theodore roosevelt-第52节
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t both of us were very old personal friends of the Colonel； and for five hours we three talked with the utmost frankness。 He knew that he could trust us； and； I think； he planned to get the views of non…partisan friends before announcing his final decision。 Three days earlier； at Columbus； Ohio； he gave a great speech； in which he proclaimed a new charter for Democracy and vigorously advocated the Initiative； Referendum； and Recall。 We discussed these from every side； he got the Outlook in which his speech was printed and read to us passages which he thought corrected popular misunderstanding of it。 When I objected to the platform in general； because it would tend to destroy representative government and substitute therefor the whims of the populace at the moment； he replied that we had no representative government。 〃I can name forty…six Senators；〃 he said； 〃who secured their seats and hold them by the favor of a Wall Street magnate and his associates； in all parts of the country。 Do you call that popular； representative government？〃 he asked。
The evening wore on； and in similar fashion he parried all our criticism。 We urged him not to be a candidate； because； we said； we thought that the public ought to be reined in and disciplined； instead of being encouraged to be more lawless and self…willed。 I defended our judiciary system and said that the American people needed most of all to be taught respect for the Courts。 He explained that his Recall of Judicial Decisions did not mean； as the Opposition alleged； the Recall of Judges。 Then we urged him； for the sake of his own future； not to engage in a factional strife which might end his usefulness to the country； but he brushed aside every argument based on his selfish advantage。 〃I wish；〃 he said to me； 〃to draw into one dominant stream all the intelligent and patriotic elements； in order to prepare against the social upheaval which will other wise overwhelm us。〃 〃A great Central Party； such as Cavour founded for the liberation of Italy？〃 said I。 〃Exactly；〃 said he。
The thing which mainly struck me at the time； and which I still vividly remember； was the Colonel's composure throughout all this debate。 Vehement he wasbecause he could not describe even a butterfly without vividness which easily passed into vehemence… …but he was in no sense mentally overwrought； nor did he continually return to one subject like a man with an obsession。 His humor flashed out； even at his own expense； but he had throughout the underlying gravity of one who knows that he is about to make a very important decision。 I mention these facts because at the time； and afterward； Roosevelt's enemies circulated the assertion that his mind was unbalanced； and that this fact accounted for his break with the regular Republicans。 I have in my hand a printed circular； issued by a Chicago lawyer； offering five thousand dollars apiece to each of several hospitals and other charitable institutions； if Roosevelt would allow himself to be examined by competent alienists and they did not pronounce him to be a 〃madman〃！ No！ he was not mad； but he had the fervor； the courage； the impatience of a Crusader about to undergo ordeal by battle。
》From notes of the conversation Judge Grant made at the time I quote the following。 Judge Grant asked：
〃Will any of the party leaders support you？〃
〃No；〃 he said； 〃none of them； not even Lodge； I think。 I don't see how he can。 My support will come from the people； officered by a few lieutenantsyoung men principally like Governor Bass； of New Hampshire。〃 He said that he realized that the probabilities were all against his nomination； that a President in office had all the machinery on his side； but that of course it wouldn't do to admit outside that he expected to lose； that if he could reach the popular vote through direct primaries； he could hope to win。 It was manifest that he believed that it was indispensable for the future good of the Republican Party that he should make the breach。 When he said as much； I asked； 〃But the situation is complex； I suppose？ You would like to be President？〃 〃You are right；〃 he replied。 〃It is complex。 I like power； but I care nothing to be President as President。 I am interested in these ideas of mine and I want to carry them through； and feel that I am the one to carry them through。〃 He said that he believed the most important questions today were the humanitarian and economic problems； and intimated that the will of the people had been thwarted in these ways； especially by the courts on constitutional grounds； and that reforms were urgent。
As I went out into the midnight； I felt sad； as one might after bidding farewell to a friend who has volunteered to lead a forlorn hope。 I did not realize then the moral depth from which Roosevelt's resolve came； or that he would rather die for that cause than be victorious in any other。
The next day； Monday； February 26th； he announced to the country that he was a candidate for the Republican nomination。
CHAPTER XXII。 THE TWO CONVENTIONS
During the weeks while Roosevelt had been deliberating over 〃throwing his hat into the ring；〃 his opponents had been busily gathering delegates。 By this delay they gained a strategic advantage。 According to the unholy custom which gave to the Republicans in the Southern States a quota of delegates proportioned to the population and not to the number of Republican voters； a large Southern delegation was pledged for Mr。 Taft very early。 Most of the few Southern Republicans were either office…holders or negroes； the former naturally supported the Administration on which their living depended； the latter； whose votes were not counted； also supported the President from whom alone they might expect favors。 The former slave States elected 216 delegates； nearly all of whom went to President Taft； making a very good start for him。 In the Northern； Western； and Pacific States； however； Roosevelt secured a large proportion of the delegates。 In the system of direct primaries； by which the people indicated their preference instead of having the candidates chosen in the State Conventions； which were controlled by the Machine； the Progressives came out far ahead。 Thus； in North Dakota； President Taft had less than 4000 votes out of 48；000 cast； the rest going to Roosevelt and La Follette。 In several of the great States he carried everything before him。 In Illinois； his majority was 139；000 over Taft's； in Pennsylvania； 67 of the 76 delegates went to him。 In Ohio； the President's own State； the Taft forces were 〃snowed under〃； in California； a stronghold of Progressivism； Roosevelt had a large plurality。 Nevertheless； wherever the Regulars controlled the voting； they usually brought President Taft to the front。 Even when they could not produce the votes； they managed to send out contesting delegations。
On looking back； it appears indisputable that if the Republicans could then have cast their ballots they would have been overwhelmingly for Roosevelt； and if the Roosevelt delegates to the Convention had not been hampered in voting； they too would have nominated him。 But the elections had been so artfully manipulated that； when the Convention met； there were 220 contests。 Everybody understood that the final result hung on the way in which these should be decided。
The Convention assembled in the great Coliseum Hall at Chicago on June 18； 1912。 But for ten days the hosts had been coming in； one delegation after another； the hotels were packed； each committee had its special quarters； crowds of sight…seers； shouters； and supporters swelled the multitude。 The Republican National Committee met； the managers of each candidate met。 The committees； which had not yet an official standing； conferred unofficially。 Rumors floated from every room； there were secret conferences； attempts to win over delegates； promises to trade votes； and even efforts at conciliation。 Night and day this wild torrent of excitement rushed on。
A spectator from Mars might have remarked： 〃But for so important a business as the choice of a candidate who may become President of the United States； you ought to have quiet； deliberation； free play； not for those who can shout loudest； but for those who can speak wisest。〃 And to this remark； the howling and whirling dervishes who attended the Convention would have replied； if they had waited long enough to hear it through； by yelling；
〃Hail！ Hail！ the gang's all here！ What the hell do we care？ What the hell do we care？〃
and would have darted off to catch up with their fellow Bacchanals。 A smell of cocktails and of whiskey was ubiquitous； a dense pall of tobacco smoke pervaded the committee…rooms； and out of doors the clang of brass bands drowned even the incessant noise of the throngs。 There was no night； for the myriads of electric lights made shadows but no darkness； and you wondered when these strange creatures slept。
Such Saturnalia did not begin with the Convention of 1912。 Most of those who took part in them hardly thought it a paradox that these should be the conditions under which the Americans nominated their candidates for President。
Roosevelt had not intended to appear at the Convention； but when he discovered that the long distance telepho
