MR. ROOSEVELT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1374, 27 February 1912, Page 5

MR. ROOSEVELT.

A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE-

WILLING TO ACCEPT NOMINATION

Dj TeloeriDh-Preas Aesociatlon-OoajrleM (Rec. February 20, 10.10 p.m.)

New York, February 20. Mr. Tloosevolt lias niinniinml that ho will accept nomination for the dency if it is tendered to him. ITo will adhere to this decision until the Ropubliean Convention, lo lie held in Chicago on Juno 18, has expressed its prctercnco.

SIR.. UXDERWOOI) JX Till', FIRM). New York, February 2.1. Mr. Oscar Underwood, leader of the 'Democratic party in the House of I'eprefontntive?, will bo a candidate for the Presidency.

ROOSEVELT AND.HIS POLICIES \XD END TO THE AIiBITIiATIOX THEATIES. "Wo arc opening Uic year here imdoi conflicting conditions," writes a well-ill formed "Economist'' correspondent it New York. "The general business aiu the economic conditions of the coiliitij are certiinly better than a year ago. >h' political situation, however, is not better for tho •reason tlmt wo are just enternn the turmoil of a Presidential election Kadicnl tendencies are running strong so naturally capital and business an timid. Tho spe:rre of Koosevelt is arising again as a Presidential candidate, ant there is danger of tho Convention stain petting for his nomination. Mr. ltoose velt is a man of many admirable qnali ties, but, as vou know, erratic and ap to bo too violent. As an agitator he ha: done the country immense service. \\i should like, however, to give him ft fut tiier vest. The period of agitation snoiiU be closed, and the country needs a littli reconstructive work." These opinions ap pear from our reading of American news papers (says the "Economist") to repre fient fairly an averago view of politica and financial conditions of the liiHtei States. The Hoosevelt danger is evidently a veal one. J lis idea, and that of In: friends and supporters, is clearly to pu himself forward as the Jingo canditlati for the Presidency. The calculation is i clever one. The insurgent Iteijublicans who form a powerful section of the Ke publican party, are led by Senator L( Pollette. If the Senator (who may bi described as the Lloyd-George of " cousin) had had a clear-cut view of tin tariff-question, and had been able to earr; tho party with him last autumn, whili President Tait was oscillating wit.iou chart 'or compass between the old guart of Protection and his pledges to the con sumer, his own chances might have beei fairly good. Outside the tariff Senato La i'olletto and his friends are at feui with President Taft, and there are man; bitter personal animosities which are no likely to be • assuaged before tho turn comes for nomination, although the, Presi dent is a most genial and likeable char acter. Hence, in the quarrel. over tin carrying out of an interpretation of th< so-called "Koosevelt policies," includini the liallinger episode, the insurgents weri against the President; and if tho nltorna five lay between Tuft and Koosevelt, or for that'matter, between Taft and an; other conceivable Republican candidate we imagine tho probabilities, are tha Senator La. I'olletto and his'friends woiik bo anti-Taft. The fact that Colonel Koose velt in the past has so strenuously dis claimed the intention of standing may b awkward and embarrassing; but the) overwhelming pressure and on urgent de sire to save the country have frcquentl; induced similar men linder similar civ enmstances to sacrifice their personal dif fidence to the trumpet call of duty. I is therefore not impossible that "Koose velt will be willing,"" if tho outlook fo: his candidature is sufficiently attractive. And hero (continues the "Economist", we see the inwardness of his recent attacl upon the peace movement, which cann to a head at the recent Economic Club That banquet was inaugurated in suppor ot' the arbitration treaties ivith Grca Britain and Prance, now pending in tin Senato for. ratification. Colonel Koosevel hero saw an opportunity for a lively ai)< perhaps final quarrel with President Tat' 011 a point of principle, and a point 01 which ho may be able to defeat the Gov eminent in the Senate. So when invitei to the dinner he refused to attend,' be causa he believes that questions of hououi and vital interest between nations ougli to bo submitted, not to justico or arbitrn tion, but to the sword. By this movi Colonel Koosevelt appeals to the fighting instincts of the mob as well as to tin jealousy of tho Senate, which objects ti any limilnliou of its power over foreigi affairs. The arbitration treaty woiilt make it practically impossible) for a wai to arise between the two great Power; of the English-speaking world. This i: certainly a limitation upon the power; of both Governments, and in so far a; the Senate shares with the Governmen of the United States the privilege o bringing about war with Great Britain : there is 110 doubt. that its privilege i, impaired. AYo cannot (adds our contain porary) sec anything undignified in ,n individual, or a corporate body, or ; Government assenting to his or its powei to do evil being limited and restricted Hut Colonel Koosevelt, we gather, doe: not consider war to be an evil; and »■ tho love of fighting is implanted in man; human breasts, it is unfortunutelv pos 1 sible, if not probable, that his action 01 i tho treaties will win him a good dea ! of support.