Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-12-11
OBSERVATIONS
(By a Cornfield Philosopher
xV-ROOsEVELT.

see prediction in standpat local
paper that I do not care to advertise
by naming, THAT the elections signi-
fed that Roosevelt will sweep the
country two years hence" The writer
is neither prophet nor the son of a
prophet, but will venture to say that
the Terrible Teddy" if he enters the
race (and they do say his hat is al
ready in the ring) will be about as
badly beaten as was Taft in 1912.
Roosevelt's platform is already writ
ten. 1t includes universal compulsory
military training, opposition to the
public ownership of public utilities,
and antagonism to the program of the
organized farmers. Along with mil
lions of others who are fast deserving
his standard, l was at one time an
ardent admirer and follower of Roose-
velt's. I am even now disposed to
give him all the credit for reform leg
islation that justly belongs to him.
But he is no longer a Progressive
leader. He is back in the reactiOnary
ranks. Along with Lodge and Pen
rose and Taft and the delectable gang
of standpatters who wrecked the old
party in 1912, and whom Teddy so
vigorously denounced, charging them
with having committed about all of
the crimes in the Decalogue. No, the
Great West is done with freddy" for
good, and l doubt if he could carry a
single state west Of Pennsylvania.
The educational work of the organ
lied farmers is going steadily on and
two years hence it will have spread
over every state in this part of the
country. The farmers will either own
or control hundreds of newspapers,
and the campaign of education in
Teddy's interest that will likely be in
augurated will fall fiat
He is fallen idol, broken, and dis.
figured and ready for the scrap pile,
to which he will be consigned by the
solemn decision of the betrayed pro-
gressive voters If he dares to court
their judgment in 1920.
The great Peace loving American
public are almost unanimously in fav-
or of a League of Nations to enforce
Peace along the lines laid, down by
President Wilson. If such a League
is formed it will be worse than Grimm
al folly to provide universal training
or to advocate mifitarism both of
which will prove mighty unpopular If
undertaken. It was the sentiment
created by the five million of organized
farmers that composed the big Stick"
that Roosevelt welded in 19O4-6 in
batting the heads of recalcitrant con-
gressmen and forcing through reform
measures. That feeling is still In ex-
istence more militant than ever. It
has broken down party lines every
where and is hostile to Roosevelt's
new plans. The organized farmers
favor government ownership and oper-
alton of the railroads and they will
refuse to support a @candidate for Prest-
dent who holds different view. More
over, this sentiment is shared by prac-
tically all of the progressive Repub
licans in the West including Senators
Hiram johnson OF California, Gronna
Of North Dakota, Norris OF Nebraska,
who has. Just been reelected, La Fol
lette Of Wisconsin, Cummings Of Iowa,
Borah OF Idaho, who has just been re-
elected with the Non. Partisan League
endorsement, and several others.
Il Next year ~ bound to witness &
great sdvancemen q Non:P artisan