The Washington herald., 1918-07-31
AFIELD WITH
THE
OBSERVER

Union, n. H.. July 30.-This Is q
typical rural New England town, far
enough from the political centers to
enable one to readily gather just
what the people are thinking about
and why.
And would you believe 1t that n
this unimpregnated atmosphere
while the folks are given to discuss
ing matters with much frankness
they have a wonderful persicacity
and a splendid supply of intuition,
One soon finds out all he wants to
know about their views-centainly
enough to be able to write Of them
with an unrestricted fullness. II
is refreshing and enlightening, too,
and we are basking in the expert
ence to our utmost.
Our theme today, because OF what
we find here, is Theodore Roose-
velt." and we only wish we had
space to tell all that we heard and
to describe each character whom We
heard speak his mind on the sub
ject.
Col. Roosevelt here comes under
the microsocopical observation OF =
State which has always been
weirdly Republican. a State which
dates its Republican lore back to
its establishment, although the
name was not always so readily ap-
piled as II is nowadays. Magnified
by the war conditions. however. the
folks hereabouts, who are of the
Yankee strain first and foremost
do not allow their partisan feelings
to prevent them from seeing all as
poets of every question. They
view T. r. through two lenses
they denounce him mildly for what
he has done against their wishes
and they commend him profusely
for what he has done in keeping
with their desires.
'Teddy"-you hear the name otter
here-"split our party in 1912 and
made 1t possible for others to split
1t four years after that" they say
For this We are not indebted to him
We think 1t would have been better
to hang onto the shreds of the party
rather than let them be dragged into
the dust in defeat"
1t seems to be a matter. however
in which they do not point to any
sorry condition of affairs resulting
IL oih NiiC bCDlOSldliC "hlSi
followed T. RS obstreperousness
Graciously they admit that much gooc
has come OF the change, and tina
several policies have been inauguratet
under wisconsin which probably
would have waited longer for recogni
tion had the Republicans been con
tinued in power. They claim. how
ever. that Republicans did not hani
back when the time came to enac
these new principles into law. Fo
this they claim some of the credi
for their party-and of course WI
would be the last to take this ava,
from them.
T. RS sturdy Americanism-ant
1t might be readily denominated far.
seeing" tools the subject Of muci
praise. The Colonel is given credi
here for arousing America to a sens
of dangers that might descend upor
US from outside and to making Amer
lea feel that preparation for war q
necessary step for any nation +
take, particularly when other nation!
are becoming ruthless in their treat
ment Of their neighbors. The Colonel
in fact, has his political recognition
dated to his espousal of preparedness
in the minds of people here. They
began to love him again when he be,
gan to preach preparedness, and tht
stronger he became in this causs the
stronger he became with the people
They are genuinely American here
and they appear not to have taken toe
kindly to the doctrine which w. ]. b
started under headway, merely II
have something new to talk about anC
possibly to get into the White House
with at an idle moment In American
life.
But, you ask. gentle reader: "what
do they think about Roosevelt fol
President"
All, we ascend the grade of this
question with excessive difficulty
There are so many differing. opinion.
about 1t here. Friends Of the colone
those who have stuck by him. con
sistently and those who are agar
won back to him-have conflicting
notions. first, as to whether the colo
mel really wants the place, and sec
ondly as to how successful he would
be in making the race, II he die
want the place.
We confess to some confusion our.
selves, too, and quite agree with tn.
thoughtful villager who insisted that
after all II makes q difference wha'
the Democrats do. II the Democrat.
nominate Wilson again, It will d,
T. r. no good to run again. For
this man reasons, II Wilson is nom
mated again II will mean that tn,
war u still on to demand n anS