The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-10-19


vasion of the South.
When he first announced his inten-
ton of spending few days In that sec
ton of the country. his political ad-
visers screamed with pain, clutched
themselves melodramatically about
their necks. beat themselves black and
blue in a frenzy OF despair. and finally
threw themselves prone upon the floor
where they lay supine and quivering,
moaning that Providence had .forsaken
them. After this attack, they scram-
bled to their feet and whispered 10
each other.
1T is folly. Never before has a Re
publican Presidential candidate wasted
time in stumping the South. Those
States are Democratic. What's the use
of foOling with them? AS we have just
pointed out, the thing has never 0een
done before"
Like most political advisers, they
could not imagine that anything which
had never been done before could be
worth considering in a campaign. Po-
liticaI advisers believe in doing every
four years precisely what was done
four years before. But Judge Taft
calmly disregarded the suffering, the
screaming. and the falls Of his ad-
visers. He had made up his mind to
go South, and he went. But he did not
go for the reason his advisers thought
he went. He took the trip In the firm
belief that he would not get a single
electoral vote from that section. He
viewed this contingency with serenity
because Of his conviction that he
would have enough without the South s
votes.
But. having an eye to the general vel
fare and progress Of the whole COun-
try, he had figured out that it was the
duty OF a man who wanted 10 serve
the country TO try to win over all its
parts to the policies Of the Republican
party. He wanted to have a hand IN
urging the South toward that awaken
ing which will make OF il a lighting
ground for Republicanism. He wanted
10 strike from the South the cast-iron
shackles that hold 1t to the Democratic
party. OF course. this was not a very
selfish idea, not nearly selfish enough
for the political advisers, but il was a
striking indication Of the greatness OF
Taft.
Delivered Goods.
And he delivered the goods. AS he
said, he will get no electoral vote from
the solid South SO far as he is con-
cerned. the solid South can seal up is
votes, tie the package in baby-blue rib
bon, and put it into the receptive hands
Of William Jennings Bryan or the clam
oring control Of person named Hisgen
But he did a whole lot toward con-
vincing SOUtherners that their business
depends on the policies OF Republican
ism. He cooked up no sentiment that
will result IN the South going Republi-
can IN two weeks, but he left the leave.
of Republican teachings. In fact. wheT
IL came TO handing out the leaven, he
was the original handy grOceryman.
He whirled through the land with {
bottle OF prussic acid in his right hand
saying:
This IS free to any man who wants
to kin that historic tradition which
compels him 10 vote the Democratic
ticket. The people Of the South vote
for a Democrat because their ancestor!
voted for Democrats. 1t Is a lovely
thought, but it does the South no good
Use the prussiC acid, which causes sud
den and utter death
His appeal was not In vain. There
were many who slipped UP slyly and
got q hunk OF prussic acid. They die
not promise 10 use ii this election, bu
they put It on the library table, wher,
II will be a constant temptation 10 them
If they leave II there long enough, the!
will approach the dark closet some
stormy night when the wind IS blowing
hard enough 10 drown the victims
shrieks, and they will then and thert
put the finishing touch to the historic
Democratic tradition.
This Is what Taft wanted to do. II,
desired to start the South TO thinking
He wished the Southerners 20 know tina
he considers them unwise In voting