue. And they are men who cal
be relied upon to keep their promises.
An overgrown boy. full OF kick and
punch and stuffed TO the eyes with
egotlsm, mas be an entertaining orator.
cal acrobat but that Is not what IL
required for the Chief Magistrate OF oui
republic. We must have a calm TEN.
pered. level headed, experienced n skill
full statesman. We are not lacking fol-
such and unless our people choose ons
In this crisis they will write themselve.
down as a great compound ass.
R%ossirER JOHNSON.
ASAoASaErr Tune