The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-08
THE TOPEKA STATE JoURNAI-MoNDAY EVENING MAY

sane and fair to both capital and labor
and if put into practice would lead to
general prosperity.
! Leadership.
In this crisis we need, above all else,
| leader, not a trailer Theodore
Roosevelt has always been foresighted,
and always prepared for an emergency
when it arose.
| We need a leader who secures in
formation from all sources, and then,
with better knowledge than any one
in the country, acts with decision and
courage; instead of a man who seeks
counsel from but few, listens for the
voice of those people who speak with
out full knowledge, the result of which
policy must be ''watchful wabbling.''
| There is a rapidly increasing num-
Der of citizens of this country who
are becoming convinced that our only
surety of liberty and peace is in pre-
paredness, both military and indus
| trial. The first and most importa Mt
step in this program is the election
to the presidency of the United States
| of the one man who has been the
apostle of preparedness.
Can Roosevelt Be Elected?
Some of the politicians claim to fear
that Theodore Roosevelt, if nominated,
cannot be elected. The following an
alysis may dispel any such idea from
the minds of men who are influenced
by such statements.
| In 1912 approximately the follow
| ing votes were cast:
woodrow Wilson $500 900
Theodore Roosevelt 100, 900
William H. Taft 100000
The lessened number of votes polled
| by the Progressive party In 1914
| (about 2,00O,000). has nothing what
ever to do with the result in 1915, for
gressive party, but with the Roosevelt
party. The 100000 voters who voted
| for Theodore Roosevelt in 1912
thought they were right at that time;
from the developments of the last fif-
teen months they are sure they are
right now.
They want Theodore Roosevelt, and
| they want no one else. OF the g.
100000 votes cast for Mr.. Taft, a very
large proportion would be cast for Mr.
Roosevelt if nominated by the Re-
| publican party. 1t is possible that a.
few. who put revenge above patriot
| iSb, would vote for Mr.. Wilson, but
only a small number If the choice was
between Roosevelt and Wilson.
OF the 100000 votes cast for Mr..
Wilson in 1912, all of the Republicans
included therein would undoubtedly
vote for Roosevelt in 1916. very
large number of Democrats who voted
for Wilson in 1912 will vote for Theo-
| dore Roosevelt and for no other Re-
| publican, and every Democratic vote
! changed from Wilson to Roosevelt is
\ equal to two votes to Mr.. Roosevelt.
| If the Ford-Bryan vote rose to any
| size, it would probably do more harm
to the Democratic party than to the
Republican party.
| Peace must come within the next
four years; the United States should
| take a commanding position in the
settlement of that peace. The belliger-
ents without exception believe above
| all else that they can trust Theodore
Roosevelt for square deal. The logic
| of the situation, therefore, is that the
large majority of the foreign born citi-
zens in this country would prefer
| Theodore Roosevelt to Woodrow VIII
son.
In addition, consider the hundreds
of thousands of young men, many of
them voting this year for the first
| time. Unaffected by any party fetish
! they are naturally attracted by the
personality of Theodore Roosevelt, and
a very large majority of them would
vote for him.
Why Take Chances? - .7q
There is no leader other than Theo-
dOre Roosevelt who can command such
combination of voters as outlined
above. There is grave doubt of the
ability of any other candidate to de-
feat Woodrow Wilson. Why, in this
crisis, take any chances?
II any man other than Theodore
Roosevelt is nominated for president,
the Democrats will make a drive for
the Progressive vote on the strength
of the Progressive legislation enacted
by Democratic congress, such as the
trade commission bill, tariff commits
sion, etc, and claim that they have
enacted more of the principles of the
Progressive party into law than any
Republican administration has, or
will
Remember Congress.
Another matter of great Importance
will be the necessity of changing the
complexion of the house of represen-
tatives and of the senate. The con-
troll of the house of representatives is
likely to be captured in any event, but
with the senate it is an entirely differ
ent proposition There are senators
from eighteen states who will be
elected this fall. Six of these states
are normally Democratic, and will be
doubtful of change. Out of the re-
naming twelve eleven Democrats and
one Progressive) at least ten Republi-
can or Progressive senators must be
elected to insure an anti-Democratic
majority in the senate. The critical
states are Montana, Nevada, Indiana,
West Virginia, Nebraska, Maryland
and Missouri and only supreme effort
will elect anti-Democratic senators
from these states. There is only one
man with sufficient pulling power
with the people to accomplish this re-
suit, and that man is Theodore Roose- |
welt.
The Roosevelt Tide.
The tide which is sweeping over the
country for Theodore Roosevelt indi-
Gates that many thousands of men
who were against him in 1912 are for
him now. But that is not enough. |
Men of influence. of all classes. should |
exclusively consider this situation
and when convinced, should be pa
triOtic enough to speak out, not only
privately, but publicly, and at once. |
The convention opens on June and
the time is short To do this now
r-6o frin