The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-08-19
THE WEEKLY JOURNAL,
THE TAFT CANDIDACY.

4A1G AARA OANASAOAO4s
This evening will see the formal
launching Of the Taft presidential
movement before the members of the
Buckeye Republican club of the city
of Columbus, in the State of Ohio.
Secretary Tafts description of his
candidacy is this: What you are
pleased to term my candidacy has
somehow come about without my
seeking It. I have just drifted into it,
and there I am" Already a pretty
clear idea has been given of what the
secretary will say and what topics he
will cover in his speech, which of itself
has stimulated an interest in his view
Of himself as the chosen candidate of
the administration and President
Roosevelt.
It is manifest there are two opin-
ions with regard to his continuing to
be member of the cabinet while ex-
pressing a willingness to run for the
presidency If the Republican conven-
tion sees fit to nominate him. The
friends of President Roosevelt who
approve of his policies and methods
without restriction, consider Mr.. Tafts
candidacy under the circumstances
materially strengthened by the official
association. Those who are less en-
thusiastic about the Presidents poll
cies and methods but who are reliable
members of the dominant political
party would prefer it if Mr.. Taft
would reveal himself to the voters of
the country in manner not to create
confusion Of mind by necessarily APP
pearing as loyal cabinet supporter of
the administration, Mr.. Taft's view
of this is given in his own words by
the Washington correspondent of the
New York Herald: IF l am regarded
9 as a worthy representative of the ad-
ministration, that is proud distinc-
ton. To be so regarded is the great
est source Of qualification to me, and
If can reflect any part of the credit
on the administration that the admin
istration reflects upon me shall have
no cause for complaint" When asked
If he intended to resign from the cab
met he replied: "Such suggestion is
nonsensical, shall express my views
with the greatest freedom and shall
say exactly what I believe, and my
friends may and for all time put aside
the thought that in any way the poll
cies of the administration embarrass
me-"
Without waiting then for the deliv-
cry of Mr.. Taft's speech this evening it
may fairly be assumed that he will
gladly appear as the representative Of
the administration before the Repub-
licans of the country, approving its
acts in the past and standing by the
consequences of them in the future
He has no new panacea to offer the
country for Its troubles, believes that
the panacea offered by the
administration is sufficient and that If
nominated and elected it will be his
aim to carry out the Roosevelt policies
and methods intact. This being his at
titude of mind it is evident how mon
sensical" 1t is to consider his retire.
ment from the cabinet for a moment
as a source of new strength to his
presidential aspirations. In private life
he would still be the foremost repre-
sentative Of the Roosevelt program and
just as much subjected to the suspi-
cion that he is Roosevelts man. If we
understand Alright the desire Of those
who favor his nomination that he re.
tire from the cabinet In order to sci
up political establishment of his own
It is now impossible for him to do SO
If he is to be in private life exactly
what he is in public life, the stauncl
supporter of President Roosevelt In al
the things he has done and recon.
mended, there would be nothing tt
gain, while on the other hand the coun
try would lose the service of an uncom
mcnly useful official 1t is, too, incom.
patible with the personal character O
William H Taft that he should for
moment by reslgning from the war de
partment, because he has become &
candidate for the presidency, intimat
To the country on account of the re
cent sharp criticism of the Presiden
that he has better medicines to offe
than those which have been offered
presumably with his consent, by hi
chief That suggests very fippant un
Outstanding of him as a man. Whethe
he wins or loses his duty as he see
it is to stick to the bridge Loyalty tina
carried him over and not to fall to cut
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