The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-02-22
A Divided Following.

The friends OF Mr.. Roosevelt in Mas
sachusetts to-day are divided into two
camps. In the one are those who are
bent first and last upon the defeat OF
Mr.. Wilson, regardless OF the effect OF
that patriotic service upon the political
future of Mr.. Roosevelt. In the other
are those who are campaigning for the
nomination of Mr.. Roosevelt, regardless
OF the effect their personal venture may
have upon the political fate of Mr.. VIII
son. The delegation headed by Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge stands for the SUI
premaey OF the cause OF national honor,
and is in search of the candidate whose
leadership gives the best promise of sue
cess. The delegation headed by Charles
Sumner Bird insists upon the supremacy
of its candidate upon the apparent as
sumption that his popularity will com
mand more votes than the patriotic char
acter OF the cause. Are we again con
fronted with the condition created about
this time in 1912, when "the six little
governors" launched the Roosevelt boom
in the belief that therein lay their own
best hope of reelectionl Can il be that
they were the prototypes in the nation
of "the four free lances" in the common
wealth who to-day see in the renomina
ton of Mr., Roosevelt an easy method of
reviving their own political fortunes? If
that be their goal they are riding for a
fall. The Lodge delegation viii win
handily and handsomely but at the cost
of a contest in Massachusetts which ii
extended TO other states may kindle
anew the animosities of 1912. To do
that is to duplicate in 1916 the disaster
of four years ago.
When Mr.. Roosevelt returns from the
West Indies we shall not be surprised at
his refusal to sanction the use OF his
name by any agent or agency in the APP
preaching primaries. Such course would I
evidence alike his personal sincerity and
his political sagaeity. His experience
since he left the White House must have
enabled him to distinguish between real
friends, of whom Henry Cabot Lodge and
Charles G.. Washburn are good exam
pies, and those who are ready to realize
to their own political advantage upon
the reputation Of being his friends. Tn
less he has been sadly misrepresented,
Mr.. Roosevelt is well aware that only
by the psychology of the moment can he
be nominated, with reasonable hope of
being elected over Mr.. Wilson, and that
the last chance of his CONSUMPTION by the
Chicago convention will be destroyed if
his followers force fight in his behalf
n the primaries. z
The only way in which the Bird delega
ion can escape a decisive defeat at the
l. - L.. 1 II l.
all and Mr.. Crane next month is TO with
iraw from the contest Led by Mr.. $
.odge, his associates are sure to com $
uand the support of all the Roosevelt h
contingent in this State, who would vel Il
ONE the nomination OF the colonel only t
Is the spontaneous action of the con- !
ention, because they know that only .
nomination thus bestowed would heal h
he breach of 1912 and render his cleo 1
ion reasonably certain. This would
cave Mr.. Bird and his associates depend ;,
mt upon those who are ready to risk /
eeleeting Mr.. Wilson in November if :
My they can compel the nomination of :,
fir. Roosevelt in June.
Unless the Bird delegates withdraw =
hey viii make Mr.. Roosevelt the victim =
f divided following, and their inevita- .
lie defeat in the primaries would fore ),
Dom their candidate to the same fate :,
the convention. The country would -
e quick to see in the drubbing the
delegates" received in Massa :,
iusetts the handwriting ON the wall, and = :.
ON that day the demand for his nom r,
Iation would diminish Ii they can see =
he shadow of coming event, Mr.. Bird,
II. Gardner, Mr.. Gushing and Mr.. Rob- -
t Washburn will withdraw their can 81 81
daeies without waiting to hear from '.
r. Roosevelt. BY so doing they will :,
We themselves from the embarrassment -
his refusal to permit them the use of AZ
8 name Their withdrawal is made all :"
e more logical by the assurance of the =.
)dge delegation that its every member
unpledged and unprecedented regarding ~ ~
" candidate Let the Bird delegation pe
thdraw, and the way will be clear for . SO
e unanimous election of four delegates 40
large from Massachusetts who will
mmand the confidence of the support
5 of the common cause and can be
united upon to WELD a reaching in to
ence in the convention in the drafting fie
n platform and the CONSUMPTION of a of
ndidate worthy the cause.-Boston tht
anscript. liza