Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-02
TAFT'S BLUNDERS

MIR. TAFT is suffering from hoarse-
EH ness, and his speeches are brief
AL But even in ten minutes the Re-
publican candidate for president can
make bad breaks" which explain why
the Republican campaign committee is
anxious to have Taft oratory grow
small by degrees and beautifully less.
He managed to crowd two into his ten
minute speech to the members of the
national farmers convention, in session
at Madison, Wis. He said that by be-
queathing his wealth to the University
of Wisconsin the late William F. Villas
had solved the problem of swollen
fortunes" We do not know whether
Mr.. Taft meant to include in this state
ment all kinds of swollen fortunes,
among them the fortunes characterized
in modern phrase as predatory wealth.
But are we to believe that If fortunes
are to be left by will to universities
the problem of swollen fortunes will be
solved? This is such a typical instance
of the Taft mode of reasoning that 1t
deserves especial consideration. His
mental processes, upon being analyzed,
are found to be almost invariably in
sufficient.
1t would no doubt be highly jubi-
liant reflection that bequests to univer-
stiles would solve the problem of swol-
len fortunes, and we approve most
heartily all money gifts for the purpose
of aiding education or advancing scien-
n
beginning to acquire a little approx
mately accurate knowledge concern
ing themselves, the world and the uni
verse. The men OF tomorrow Will re-
alize how little the men of today really
know. But gift to university is not
a solution of the problem of swollen
fortunes. 1t is only a reasonable way
of disposing Of one swollen fortune. All
such fortunes should be applied to
purposes helpful to mankind, otherwise
Dives will have plenty of company
because every swollen fortune repre-
sents many individual cases of human
hardship, suffering and deprivation.
Lazarus is always on the doorstep of
the mansion which houses the swollen
fortune. There is only one way in
which the problem of swollen fortunes
will be solved, and that will be by aim
ing to produce conditions which will
bring the greatest good to the greatest
number of citizens. 1t is not strange
that the man who said God knows"
what must be done to relieve the desti-
tuition of a deserving man out Of work
should labor under the delusion that
the university is a solution of swollen
fortunes Under certain circumstances
and with the aid of adroit political
manipulation a man like Judge Taft
might be elected president But, come
now, will anyone say such man can
really represent a large proportion of
the people of the United States? The
second statement Judge Taft made
in his brief address was that
under Republican rule there had been
great advance in the comfort and pros
perity of the farmers. And not one
farmer who listened to Mr.. Taft did
not know that, in the words of Lincoln
Dixon, "The farmer buys his supplies
In a highly protected market and sells
his products in free market. He pays
into the Golfers of the trust and pro-
tected producers for all his farm tools,
his clothes, his hat and shoes, his
tableware, stoves, for his harness and
chains. He is taxed for everything
he needs, from the swaddling clothes
put upon his baby to the coffin in
which he is finally laid, and his chill
dren are taxed for the little monument
they erect at his grave"