The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-03-02
BOOM.

Really, now, the Roosevelt boom is
the only one-and the Noise of Oys-
ter Bay has taken himself out of the
country to give it elbow room to
grow. All of the other "favorite
sons" seem to be making no impress
sion outside of their states-and
some of them none inside of their
states. On the other hama the figure
of Wilson is commanding and over
shadowing. The presidents strength
and popularity reaches to every sec
ton of the country, and it not bound
ell by party lines. Only a most re-
doubtable champion can ever enter
the lists against him with any chance
of emerging therefrom alive. There
are a plenty of the smaller fry-but
VINO is there that is big and potent
and terrible but Teddy? And SO the
Roosevelt boom, like widely adver-
tised proprietary medicine, is work.
ing while the others sleep.
And the reason for all this is that
back of it, first is the might of a
great name Back of it second is the
scheming brain OF the most audac-
ious and cunning politician OF his
generation. Back of it, third are the
enormous munition interests clam
oring for militarism, that feel moth
ing but contempt for the moderate
preparedness favored by President
Wilson. Back OF it, fourth are great
financial lotteries that have invested
heavily in the war, that are keenly
concerned in victory for the allies,
and that fear they may have to rely
on American militarism to bluff their
11h int y
Obligatio Back of it, fifth are the
great industrial interests hankering
for return to the flesh pots and SUB
sides OF high tariff policy, and that
believe Roosevelt militarism would
drive this country back to high pro-
lection basis. Back of it, sixth are
the politicians hungry for victory,
and who can see victory in sight I'M
der no other available leadership.
The catalogue might be continued far
but these items of the Roosevelt
strength suffice to give some idea Of
how formidable it is.
And Roosevelt's numerous utter
ances in the past few months show
that his platform will take in these
wants and he will further assail the
administration for not getting into
war over Belgium. There is no pa
triotism in it, but it serves the pur
pose. Its appeal is ringing to those
interested in militarism, in the man
ufacture of munitions, in foreign
loans, in industries hungry for pro-
lection, and to that element that for
a variety of the reasons is ever more
strongly pro-ally in it's war SYM
pathies than it is pro-American. Col.
Roosevelt believes, and so evidently
does Root. that it is a winning slo-
gan.
Whether a winning slogan or not,
it is the only one thus far presented
as basis for republican campaign
that has attracted any attention, just
as Roosevelt is the only candidate
who is appealing at all to the mag
ina;ion OF the republican voters. And
SO the indications grow palmer daily
that Tn, Inflated republican party is
doomed to have the colonel once
more a-straddle of it's neck, with his
quiXotic, jingoistic, militaristic plat
fern pinned to it's venerable coat tail
and trailing along behind
1t is prospect which democrats
may consider with complacency.
Against such a candidate and such a
platform even Mr.. Bryan would sup
port Woodrow Wilson, once he was
nominated, and do it with an enthusi-
asm inspired by well grounded fears
OF what would happen to our beloved
republic should the opposing candi-
date be elected.-St. Joe Observer.