The Washington herald., 1916-06-12
Roosevelt in 1916 and Later.

tics and he may be just at present; but he
can't stay out of politics without staying out OF
-the Presidential campaign that will soon be on,
and to stay of that fight the Colonel will have
to stay out of the country. Can any one imagine
him sitting calmly at Oyster Bay almost within
hearing OF the big guns in action, and not leap
ing a platform? There are not many
new places to which he may go, but he can't
remain in the United States this year and keep
cut of politics.
1t is common knowledge that COL Roosevelt
has very high personal regard for Mr.. Hughes,
and it may easily be inferred that he has not
permitted himself to be convinced that the former
Justice will make ideal President. Also 1t
is known that Mr. Taft places very high esti-
mate upon the craftsmanship OF the man he sent
to the Supreme Court of the United States to
the displeasure of Col. Roosevelt, and there can
be no doubt that Mr.. Taft will take promi-
nent part in the campaign The prospect, there
fore, OF bringing his own active force to bear to
further the cause OF he doesn't like and
in doing to make common cause with the
former friend of whom he made bitter polti-
cal enemy, cannot be regarded by the defeated
candidate at Chicago as inviting. And yet here
lies the ColoneIs great if not his only political
opportunity. He has never made sacrifice for
the party that has so greatly honored him, for
cannot be called that; and now, for the partys
advantage more than his own, he is called
upon to sacrifice only pride and personal pref
erence. The conclusion cannot be avoided that
he was honestly surprised to discover that he
not the first and only cholce OF over
whelmlng majority OF Americans but convinced,
as he must be, that the man nominated at
Chicago is truly representative OF the party's
will, it is his duty, and nothing more, to sup
port him, if not to take an active part in the
canSe1ign.
There is given to him, too, the opportunity
to give some effect to his condemnation OF the
policies and methods OF the party in power.
For two years he has been denouncing each
successive act OF the administration, to no pur-
pose except to attract attention to his own
superior wisdom and Americanism The state
ment OF principles Of the Republican nominee
certainly must satisfy hi1-I. Ii he believes that
Mr.. Hughes will make an earnest effort to put
them into deeds he can scarcely justify himself
if he remains silent when by his aid the nation
may be saved from what he has repeatedly
described a process OF destruction at the
hands OF the present Democratic government
The time has come when the possibility Of his
own words being put into deeds presents itself
II is time for him to become silent
So if COL Roosevelt, after taking his bear
lngs and surveying the horizon, decides to clear
his decks for action there need be no sur
prise. No circumstance connected with his re-
buff at the hands Of the Republican convention
reflects upon him, upon the delegates or upon
the party. He lost in a fair fight but one
blow doesn't defeat fighter OF the ColoneIs
caliber, and his place is in the thick OF the
new and bigger battle If he is found there
what events may not the next four years wit
ness? reorganized and strengthened Re
publican party would be assured. Reconciliation
with Mr. Taft suggests itself as no less of a
probability than the election OF Mr.. Hughes
And four years in the White House may be
quite enough to suit Mr Hughes. It may we'll
be believed that he would have preferred to re-
main in the Supreme Court, and plainly he is
the type Of man who could readily dispense with
an expression Of public confidence and satisfac-
ton in the form OF second term. 1t is long
excursion into the future, but even eight years
from now may the opportunity for the graft
hcation of Col. Roosevets ambition to spend
four more years in the White House But if he
stays out OF politics in this campaign year, slim
indeed will be the chances that he will find it
possible to come back. He has a weightv de-
cison to make but all things considered the
probability is that he will be found actively aid
ing the cause OF the candidate Of the C. O. P