The Washington times., 1916-03-10
Leaders Unanimous in Opinion
That CoIoneps "Hat Is in
the Ring"
COUNTRY MUST CALL HIM
Mistake to Nominate Him Un-
less Country Wants to Do
Something Heroic"

NEW YORK, March 10.-CoL Theo-
dore RoOsevelts message from Trini-
by politicians of all parties as q for.
rlnl warning. that the Colonies hat
is in the ring" The opinion was
unanimous that the Colonel had exc
cuted the neatest political move yet
nomination, and the Coloners sup
roTters enthusiastically hailed the
message. as a call to arms.
The Colonel. his friends say. now
has put himself on a footing with
Justice Charles L. Hughes, The i'm
preston that the Colonel was eager
for the nomination. and. in fact. was
ready to go to most any length to
achieve this ambition has been dis
PEELED. his followers believe. by the
ColoncFs assertion that he will not
night for the nomination"
But shrewd politicians did not fail
to note that in the next breath and.
In fact, I'm almost every line or the
statement the Colonel does his best To
pound home the impression that he
and he only, IL capable Of handling
tho "great responsibility" that is be-
fore the people.
Colonel's First Thurst.
Especially did one paragraph OF tho
message appeal to keen observers. The
Colonel states fatly that he vii not
| flies this by saying that unless the coun-
try wants to do something heroic" It
would be a mistake to dominate him.
He compared the present situation
Washington and Lincoln and then drove
| home this subtle suggestion:
1T is for us today to grapple with
tional problems of our own hour in the
| spirit and with the ability shown by
those who upheld the hands OF Washing
ton and Lincoln. Whether we do or do
1T. l. l.. H..
pend on the action taken at the Repub-
lican and Progressive national conven-
tions next June"
This is the Coloners first big gun.
and 1t struck home" said a prominent
political leader yesterday. His deter
mination to keep out of the primary
fights In the various States Is good pol
itics. He admits that he does not want
TO stir up any factional fights in the
Republican and Progressive parties.
knowing that II this should occur II
would divide his strength But just the
same, his agents are on the ground, and
are overlooking nothing that VIII be
useful on June Z in Chicago"
For Americanism.
The Colonel. 1t was observed. inter-
jected in his message his own pet is
sue-the issue on which he win depend
most TO turn the delegates TO his stand
ard-"Americanism." His plea that only
delegates who stand for "clean-cut,
straight-out national Americanism" be
sent to the national convention 10 re-
garded as another clever touch and an
In the meantime, Senators Cummin,
of Idaho, La Toilette OF Wisconsin
Borah of Idaho, and Charles w. Fair
banks OF Indiana, are corralling Re
publican delegates from nearly every
! Middle Western state. theodore h
Burton. OF Ohio. Is busy in several
Eastern States, while friends OF Gov
ernor Mccall. or Massachusetts, are
making claims of progress.
There 10 a long chance that one o.
these candidates may come in first un
der the wire-a long chance-leader
say. While they race merrily one, Jus
tice Hughes, silent but watchful, ant
Colonel Roosevelt, now also in tn
, ''watchful waiting" class. can AFFORD t
sit back, say the wiseacres. Tn
! Colonel and Justice Hughes are regarded
as the principals in the main bout, an
the numerous ''favorite son" candidate
who will enter the convention aren
I'm the 'prelimlnaries'' are calculates
merely to provide appetite for the mai
1 bout Of the program.