The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-05-03

records. Tyler, Fillmore. JOhnsO
and Arthur long ago paled their inc
fectual fires before him He is a la,
unto himself Nothing seems to feaz
him. Doing wrong things outright, O
good things in the wrong way-bacl
ing and filling as the case require
makes issues Of veracity with tn
proof against him-choleric in meth
cd, cynical in actiOn-by turns a dan
ing temporizer and a rash assailant-
practical politician among the mos
practical politicians, reformer amoni
ts-jnconsisten as a conservative
Illogical as a radical-there still exist
in the popular mind a fixed belief il
his essential virtue; in his intentions
his integrity and his courage. Hit
enemies would agree that il yop of
| fered him bride, he would knock yoI
down. The good in bad men, the bad
in good men. are sometimes magnified
and sometimes denied but here is q
man who gets credit for good and bad
alike, and, there is nothing so success
full as success.
Yet, nevertheless and notwitbstand.
ing, the President is going to find
Jordan hard road to travel, and, in
the end, If he is able to keep his par
ty together an Issue from the. fray
drums beating and flag flying, he will
be fortunate indeed; because he can
no more divert the Republican party
from its nature, kill in it the reason
of it's being, than he can Out-Bryan
Bryan in the estimation of the Demo
Gratis.
II the country wants an overhauling
of policies il will not 60 to the author
of those policies for trained work
men and a chest of tools. The whole
people may not be quite ripe for this
overhauling. Or they may consider
that the Democrats are not ripe for it
Thus, there may be one more victory
for the Republicans in 1908, as there
was for the Democrats in 1856. But,
it will have to be gained by change
OF riders and straddle, for the talk
about third term" is the most non
sense, lacking the President behind it
and having defeat before it, igment
of hot-partyism which the patronage
in esse cannot afford, nor the discip-
line in posse will not brook. The
best the President can hope for the
next National Convention, in my judg-
ment, Is dogfall.
What is the Republican lay out?
From a distance it seems to be this:
Taft, entered by the President, first
choice Of the ladies and gentlemen in
the Grand Stand; Fairbanks and For
aker, from the Senate Stables, backed
by the knowing ones; Uncle Joe Can
non, from Illinois, for all that may be
in sight, Knox to hold Pennsylvania |
for contingencies and the list of en-
tries not yet closed. In sporting par
lance. such appears at long range to
be about the size OF 1t.
There is material here for the
widest and widest guessing.
Eminent jurists make disappointing
You may remember that
before the last National Democratic
/ said something of the
sort about Judge Parker 1t is equally
applicable to Judge Taft The Presi-
lent has overworked Judge Taft as a
nan Of all work, made him too much
If fetch-and-carry. Those who still
insist that Mr.. Roosevelt is secretly
for third term might see
| deep design in this. There are others
Who declare that he is under pledge
o the Secretary of State, rather than
he Secretary of War. But, great as
dr. Roots abilities and services must
'e conceded to be, the line which
vents have drawn upon the corpora, !
ions makes the nomination OF the
most eminent of the corporation law. I
ers unlikely. l take it that the Pres {
lent wants the Secretary of War,
hat he means it, and that as surely s
S Jackson stood by Van Buren,, Roose- {
cit will stand by Taft.
Whoever is nominated will have to
eat Taft. 1t will be Taft against the
cid and the field against Taft. But
It 1t not be forgotten that Fairbanks
in the field and that whoever is
ominated will have also to beat Fair
anks
The Vice President Is an old. cool
nd shifty hand at the bellows. He
the incarnation OF orthodox and 0
Republicanism. Indiana v
a pivotal State. What Foraker may r.
, to Taft in Ohio remains to be seen. 81
ven IL Ohio goes back on Foraker, n
ay not the country be a trifie tired
A.,. IA Fyu |