The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-04-20
TO BEAT WILSON.

There will be only one republican
issue, only one republican policy, only
one republican principle in the COM
ing campaign-"Anything to Beat
Wilson,"
That is why Roosevelt is the most
available candidate. The "favorite
sons have proven to be political
Jokes. Roosevelt has cut Hughes
throat. Root could never be elected
no matter if his candidacy became
serious. Besides, he, like Hughes
waited too long.
The trusts, the great corporations,
the tariff monopolists, wall Street
and all the reactionary elements IN
American politics might prefer some
body less erratic and more stable
than Roosevelt, but what can they
do?
Wilson can be beaten, if at all,
only by combining all the elements OF
opposition, and Roosevelt will not
permit the progressives to combine
on anybody excepting himself, no
matter if they were so inclined. Any
republican except Roosevelt is sure
to be defeated, because Roosevelt
will run independently and split the
anti-Wilson vote. Therefore it will be
Roosevelt, and from Wall street s
point of view Roosevelt is infinitely
preferable to Wilson.
Eight years ago Roosevelt issued
the mandate, "If you don't take Taft
you'll get me-" Wall street, at that
time was looking upon the hughes
candidacy with friendly eye.
&c
man, and Taft was under suspicion
of radicalism. Nevertheless, in obed-
fence to Roosevelt's ukase, Wall
street took Taft.
This year Roosevelt is saying in
effect, IF you don't take me you'll
get Wilson," and so Wall street will
take Roosevelt. There will be no
end Of gagging in the good Old Guard
before his candidacy is swallowed,
but it will finally be choked down.
After all the eloquence and oratory
has subsidized the convention will do
what Wall street wants it to do.
Roosevelt will not get the nomina-
ton without hight, and he will have
to make innumerab'e private, deals
with republican bosses and priests of
privilege, but no deal that he is not
capable OF making Hannaism is on
it's way to glorious resurrection.
Aside from all practical consider
atoms of expediency, Roosevelts can
didacy must commend itself to big
business and high finance for reasons
all of it's own. He alone can drape
the American flag around Wall street
in a raid to recapture the national
government. He alone can pin the
stars and strips on every dirty dol
lar that is intriguing to return to
power in Washington. At time like
this the Importance of such qualifi-
cations is beyond estimate.
A Wall street that can give no ex-
cuse for political operations except
that it wants the money is at grave
disadvantage. But a Wall street that
can cloak it's plans in patriotism and
point proudly to it's peerless leader
who is restoring the virile virtues of
Americanism-that is quite another
thing. Nothing is so useful as the
grand old flag to divert attention
while Wall street is operating on the
public pOcketDook.
Patriotism at this time is what the
sporting editors would call Wall
streets one best bet, and no other
man can play that game for big bust
ness so we'll as Roosevelt. If sue
cessful, he would get the presidency,
Wall street would get the plumber
and the public would get the patriot
ism. Two of the three parties to the
transaction would then be gloriously
satisfied, and the public would not
discover it's plight until too late.
Roosevelt is the one man for that
job, and the stars in their courses
are fighting for his nomination. A
Wall street in which stocks can
slump on mere rumors of an early
peace in Europe could not lose Theo-
dore Roosevelt if it tried, and it will
not try.
Anything to beat Wilson. Any