The Detroit times., 1916-02-18
Not Much in the KeynOtes
8 to Invite the Boilers of
1912 Back Into the Fold

II William Alden Smith and Charles E
Y Townsend and Patrick H. Kelley were
y 'SkeynOting on their recent visit to Michi
gan. and if Elihu Root was keynoting ir
g &his speech in New York, Tuesday night
their keynotes were decidedly off the key
i md we have to feel sorry for the Repub.
B lican party.
Because if these were keynotes, politi.
|<eai history of 1912 is going to be re-
I speated.
Smith, Townsend and Kelley fell down
voefully in their speeches if they were
tended to rehabiitate the G. O. p, even
! hsss II Michigan.
Al three of them were able to close
NJ eyes and behold the voters just
colring their necks to get into the
4 Eoltng booths to vote for the Republican
4 61ndidates for the presidency this year,
mo NATTER WHOM HE HAPPENS
no BE- That was the impression they
RInve Us.
VI three of them seem to have become
Vinced - one, upon alighting from
~ fr1in which brought them from
nGhinston. that the Republican party in
Njeum = reunited that the Progress
o r. haek IN the fold and that
H Hing IS lovely for some more Re
1can jobs.
xSf what there was around the depot
~ them such an impression, We do
x oWever, none Of them, in any speech
~ banquet or in any conversation had
IIilr here; while things were practically
= standstill in Washington, as con-
rnsnce. and while the country waited
thlessly for their return, uttered one
neon WHY the Progressives had come
IN o. one reason why they SHOULD
1ne back.
They were guilty Of several speeches,
the other hand, which should tend to
Eee the mind, for the time being, at
opk Of any Progressive who may have
Ande up his mind to forgive and try to
creet.
Senator Smith persisted while here in
hts big mistake, that of berating the
\ resident.
Attacking Mr.. Wilson isn't going to
n1igfy the man who left the Republican
Qxty in disgust when he found that il
Qneisted Of few false and selfish lead
ots who were willing at any old time to
ell out the rank and file.
Elihu Root keynoted to the nation. sc
ots take his speech as sample of the
y 1nlee note with which the old guard il
/ opening the campaign.
H was Elihu Root who served as chair
man Of the Republican convention anC
helped put over the slap in the face t.
4 Republicans for principle.
This is among some of the other thing.
4 Root said in New York:
k>t1l lt n our duty as the opposition to bring
the Democratic party to the bar of pubic
6 Judgment. to put II up on It's defense
' far ~ we see just and substantial grounds
E 70 criticize It's conduct. and TO ask the
voters OF the country TO decide whether
". that party, organized as Il is. represented
'<s - q has been since IL came into power. has
fz shown itself competent TO govern the coun-
<< ~ a II should be governed, and whether
x ~ spirit its policies and its performances
f< ~ the best that the American people can
z1> u the way Of popular seIfgovernment"
sujn Hes the mistake in common o
fA Kelley, Root, Smith and Town
A their alphabetical order-it i
6 g cEnission.
<x It d true that the Democratic part,
naas 20 Judgment this year.
= Just as true. nevertheless, thai
Cqblican party, also, comes tc
lich latter fact seems not to have i'm.
od any OF the keynotsrs.
xpp find anything in the speeches