Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-10-31
As to the Two Candidates.

campaicn has drawn to a close the
question before the voters has become
one of choice of the two men at the
head of the two great party tickets.
The matter of party records, the plat
forms adopted at the national conven-
tons and the great issues involved In
the campaign have become less and
less prominent in the. public mind.
Why should TAFT be elected? Why
should Bryan be elected? What has
each man done and what does he
stand for? What are the qualifications
Of each as judged by their past
achievements and their political exper-
ience? Which is the more practicable,
reliable, consistent and stable? In
which of the two men have the bust
ness interests of the country the more
confidence? Which is best fitted to
deal with our problems in the Philip
pines, in Cuba and Panama? Which
| I'ihIi 10 illc Illolc Sdlc anu SdIle III HIS
INA ncial record and theories? Which is
the better judge of men and the more
certain to surround himself with safe
advisors? Which would make the bet
ter appointments to the supreme
bench, TO foreign courts and to places
Of great responsibility, judging from
their leading advisors and assistants
during the campaign?
pf course. in way, each of these
questions. or most of them, involves
the matter of rarty records, party per-
formance and party policies but in all
OF them the personal element is also
especially prominent. If party preju-
dice could be thrown aside, partisan
passion ignored. and only common
sense and cold business judgment
used, there are relatively few intelli-
gent and patriotic people in the coun-
try who would fail to answer each of
the above questions in favor of William
Howard TAFT. The American people
for the most part admire Mr.. Bryan
FOR his persistence. They recognize his
exceptional oratorical abilities and they
do not question his private integrity
ana the attractive side of his personal
ity. But. on the other hand, they know
him to be an impractical theorist, an
a ri t,,r Ii,
shallow arguments and by shifting
from one side to the other of all i'm
portant public questions One theory
after another ne has taken up and ar
IDENTIFY advocated, only to abandon it
when he found it unpopular or not
productive of the desired number of
votes. Free trade. free silver, anti
Imperialism. government ownership,
have one after another been his hob
bi"s. and as this campaign has ad-
Nancch h" has even laid aside the crazy
bank deposit guaranty scheme and the
absurd snail the people rule" appeal
| 18th which he started out in July. II,
] has promised everything to everybody
aud has surrounded himself with sun
rorters and advisors of the worst type
in politics Governor Haskell, "Fiagy''
| Corners. Roger Sullivan, Charlie Muir
ply and Tom Taggart.
| ON the other hand there is William
Howard Taft. AS regards his quail
fications 10 the presidency. let us quote
Joseph Choate cX-cmbassador tc
Great britain and one of the greatest
| living Americans. His opinion is one
which all Hcn must respect and he
has this t" say of Judge Taft: 'He
Is absolutely the best equipped man fol
| the presidential Office who has eve,
been nominated for that high place He
is equipped both by his natural endow.
| ments and by a long training in nation.
al affairs. He is not a mere theorist
| who has preached one doctrine in on,
campaign and another doctrine in the
next campaign. He stands for policie.
definatcly stated and clearly defined
There is no doubt at this time Shel
the campaign is near the end. abou
what Mr Taft stands for in govern
mental policies. He has explained hi
latitude upon all questions at issue pa
tiently ana carefully" Why should no
Mr.. Taft be elected to the presidency
There is no good reason why.
The Chicago News remarks that i
does not understand that the Ilinoi