The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-29
WEDNESDAY. JULY 20. 1908.
MR. TAFTs Personal PLATFORM.

The transient laurels that came u
Mr.. Taft at the announcement that MS
speech OF acceptance would not exceed
$500 words withered at his decision
20 make 1t three times that long. They
cruinbled to DUST at the process OF pup
fishing 1t to-day, for this mas peeh
nm era OF long speeches, long pat
forms. long messages, and proofrcaders,
editors, and tho relatively small oana
OF earnest citizens are rest!ve from
continued freshe:s Of language.
Yet this lengthy manifesto mas genu'
Tine psychological interest. 1t reveals
Il man divided between two instincts,
tthat OF loyalty to his chiestain and that
y OF anxiety to soothe the business IN
terests which that chleftain has so
thoroughly alarmed. All Mr.. Tafts
Ia,nprecedcnted homage to his political
4, creator cannot deter h.m from express
,solicitude FOR the very incorporate capt.
tai which las seen in that political
creator its mellacing arch enemy.
To steer SO delicate 4 course, to pay
Paul without 1obbirg Peter, obviously
required, and here recs.ycs considerable
ilexterity. Tie doctrine that the poll
ries Of the next administration shall be
s.dystinct" and progressive" from the
policies OF this one was never fathsred
at oyster Bay. Neither was she doc
Urine that good business for the rail-
roads is essential to general pros
perity." Neither was this doctrine that
rho restoration Of credit and business
confidence Is vitality important thing.
Yet that each of these u.terances has
the sanction Of Oyster Bay. we have
first-hand authority, the peculiar
needs Of the vote-catching season hav-
ing recommended tacit reputation OF
the department of year ago. That
rhey will all win the emphatic appro-
baton OF the captains of industry is
sufficiently obvious. These gentlemen
may we'll be pardoned some elation at
hearing in effect from Mr.. Tafts own
lips: "The methods of my great and
glorious predecessor-God bless HIM
will be Immediately discontinued by
ME"
Where he is safely away from the
delicate question Of whether or not he
IS "Roosevelt's man." Mr.. Taft's eex-
plicitness and definiteness are COM
mendable. One-fifth Of this long speech
Is devoted to the Iaboring man. One
third is devoted to the regulation Of the
money power. The candidate, 1t Is to
be noted, frankly favors some things
which the Democratic platform declares
Tor, but upon Which his own platform
4 Is silent. Generally, however, as is
quite proper, his hospitality to Demo-
cratic proposals is entire and concrete.
This dictum especially is to be remcm-
tbered:
The Introduction into power of q
narty with this avowcd purpose cannot
but halt the gradual recovery from
Jour recent financial depression. and
8, produce business disaster compared
lwith which osr' recent panic will seem
Ikmall. indeGd..s"
Tho "avowed purpose here referred
4 ITO is the Democratic purpose to revise
,4he tariff to revenue basis, "and thus
TO depart from the protective system
tThis is tho gauntlet which the Re-
publican candidate has deliberately
thrown down. Could the Democratic
party possibly desire a better issue
with which to go before the country?
4 fl