Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1907-09-26
TAFT AND HUGHES.

Accepting as final Mr.. Roosevelt's state
ment ON the eve of his election in 1904
that under no conditions would he be
candidate for re-election-a statement
often and lately reiterated by hint be-
hooves the Republican party to consider
whom it will put forward as its standard
bearer in the next campaign, now but
few months away. The personality OF
candidates counts for great deal.
While policies and platforms and records
concern relatively small portion of the
voters, they all look to the living persons
who stand for the party principles as the
fiesh-and-blood representatives of things
that cannot be seen or heard, nor always
understood. So it is that the choice of
candidates is very particular task.
1t may be assumed that the Republican
national convention next year will hearth
ly and cordially and sincerely endorse
and commend the administration Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt. 1t will be done enthu-
siastically, not perfunctorily. The whole
scope'of the platform then adopted will
surely be a continuance of the main fea-
lures of the Roosevelt program. This
done, who will be chosen to head the
ticket, to inspire confidence, to assure
results?
At present there seem but two men
likely to be seriously considered, though
others like Cannon, Fairbanks and Knox
will probably get the support of their
own states The two are William II.
Taft, secretary of war in Roosevelt's
cabinet, and Charles r. Hughes, governor
of New York.
1t can be safely said that both Taft and
Hughes are strong men, men of char
scter, of high purpose, of courage, and
with record of accomplishment. Both
are counted as progressivists and re
formers, rather than conservatives and
stand-patters. Either would be quite
truly representative Of the present spirit
of the party. With either, the party
would be safely and capably led, and
in the expected event of success at the
polls the country would probably be
efficiently served.
But there is, after all, measure Of
and Hughes that will incline some Repub-
licans to support the one and some the
other. Those voters who accept Roose-
welt in all things without qualification,
and who have no objection from con-
scientious standpoint, to his placing
his mantle on his successor, if a fit man,
will prefer Taft, for he is within the adj
ministration, very important part of it,
and has thorough grasp on its complete
= program. On the other hand, those
voters who, while endorsing Roosevelt
in the main and desiring a continuance
of his policy, yet prefer to see new,
= fresh figure at the helm who has proved
. his competence already in large field
will want Hughes. Believing him fully
able to conduct a progressive admins
/, tration, even if it should differ somewhat
: from the Roosevelt-Taft one, they comics.
to an inbred objection to the handing
over of the presidency largely on thu
ground of the recipients close connection
IS with the retiring executive, and becaus,
ba onin thot
VI smacks too much of monarchy. Thi
Il may be strained view-for the presiden
IT must be chosen by the people and canno
r be named by any one person--yet it un
d questionably exists and affects Taft's can
IT vass unfavorably. If we are to hav
e Roosevelt, we hear said, let's have Roose
e welt, not Roosevelt's hired man, or politi
cal heir.
II But Hughes labors under some disad
IS they can to harass and displease Roose
g welt, who has rounded them up for thei
q wrong-doing, the so-called "wealth,
is malefactors" are turning to Hughes t
N beat Taft, on whose selection it
he assumed the president is bent. Thi
IN spectacle gives the Taft men an oppo1
TO tunity to make capital. See what crow
lie you are in, they say. Do you want t
lg favor a man who is favored by the Wa
W street sharpers who have soured on Roos,
te welt? II Taft is the man they don't want
8, isn't he about the man you do want
he How effective this short-circuit reasonin
1t will be remains to be seen.