The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-26


bending integrity; intellectually. it
shows him to be man of original and
trained ability. We have the alterna-
tive of continuing in office an admin
istration which has proved lamen-
table failure, or of putting into office
an admir- istration which we have ev-
cry reason to believe will function with
efficiency for the interest and honor
of all our people"
Theodore Roosevelt is unerring in
his Judgment of men. And since ne is
possessed of such generous OPINION
of the Republican presidential candl-
date, there is readily understood the
emphasis and sincerity of his exhor-
tation to the Progressives:
Il earnestly bespeak from my fell
low Progressives their ungrudging
support of Mr.. Hughes.
Theodore Roosevelt has been paint
ed-and by many of the Republicans
with whom he now Joins hands-as
being Imperfect ultimate of political
ambition that is entirely selfish
He has been Iikened by them as the
man above all other men in this coun-
try who gloats over and revels in po-
litical ruin # he cannot rule.
1t is about time that such picture
of Theodore Roosevelt were turned
toward the wall and its grotesque
characteristics forgotten.
Theodore Roosevelt stands forth to-
day before all men in the true colors
that his friends have always known
he possessed.
A word from him and the Progress
sive party would have been as alive
today as it ever had been. He would
have been its presidential candidate.
And the campaign he would have
waged might possibly have so in
creased the vigor of this party that it
might have carried him to victory,
even in the three-cornered fight that
would have thus been on.
But there was the larger possibility
that a third party movement this year
would have resulted just as disas-
trously to itself and the Republican
party as it did four years ago.
This was the alternative confronting
Theodore Roosevelt.
He didn't hesitate.
He didn't think of himself.
According to his ideas the most i'm
portant business demanding the atten-
ton of the American people today is
the denial of a reelection to Woodrow
Wilson.
No chances must be taken against
the achievement of that end.
What he deems to be the welfare of
his country means more to Theodore
Roosevelt than the glorification of the
multitudes who would have followed
him had he continued the third party
movement this year.
And so he takes his place. not at
the head of a vigorous party of Virile
men, but in the ranks of the old party
that has 90 often honored him and on
which he has just as often shed SO
much lustre
He takes his place in the file of
those who have fought him as vigor
ously as they have favored him in
times past.
He proposes to fight with them this
year for what he considers to be the
good of his country. And for the 9TH
er very eXcellent reason tnat lnelT ana
his presidential candidate is a man of
sufficient caliber in every way to dis
charge the onerous duties of the presi-
dency in what promises to be one of
the most trying of times in the history
of the country; and a man who is,
therefore, deserving of and entitled to
his support.
Theodore Roosevelt energies from a
conflict that has ragged for four long
years within and without the Repub-
lican party as one of the greatest, if
not the very greatest political patriot
| this nation has ever known
| He will be tower of strength to
the cause of the Republican party and
its presidential candidate, Charles
Evans Hughes.