Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 June 1908 — ANOTHER REPUBLICAN VIEW. [ARTICLE]

ANOTHER REPUBLICAN VIEW.

The Indianapolis News, which always supports the republican ticket, says a number of pertinent things in editorial comment on the nomination of Mr. Taft which are worthy the consideration of republicans as showing the manner in which his nomination was secured and the class of fellows who run the convenvention? Being the comment of a paper that always works for the republican ticket when the campaign opens its comment now is of interest. It says: “To our minds it is a most serious and dangerous precedent that President Roosevelt has done his best to establish —that the President may use all the vast machinery of the civil service to determine who shall be the party’s choice for President. With the power in the hands of the administration to determine nearly a third of the delegates to a national convention, and with the disposition of the President to, use that power, any one must admit that a Federal machine can be created which is practically irresistible. We are, then, in grave peril of finding the public administration in the virtual control of an office-holding oligarchy. “In spite of the methods that have been used to compass Mr. Tait’s nomination, and in spite of the elements in his own party that are antagonistic to him, it will not do to conclude that he will necessarily be a weak candidate. He will be supported with the intensest zeal by the President of the United States and the great army of officeholders. The country has never seen a more formidable organization than the “road roller” machine built up by the Taft managers. It will work as vigorously for his election as it did for; his nomination. As far as It Is possible the administration will from now on be conducted

in such a way as to promote the interests of the President’s candidate. We have seen that many of the railroads and trusts were deeply Interested in the nomination of Mr. Taft, and we may be sure that all will be done that' can be done to stimulate their interest—and their activity. “The convention deliberately voted down a plank calling for publicity of campaign contributions. The vote was taken on this plank by itself, and without relation to anything else, and the TQII was called. And yet 880 delegates stood up before the country and said that they did not think that the people had any right to know where the party campaign fund comes from. The plank received only ninety-four votes. This action makes it perfectly clear that the convention intended that the candidate should have the full benefit of the friendship of the trusts and the railroads. Morgan and the steel trust helped to make the platform, and they may be expected to do their full duty In bringing about the election of the candidate. There will be no difficulty in financing the Taft campaign. We did not suppose that in these days of a supposed moral awakening, in a convention dominated by such a reformer as Roosevelt, there could be any question as to the adoption of such a plank as that which was overwhelmingly defeated yesterday. But it was voted down. “As to Mr. Taft personally, it is to be said that he is a man of high character, and of much more than the average ability. But no on» can know what promises have been made which would hamper him if | elected; but every one knows that he was supported by men who never do anything in politics except for a consideration. The, question is as to how far Mr. Taft may have bartered away his liberty, as to how far he stands committed to the corporations and trusts. And that is a very important question. It will receive much attention during the campaign,' and it is possible that we may get a good deal of light on it. We think that Mr. Taft has both the ability and the disposition to serve the country well. The sole question is as to the limitations to which he has voluntarily submitted himself. The refusal of the convention to adopt the publicity plank will tend to create the impression that those limitations may be numerous and formidable.”