The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-11

nation. and ali ats political subdi-
visions as well.
1t is the keystone of democracy
The desire of a majority becomes
the voice of the whole people. The
minority may protest against it but
| they must obey it. When they refuse
the chaos of revolution is in order.
/ A situation occasionally develops
where this theory does not work out
in practice; such, for instance, as the
elevation of Woodrow Wilson to the
chief magistracy. He is a minority
president. A majority of the people
did not give him their votes.
/ But precept would be a strange
one that did not have it's exception,
and the latter. of course, never de-
stroys or nullifies the righteousness of
the former.
Patterning on this maxim, for the
conduct of public affairs, the great
political parties of the nation govern
their internal affairs by majority rule.
Thus it is that majority of the dele
gates to a national convention of eth
er of the paramount parties write the
platform and select the presidential
candidate.
Political machinery has not been
sufficiently developed in this country
as yet to make it anywhere nearly
certain that a majority of the dele
gates to a national convention will eX-
press the sentiments of a majority of
the voters in their party.
| But were that the case, Theodore
Roosevelt would be nominated at the
Republican national convention at
Chicago on June on the first ballot,
or by reclamation.
That he is the presidential choice
of a majority of the voters in the Re
publican party is a fact, and one that
is easily demonstrated.
Woodrow Wilson polled something
over six million votes at the last presi-
Dental election. 1t was the normal
Democratic vote; no more, no less.
Because of the schism in the Re
publican party, which resulted in the
formation of the Progressive party.
the Republican vote was split in two
/ 1t fell to the distinction of Theodore
Roosevelt, the Progressive candidate,
to receive. the lions share of what
would have been the Republican vote
| had the party not been rent asunder-
More than 100000 erstwhile Repub-
licans, who were Progressives for the
| time being, cast their ballots for him.
To William Howard Taft, the regu-
lar Republican candidate. went the
balance of the votes in the Republic
can party, something in excess of s.
100000. -.t
Is there any one. who will argue
that the 100000 Republican voters
who strayed away on the Bull Moose
trail, and even the leaders of which
ar-6c W n
the meeting in New York City of the
Progressive national committee that
they are in a mood to return to their
old political love bag and baggage if
a candidate satisfactory to them is
named by the Republican national
lconvention-is there any one who will
argue that these voters would not be
we'll satisfied to see Theodore Roose-
welt again in the role of Republican
preside entail candidate?
It is no more than reasonable to
urge that few if any of these 1000, 900
Republicans who voted for Roosevelt,
the Progressive. four years ago, have
lost faith in him.
On the contrary. there are good and
sufficient reasons why their faith in
him should be stronger today than it
was then, than it ever was
Moreover, there are many, yes
countless Republicans today that re-
manned steadfast to their party colors
in 1912 who would welcome Theodore
Roosevelt as the forthcoming presi-
Dental candidate of their party.
With some, or many of them, per-
haps, it is not that they love Theodore
Roosevelt more.
They love their country most.
They have awakened to a realiza-
ton of the fact\tnat he is pre-eminent-
ly fitted above every other American
to hold the rudder of the American
ship of state during the momentous
voyage that is just ahead of it, and
on which it has already started in such
a wabbly fashion with Woodrow Will
son at the wheel
The needs of the nation have caused
them to forget their wrath at the man
who dealt such a death blow to their
party in 1912.
They are minded enough to let
bygones be bygones and to see Roose-
welt as he is today. the man of the
hour, the nations hope
These "standpat'' voters, if you are
pleased so to label them. who would
have Roosevelt for their presidential
candidate, are becoming more numer-
Gus daily.
Backing them up and thanking them
on ali sides are the legions of Repub-
licans who voted, as Progressives, for
Roosevelt in 1912. They are four mill
: lion strong.
: If Theodore Roosevelt is not the
presidential choice of preponderant
majority of the available Republican
: voters of today. who is2
MINES IN MODERN WAR;
, Mines have been used with more or
. | less success in numerous WARS WRITE s