The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-25
Such Has Been Our NatiOna
Policy for Three Years.
This Is the Opinion Held by
Colonel Roosevelt.
WRITES SMASHING ARTICLE
1t Appears in the June Issue of
the Metropolitan.
Is a Severe Arrangement of
Wilson Administration.

Wilson Administration.
New York, April 25.-Theodore
Roosevelt contributes an article to the
June Metropolitan, under the title,
''The Policy of Drift and Danger in
which he sets forth in his most Wig
orous and emphatic style what he
characterizes as "The most fragrant
of our national derelictions from duty
during the last three years. The sig
nificant features of the article follow:
In certain articles 1 contributed
through the Wheeler Syndicate, to
The Outlook. The Independent, and
Everybody's, in October, November
and December, 1914, which were en-
bodied in the book l wrote, entitled
"America and the World War" pub
lshed on January 1, 1915, L gave my
views of our duty as regards Belgium
Germany and Mexico, and of our duty
to prepare ourselves against possible
assault from without.
What l thus said, was said at the
very time and about the vital needs
of the time and because some one had
to say the things essential to American
honor which the administration dared
not say-stiIl less to act upon. rms
was eighteen months ago. ON page
25O4of the volume in question l spoke
"In facing a difficult and critical
situation. any administration is en-
titled to a free hand until 1t has had
time to develop the action which II
considers appropriate for otten tnefe
is more than one way in which II is
possible to take efficient action BUT
when so much time has passed, elther
without action, or with only mlschleV-
Gus action, as gravely TO comproifl le
both the honor and the interest of the
country. then it becomes duty 1or
self-respecting citizens to whom their
country is dear to speak out =
I spoke only when it became lnpera.
tive to speak under penalty OF tame
acuuiescence in tame failure TO per-
form a national duty.
II followed this course as regards
Mexico. 1 followed this course as re-
cards the Great War. To the extent
~ NV power l supported Mr.. wilson
either by silence. or by open cnaIh-
pfonship, as long as there was the re
hottest chance that in standing by MN
as president I was also standing DIV lHe
honor and interest of the country l
construed every doubt, both as REGARDS
Mexico. as regards Germany, ana a.
regards Belgium, in his 1aVor' ollen
against my innermost convlcuohs' a9
sone as il was possible to do so.
insisted to myself, and to others
that President Wilson doubtless had
some definite plan, that he doubtless
had sources of information unknown
to the outside public which rendered
proper his course, both as REGARDS
Mexico and Belgium, until ] became
convinced beyond a shadow of douo'
that such was not the case; that ne
had no secret facts at his command
other than corroborative OF the 1acts
known to me, and to all other intelli-
gent men; and that he had no plan
,ynatever. save by adroit elocution to
cover inaction and refusal to perform
national and international duty.
For over a year and half after he
was elected 1 did not criticize adverse
" a single one of his official acts
supported his Mexican policy to the
extent of never criticising it, and OF
going to the utmost limit l could IN
approving 1t, until the elimination oil
the Vera Cruz incident showed that he
had no plan whatever to serve the in
terest or honor of the American peo-
ple, or to do aught but satisfy his OWL
Temporary and shiftless predictions
for or against certain individual chiefs
among the warning factions of ban
ditti.
In the great war 1 refrained from
criticising, and to the limit of my con
science supported, his attitude both a.
regards Belgium and as regards the
war in general, up the very last mo
ment when I felt that L could do so
and yet not be untrue to the country.
1 accepted the repeated public as
BuranceS from washington that th'
special information in the possession
of the president and the specia
plans he was carrying out justified thu
people in, as the saying then went
Trusting the president, and stand
ing behind the president; the assur
ances that after careful examination
of our duties under The Hague con
vention and other treaties this nation
had no responsibility to Belgium, no
tOrthe rest of the world, nor to our
selves in the matter; and that tn,
president was doing with efficiency il
ways inadvisable to make public a
the moment, everything necessary il
the way of preparation, and from tn,
standpoint of our own national inter
ests, and from the standpoint of in
ternational right and honor.
It was not until the personal inquire
made into the condition of the arm,
and navy satisfied me of their lament
able deterioration under Presiden
Wilson, and his entire indifference t,
this fact; and it was not until October
1914, when 1 saw the Belgian commits
sioners to this country, and then mad,
further careful investigation myself
that I became absolutely certain tina
President Wilson had no information