Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 September 1908 — Main Issue---One of Fitness [ARTICLE]

Main Issue---One of Fitness

Hon. I. D. Dunn, of Dunnville. this county, is one of the greatest students of men and events in Indiana, and his advanced age has not in the least obscured his interest in politics, and when Mr. Dunn sees a particularly able paper or a strong article he knows it The appended article headed “Main Issue —One of Fitness'’ appeared as a leader in a recent issue of the Wichita Eagle, and Mr. Dunn mailed it to the Republican; noting on the side, “As they look at it in Kansas, and so do I.” And we believe the magnificent qualities of Judge Taft, his experience and his clean record will appeal to all the people and that every day the reasoning and rational people are becoming the converts of a man who is neither demagogue or adventurer, but who stands on his merits and promises a continued “square deal” to every citizen, laborer or employer, poor man or capitalist These two classes have always existed and each is necessary for the success of the other. And the presidential candidate that will pledge himself to a policy of stirring up strife between these two great essentials to business and manufacture and commercial life, has in him a danger that would make his election a sorry occasion for the government But the steady, fair and intilligent demeanor of Mr. Taft indicates that he is a man of dauntless courage and absolute fairness, and that the people indeed shall rale if he is made the president. /, Here is the article that called forth Mr. Dunn’s commendation: No one can better appreciate the fitness of Mr. Taft for the equipoise and dignity of the presidency than those who have closely watched his conduct since he was nominated at Chicago. Not an idle word has passed his lips. Not a sentence of buncombe has he uttered. He has not thought of a cheap method of any kind to advance his popularity. He has talked freely, privately, and to the public, and every word he has said was, as it should be, a word of meaning and force. *lt isgpvidently Judge Taft’s purpose to appeal to reason in the campaign upon which the curtain is slowly raising. The few speeches he has made so far indicate a tendency eo elucidate the issues on a high plane. They were absolutely devoid of passion and free from a suspicion of prejudice of any sort. They made fine reading in cold type and must have been impressive when accompanied by the great magnetism of his personal presence. Probably there has not been not more than two men In forty years who have come before the public with such extraordinary intellectual equipment as Mr. Taft. No question can mtna into the campaign that he is not the master of. Such men ne’er have to resort to cheap catch phrases and glittering generalities to

make themselves interesting while addressing themselves to the reason of men. He knows what the issues are and he understood them loug

before lie was nominated for the presidency. ’ There is not any very great difference of opinion among the average of the American people of today. The issues are not very complex. The average American understands every one of them. They need but little explanation. The Democrat and the Republican are nearer together than they have been at any time for half a century. They look upon the needs of the country almost from the same viewpoint. The Democrats in order to be slightly different from the Republicans advocate a few things they do not believe in and would not demand them seriously, even if they were elected to control of the government. The issue in the campaign that concerns the average person most is the issue of fitness.

in this issue of fitness a great many things must be taken into consideration. The candidates are involved in that issue. Their friends are involved. The party leaders are involved. Any sane man knows that

Tait has infinitely more experience than Bryan. They know he is a better student than Bryan. They know he 18 a better lawyer and a better scholar. They know that his life has been as pure aud his lineage as sterling and patriotic. Then why can any reason-

able man feel he would not be more useful to his country at its head? Taft has a practical knowledge, bassed on actual experience, of all the branches of the government and the departmental machinery through which the government is operated with system. Bryan has but a theoretical knowledge of such things, and even that is prejudiced. He does not, for Instance, believe in the civil service which enables the government to move along in safety under the severest tests. He has no knowledge whatever of the important foreign relations of the United States. He has had no experience in diplomacy. He not only has no idea of the wonderful world-wide commercial policy of the United States so wisely initiated by McKinley, and so nobly encouraged by Roosevelt,but it is doubtful if he is not one of its most bitter enemies. Taft is the avowed friend of the malntainance of American influence in the Pacific; Brayan is its avowed enemy. That Taft is right in this matter and Mr. Bryan wrong is evidenced by the important fact that nine-tenths of the American people, regardless of politics, view the matter as Taft views it. Taft will have with him in this campaign the conservative forces of the country—the men who want tte United States to stand first among the nations of the world—and when they speak in November, their voice will be heard around the world.