Mr Roosevelt Again.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14985, 4 June 1914, Page 8

Mr Roosevelt Again.

When Mr Roosevelt returned from his hunting trip in Africa an American cartoonist depicted him bursting most important page of a leading New York daily and smiling genially on the -public—"Back in the old -place again 1" Again he is back from a hunting trip, and again ho lias prominence in the front pages of tho newspapers, tho time for, his renewal of war on both political parties. But. much has happened since that first "return from Elba." He has founded a party of his own, and> temporarily, if not permanently, wrooked his old party, the Republicans. His place to-day is not quito tho "old place." He does not 'bull, so large in tho situation as hedid. . But ho has a big following, and ho will whip up that following and endeavour to increase it, with every ounce of his strentrth. Tho Progressive Party, whoso splitting of the Republ-' can voto let Mr Wilson in in 1012, has not been idle sinco the election. No sooner were tho Progreßsiv_s defeated in 1912 than they held a convention and

began to plan an ambitious campaign of education and legislation. Social reform was the watchword. "Creatures " of a party split and a brilliant leader, "they intend to try to establish .a " national sanction for what they call " a 'Lloyd-George' programme,"' wrote the Washington correspondent of "The Times." "Tho Labour vote, tho vote " of semi-Socialists and social reformers, " of idealists and faddists of all kinds, •might fail to be sufficient in their " hour of opportunity, wero that hour " to arrive. It is the support of what in " the recent campaign was called the " 'silent vote' that they need, and their "idea is to prove to the timid that ""' many o; the reforms they advocates " for tho American Democracy are al- " ready law in 'Imperial Germany' and

" "Ilcyal England.' " Mr Roosevelt claims that both Democrats and Republicans are more or less under the control of the "big interests,'' and thai his Progressive Party is the only hope of the future. Some of tbe shrewdest observers on the spot have been puzzled by recent developments in American politics, so it behoves anybody at this distance to abstain from anything in the shape of confident forecasts. It is obvious, however, that tho biggest factor in the situation is tho President. There is no doubt that Mr Wilson has mado his mark.

He has impressed the public. He has probably got more done in a short while than any President for many years. The Mexican problem threatens to ccs* him dear, but -irith luck lie may be able to avoid, for the time bo.np: at any rate, .serious complications, and if ho does, his reputation vill be greatly enhanced. In November there --rill bo an election for the House of Representatives, and the result -will be the measure of the country's approval or disaproral of his trork. If tho country disapproves. Mr Roosevelt's prospects will be brighter than they are to-da?. Rut it is well to remember that Mr Roosevelt.- ..arty is not the first of its kind. Twenty-two years ago tho nominee of the People's Party, which announced its intention to purify pub!-'-' life in terms much the .same :us those used by tlio Propressives, won a million votes for a nominee with none of Mr Roosevelt's personality. This wahailed a.s an epoch-making event, and the same consequences wero predicte. for it ns for the Progressives' poll in 1012. But tho party faded out, 3nd the Republicans and Democrats continued to hold :ho field. Tho bustle and noise vi.h which men like Mr Roosevelt surround themselves is sometimes deceptive. It does not always mean that they are advancing.