The Washington herald., 1918-07-24
7. R.
WILL FIGURE
IN 1920 FIGHT
Gibson Gardner Sees Signs
That Roosevelt VIII Run
for President.
By gibson GARDNER.


ellison Gardner is undoubtedly more
closely In touch with Col Theodore
Roosevelt than any other Washing
ton correspondent. He met Roosevelt
IN Africa after the Coloners ia
NOUS hunting trip in 1910. He fore
cast accurately the Roosevelt actions
IN the campaigns Of 1872 and 1914
The following article may therefore
be taken as confirmation OF recent
articles in this paper to the effect
that the concerted attacks by Roose-
velt organs on Presiden Wilson and
the administration are the actual
start of the 1870 Roosevelt campaign.
Editor.
The prominent part played by for.
rner President Roosevelt at the re-
cent New York State convention has
started inquiries as to whether
Roosevelt is to figure again as a can
didate. 1t u my gueess that he will
hgure again, probably as a Repub-
hcan Presidential candidate in 1870.
Col Roosevelt's attitude toward the
Presidential situation was set forth
IN an interview / had with him sew
eral weeks ago At that time he
stated frankly that he was not in
but Is interested in forwarding GER
tain policies which he regards as
important
Win the War Vow.
The winning of the war is, Of
course. the first of these He be-
lieves that 1t Is no time to think in
political terms. His attitude is best
expressed In his own words deliver
ed at the recent Saratoga conven-
tfon. where he said:
Everything We do now and ev-
erything We say must help win the
war. The President has said, poll
ties Is adjourned He Is certainly
right. in so far as politics is to be
used for personal ends or party
triumph.
But popular government, even
IN war, must be carried on by par
ties. Party organization of
public opinion may be the best way
to secure needed government ac-
tion. That is the present case
The nation needs the Republican
party to give popular expression to
an affirmative aggressive war poll
icy. Its success at the polls in No
vember will spur the administration
to adopt one. A Republican Con-
gress will enact legislation to ini-
ttate and carry II on.
We are not now concerned with
the national election of 1920. That
may take care of itself. Its OUT
come will depend on circumstances
which one cannot now forsee. Our
present task. as patriots and Re-
publicans. is to help the present ad-
ministration organize the potential
force of this country into a knock
out blow to William of Hohenzol-
lern and his compliant German
people"
Couldn't Win Today.
II the national Presidential conven-
ton were TO be held tomorrow II Is
my belief that Col Roosevelt would
decline to be a candidate against
Woodrow Wilson While there has
been some criticism OF the admins
uation's handling Of the war and war
preparations, 1t is a fact recognized
oy all politicians that the country as
whole Is quite solidly behind Presi-
dent Wilson. and any candidate, even
as popular one as Col. Roosevelt,
would make poor headway against
Wilson.
The spirit in which the administra-
ton has taken criticism Is the evi-
dent willingness OF the Secretary of
War and others to correct any short
comings which might be pointed out,
and the strong efforts made to speed
up war activities have increased the
number Of supporters OF the admins
tration and have done much to put
the Presidential campaign in the back
ground
The main significance in the Roosa-
welt phenomena today is the fact that
the Republican party is beginning to
function as a party Of opposition, and
Is looking to him for leadership.
Whatever leadership is exercised in
the Republican party will be exercised
by Theodore Roosevelt and whatever
candidate is chosen in 1920 will be
chosen by Roosevelt's advice and
consent.