The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-30

on such account from sentiments of
state pride we should unite in his sup
committee should take the action at
this time SO that the whole country
may be advised. what Ohio intends to
do next year.
the newspapers as a reason for the
claim that Ohio has only one candi-
date for the presidency, that I have
not at any time announced my can
didacy for that office. 1t is true that
have never made any such announc-
ment. A candidate for the presidency
must assume, first the great and Sc
rious responsibility of leading his
party in the national campaign and if
successful as. we hope and expect to
be, he must assume the grave and Sc
rious responsibility of administering
the executive offices. These respon-
sibilities are so grave, and SO serious
that any man might well feel highly
complimented and greatly honored to
have his fellow citizens name him in
such a connection but at the same
time they are SO grave and so serious
that any ordinary man might well
hesitate to proclaim himself qualified
for such responsibilities, or prefer at
least to wait until invited by his party
associates to undertake such duties.
Such a position is at least more in
keeping with the high dignity of the
office Besides, it gives his party as
their deliberate, unbiased and unem-
barrassed judgment, which he should
be willing to both wait for and abide.
Republicans Divided.
cit Is. because entertain opinions
of this kind that 1 have not made any
announcement of my candidacy for
any office and, in view of what may
be inferred from these expressions,
do not deem it necessary l should but
this is not the matter to be settled by
- IL aV16
able as they are. If there were not
any differences of opinion among Re
publicanS state pride would properly
have great weight, but today there is
a wide difference among Republicans
on a question of the most vital char
acter.
81 do not refer to the regulation of rail-
roads and trusts and corporations ensag-
ed in interstate commerce and large ag-
gregations of capital, for on that point
there is no substantial difference of opln-
ion among Republicans except as to the
methods that should be resorted to for
such regulation. 1 believe in such regula-
ton and was one OF the flrst Az tS
DDS that are consistent with the constltu-
ton and the spirit of our institutions. In
point 10 the fact that 1 helped one of
a subcommittee of three to frame and
put into it's present form the Elkins law,
the most efficient and expeditions statute
that has ever been enacted on this sub
ject; WORTH measured by practical re-
suits, more than all other such statutes
combined
fore, regulation of trusts. railroads and
interstate commerce. about which, as
have said. we are all united, but the tar
Every Republican has a right to es-
pouse any view he may entertain, and in
asmuch as Gov. Harris represents that
such is his view do not wonder that he
prefers Secretary Taft as his candidate
for the presidency. for on number of oc-
-f1r,- Tr1F :, folr air7c on
nounce that he is in favor of immediate
revision of our tariff. 1 observe also that
tary Taft in our state entertain similar
views. according to the expressions 1
have seen attributed to them in the news
rick and the Hon. Theodore E. Burton.
When, therefore, we are asked to COM
NIT ourselves to the candidacy of Secre-
tary Taft, we must do it with the fact in
mind that he entertainS the views he has
expressed on this subject and that if we
make him our candidate the campaign of
a necessity must be, a campaign for a re-
vision downward of the tariff schedules
not only to unprecedented, but to a uni
versal prosperity. There may be some
duties too high and there may be some
too low, and there may come a time, and
will, no doubt, when there ought to be
some changes made, but in view of the
results we are enjoying, 1 do not think
we should enter upon any such work at
this time, and 1 do not believe that we
should discredit what the Republican par
policies represented by the Dingley tariff
law by making our campaign of next year
an attack upon that statute, especially not
until we have some specification as to
what duties are to be changed with the
reasons that are to be offered in support
Of such changes.
Time to Talk It Over.
eff we postpone the matter of settling
our preference a S to a candidate until we
can go before the people and discuss this
question, as we will have an opportunity
to do If we select delegates to the
next convention at the primaries our re-
spec tive views can be presented and the
people can judge between us and thus act
1 think this much is due to
the farmers and the wage-workers, as
we'll to the manufacturers and other
business men of our state, who will neces-
5arily be Immediately and seriously af-
fected by any kind Of tariff revision
IF we can be given time to discuss this
subject. as propose, 1 may change my
views about it, but without further ad-
vices it is impossible for me, notwith-
the high character and great
lbility and the distinguished services of
Secretary Taft to favor his candidacy
"Inasmuch the time is short and this
s designed for the public as well as for
Yourself, and the committee, 1 take the
liberty of giving copy of it to the pub
ic press, at the. same time 1 put it in
he mail. Yours, etc.
r ETnD