The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-11-13
Richmond Man Asserts That
The Secretary of War Has
Been Double Crossed in His
Candidacy for Office.
" BLAMES THE PRESIDENCY
FOR PRESENT CONDITIONS
Says Taft Is Most Conspicu-
GUS Victim of Misplaced
Confidence in Political HIS
tory of the United States.

3. b. Johnson. a member OF the
an editorial writer. has addressed the
following to the editor of the Indian
apolis News:
Sir-The Jealous Washington CORE
spondents and the loyal administration
editors are so sorry 10 be compelled to
admit, that the Taft presidential boom
p is about TO collapse, and they are aS
equally and sincerely certain that this
catastrophe is the result OF gross mis-
management of his campaign.
| am not a politician, but | have been
q rather close observer of political
events for thirty-five years, and my
diagnosis of the malady tnat has NOR
tally afflicted the Taft boom is some
what different. There is evidence on
every hand that the presidential hopes
of the devoted war secretary have been
blighted by gross treachery. This evi-
dence is circumstantial external, in
ternal and Internal
Taft has been put forward as a
stalking horse. back of which appears
the 'receptive' candidacy OF Roose-
welt; and this is case of receptivity
in its most aggressive mot to say most
revolting) form. In the language Of
the day, Mr.. Taft has been given the
'double cross by Mr.. Roosevelt
A year ago he was the one popular
member Of the cabinet--hc bid fair to
rival the president In strength with the
people. Now there is none so poor TO
do him reverence. What has hap
pened in the meantime: His
strength has been insidiously under
mined by federal office holders who
have persistently talked up Roosevelt
Tor a third term. Taft has been
damned with faint praise" and every
tacital blunder of his managers has
been magnified and exploited with
more or less expression OF regret" by
the administration press.
Pretending that he was for Taft. the
President has not only permitted but
approved the pernicious activity of
these bureau officers and special
agents in an unworthy effort to perpet-
Uate his own power without appearing
TO do SO. Pretending to be for Taft
lie would not decline a denomination in
advance on the plea that he might bet
ter hold his own following in hand and
at the proper time deliver it to Taft
Instead of that. by his treacherous
course in undermining Taft he seeks
to draw to himself the latter'S
strength. merging it into his own un-
doubted popularity, and leaving the
Taft boom swinging in midair. an OBJ
tect of Indifference If not rdicule. To
- deny this treachery is useless-that on
' Jy emphasizes it.
Mr.. Roosevelt. had he really been
for Taft, could have given the latter's
cause substantial aid. He could have
strengthened it more than any other
influence. All he needed to do was
to declare at the onset that under no
circumstances would he accept a re
nomination: and then. from this high
and commanding position, his legiti-
mate influence for Taft would have
been most effective. In that event
there would have been no sapping and
mincing Of the Taft candidacy by fed
eral officers and understrappers On
the contrary. sincerity and earnestness
on the part of Mr.. Roosevelt, reinforc-
ed by Taft's great national popularity
and admitted fitness for the presidency
would have brought the full measure of
their natural results in strengthening
Taft's candidacy. IL they did not insure
= him the nomination
AS things now appear. however, Sec
retary Taft is the most conspicuous
victim of misplaced confidence in the
political history of the United States