The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-07-18
TAFT.


At the outset it Is well to take a meas
uring glance at the leaders After a
| desperate. almost savage fractional con-
test. such as we have rarely witnessed
President Roosevelt succeeded IN nomi-
mating Secretary Taft as his successor.
II was a memorable victory for the
President, won not only over many Of
the most conspicuous leaders OF his
party, but won also over the
protest OF organized labor throughout the
country. Taft is the product of political
patronage. He Is a creation OF Roose-
welt. Personally he is an amiable and
gifted man. but withal, puffy, fatulent
and wofully deficient in those rugged
qualities that make for masterful leader
ship. He is fat, good natured. easy-go-
ing. and liked by everyone he meets-a
man who would rather eat a canvasback
than fash a sword-who would rather
temporize than resist, compromise than
fight. As a presidential quantity he Is,
1 say, the product of Roosevelt and
patronage. Who does not know that ex-
cept for Roosevelt and that vast retlnue
of officials who do his bidding, the Taft
candidacy vas impossible? The Presi-
dent likes Taft, although the two are
wholly unlike. But that a man of
Rooseveles imperious nature should be-
come enamored Of a man weaker thar
himself and plant to his will, Is no
cause for w~onderment. That is an oc-
currence with many parallels. No man
is more companionable than the Secre-
tary, and It is no marvel that Roosevelt.
arrogant. assertive, dominating as he is,
should take this genial. complainant gem
tleman for an intimate and confdant-
in strange ways, and whose spectacular
performances adroity staged have at
tracted popular applause and given him
undoubted power, determined to make a
President OF his chum- Here we have
presented an interesting anomaly in
American politics. A president, oVerfed
with obsequious adulatfon n pulled
with the pride OF power until he feels
that He doth bestrfde The narrow world
ike a colossus" makes up his mind to
name his own successor, and picks his
man because. forsooth, he personally
Of Washington the American people have
resolutely opposed a third term for any
ton, which ordinarily gives little heed to
precedents. refused to violate this tradi-
tional rule, which has become almost a
part OF our unWrttten law, when its alb
rogattOn was attempted on behalf OF the
most popular military hero the country
has known for half a century-the illus
trious captain who led the Union armies
to victory in the most stupendous con-
hict of modern times. The President
Tor himself was impossible, and, al
though he sometimes Wavered. IN the end
needless fatterers who urged him on.
But here we have a new situation almost
as bad as the suggestion OF a third term.
seeing the end OF his official tenure, the
President openly and publicly nominated
his successor. Exercising a royal pre-
rogative, he proclaimed his heir apparent.
He summoned his minions about him and
delivered his edict. commanding them to
90 forth and publish the Rulers will to
his faithful subjects And forthwith the
trumpets ounded. and there was hurry
ing and scurrying In all directions
~ough0 the land High officials.
draWtng munihcent salaries FASTENED /
hither and yon to obey the sovereign will.
Some went to the south to organize the
official retainers there that they might. II
possible, tease or coerce the recalcitrant
colored brother into line. and to devise
plans to capture conventions by whatever
the exigencies might require. i
Others went north and east and west to