Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-07-17
Why General TAFT Should be Our
next President.

The election Of Mr.. Bryan to the
presidency with a republican senate
would be ~disasterous to the progress
sive policies so much desired by the
people. A majority of the senate is
hostile to these policies and the cleo
ton of Mr.. Bryan could not change
the political complexion of that body,
hence his election would delay the
R~ooseve policies for four years, CIV
ing the re-actionary element in the
senate a chance TO play politics in OPP
position r. any action z democractic
president might urge upon them.
IT the people desire a continuation
OF the Roosevelt policies they must
elect General Taft. He stands for all
that President Roosevelt stands for
and the senate could have no valid ex-
cuse for refusing to legislate along
progressive lines, because the policy
Of the party demands it. Mr.. Taft as
president might have to do a little
pounding to force progressive legis-
lation and might not do any better
than President Roosevelt has done,
but his policies being in harmony
with the demands of the people he
would be In shape to accomplish much
even under ordinary pressure. Mr..
Bryan, If president, would find both
party and political opposition and a
deadlock would ensue and nothing
would suit the re%actionary element
better than a deadlock in the senate
for the next four years. 1t would
mean the virtual destruction OF all
the good things accomplished by Pre-
sident Roosevelt and no lover of ma
tional progress along progressive lines
can consistently support Mr.. Bryan,
admitting that Mr.. Rryan himself Is
just as progressive as Mr.. Taft. A re-
publican senate must do business
with a republican president, but a re-
publican senate, constituted as it is
now would not, under party expedien-
cy, feel called upon to carry out the
wishes of a democratic president, nor
would a democratic senate do any
different with a republican president.
This is Of the political conditions
we can not avoid however distasteful
1t may seem to the average voter who
is not troubled with the -scares OF
maintaining party lines.
Mr.. Bryan has many warm friends
among western republicans and so
has President Roosevelt among west
ern democrats, but in a common sense
view of the conditions before us, it
would be disastrous to progressive
legislation to place Mr.. Bryan in the
White House with a hostile senate on
his hands. He COULDN'T force the Sc
nate to action and four years of strife
would follow. The country can not
afford such a conflict, the country
can not afford to lose all that Presi-
dent Roosevelt wruEg from congress,
and that's what Bryan's election
would can
President Roosevelt backs General
Taft to carry on his great work and
no nan will question President Roose-
velt's sincerity in the matter. He
wants to see his policies continue and
grow until legislation Is secured that
will be just to all elements In our ma
tional life. That's President Roose-
velt's hope and that is the reason he
backed General Taft to finish the
great work he begun. The American
people have more confidence In Presi-
dent Roosevelt than any other man
In the nation and this comes from his
magnificent battle for the welfare of
masses, and to doubt his Judgment In
the matter Of a successor would be to
doubt the sincerity of his matchless
leadership.
If we want the Roosevelt progress
sive policies to continue, il we wish
to avoid giving Wall street an oppor-
tunity to rob the people through
financial conditions at their command,
Ii we wish the prosperous financial and
commercial conditions to move on
ward smoothly, General Taft should
be the next president, and this result
should command the calm and dispas-
sionate support Of all men who love
national progress.
Mr.. Bryan Is stronger In the west
than In the east, but the west is more
progressive than the east and those
who love material progress should not
and do not desire financial and politi-
cal stagnation that would follow the
election of Mr.. Bryan.
These are questions that every man
should carefully consider, for we be-
lieve no man who is sincere would
knowingly stay the march of pro-
gress much as he may admire the
brilliant gentleman from Nebraska.
1t isn't so much Mr.. Taft or Mr..
Bryan as it Is the welfare of the
American people that is at stake, and
from the reasons set forth in this ar
ticle we are firmly Of the opinion that
a vital necessity demands the election
of Villa II, naft In November.
Ex-Govsesior Elrod sent word to a
Canton Friend by the editor of the
LEADER and his message a "Say
that ! am the happiest man in Mitch
ELL This had reference to republi-
can unity and harmony.