The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1907-06-13

I
tons of Hon William II. Taft for
nomination as the Republican candi-
date for president Of the United
States. Fully IA months prior TO the
assembling OF the national convention
Mr.. Taft comes out in the open as a
seeker after this great distinction.
With almost equal openness the
declaration is made that he is the
administration candidate"
In a recent issue OF the Morning
Cali OF Paterson appears a significant
letter from one OF the foTemos; e!ti
zens OF New Jersey. Col. William Bar
bour. chairman of the executive com
mittee of the American Protective
Tariff League. as follows:
New York, April 29. i907.-To the
Editor OF the Call; In last Saturdays
CAN. under the heading. Taft Boom
In the State YOU printed an article
that would lead the reader to sup
pose that Secretary Taft was the
choice of the Republican party in New
Jersey TO succeed President Roose-
/ Welt
Having had the privilege OF rep
| resenting the Sixth district at 40
many national conventions. may ! say
for myself and on behalf OF the many
kiends l have consulted. that when
the time comes to nominate the next
president, who will undoubtedly be
named by the Republican party. the
state OF New Jersey can select a bet.
ter protectionist to occupy the White
House than Mr.. Taft?
If We are TO continue TO enjoy the
prosperous times TO which we are
/ entitled so long as our country Is
blessed with bountiful crops. the tar
/ ~ must be let alone. and Mr.. Taft
/ must speak out on this great question.
as Mckinley did and Vice President
Fairbanks has. before visiting con
gressmen can hope TO make many
friends for Mr.. Taft in the great man
ufacturing state OF New Jersey Very
truly yours.
WILLIAM BARBOUR"
When Col Barbour thus early raises
the question whether Judge Taft is a
good enough protectionist TO com
mand the support OF q great Industrial
state ike New Jersey. Il Is an evil
dence that the time has arrived when
/ the Taft candidacy must be taken seri-
ousiy. Only a few days previous TO
the publication OF the Barbour letter
Hon. Theodore T. Burton. represen-
tative in congress from Ohio. paid a
visit to New Jersey. The object Of
this visit was clearly revealed In a
speech before a New Jersey audience
appealing for New Jerseys undivided
support OF the Taft candidacy As
/ Col Barbour has a rather larger In
terest In New Jersey affairs than the
Ohio congressman can possibly have.
and as the moment for plain speaking
had plainly arrived. II seems both
natural and proper that a protest
should be filed against the unripe as
sumption that New Jersey was go.
ing to be solid for an Ohio aspirant
/ Col. Barbour questions whether so
doubtful a protectionist as Judge Taft
can command the solid support OF the
New Jersey delegation in next years
Republican national convention. Many
Orotectionists have similar doubts as
20 the delegations from other states.
II is believed that even I'm Ohio, Mr..
Taft's own state. there are many such
protectionists.
This opposition to the Taft can.
didacy is based upon no feeling OF III
viii toward the man himself Far
from g. Secretary Taft is warmly
esteemed and greatly admired for his
splendid abilities as iurist and states
man. He Is indeed most lovable
sort OF a man. albeit a strong fighter
and a hard hitter. He fights In the
open. and what he says you can do
pend on. But is he a protectionlst7
Mr.. Taft's strenuous advocacy Of
free trade in Philippine products com
peting with the products OF American
agriculture stamps him as a devoted
friend OF the semi.servile and half
savage Filipino. but II does not make
him out a protectionist.
Mr.. Taft's persistence In the matter
Of purchasing in foreign markets
materials and supplies for the con
struction of the Panama canal was
doubtless actuated by a desire to en-
force strict economy in the canal ex-
pehditures, but It was a mistaken
economy--the economy Of those who
urge that the right thing 10 do Is TO
buy everything in the cheapest mar
ket. and that a protective tariff that
gives the home market 10 home pro-
ducticn and labor is morally wrong.
The congress took issue with Secre-
tary Taft's economic views and or
dered him 10 spend American money
in American mills and factories.
Early in the campaign OF 1906 Mr..
Taft made a speech in Maine in which
he pronounced for immediate revision
downward of the Dingley tariff
Doubtless he honestly believed It 10
be true when he said that Republican
sentiment demanded tariff revision
without delay. But he was mistaken
in that belief; mistaken in supposing
that the sentiment Of the Boston
J h~ood If tariff rfnpQro was the oanff.