The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-04-24
BLOW AT TAFT.
Neglect Of Official Duty 10 Fur
ther Personal Ends
Laid AGAINST HlIvl.
Civil Service a Byword-President
Roosevelt Abets Violation of For
mer Cherished Principle-A Scan
dial That Will Grow-A1nbition of
Strong Men From Ok
lailona.
By WILLIS j. ABBOT.

By WILLIS j. ABBOT.
The split in the Republican party
over the nomination for the presidency
is by no means closing up. In the
United States senate the. other day
Senator Hale made an attack upon
Secretary Taft for neglect Of his OFF,
cial duties in order to advance his per-
sonal political ambitions. While the
name of the secretary of war was not
mentioned the senator from Maine
pointed out that the real head of the
army was never at his post and the
chief Of staff was, in fact, performing
the duties of the secretary of war.
Curiously enough, the only senators
who came to the defense Of Mr.. Taft
were men of slight acquaintance and
short service in the senate.
It seems to be fair prophecy now
| that Taft will be nominated. Yet if he
is the scandal of it will become very
material issue in the campaign. He is
secretary of war, and yet not for six
months has he been at his desk in the
war department for three consecutive
days.
He is member Of the administra-
ton Of president who made his en-
trance upon politics as civil service
reformer, and yet every branch of the
federal service today is being employed
to compel the nomination Of Taft.
He is the political pet and iegatee Of
president who has talked much
about the influence of predatory wealth
upon politics, and yet the expenditures
made in behalf of Taft in this prelimi-
nary campaign have exceeded any
thing known to American politics and
are estimated by the New York World
as amounting to easily $750,000. Most
of this money has come from his broth
er, who is the largest owner of public
utility corporations in Cincinnati. Mr..
Charles P. Taft owns gas and electric
companies and newspaper. George
B. Cox, the notorious boss of Repub.
lican politics in Cincinnati, has found
It to his interest to form an alliance
with the Taft family notwithstanding
the fact that Secretary Taft bitterly
denounced him on the stump less than
two years ago. To secure the Cox sup
port for the Taft presidential ambition
the nominations for state Offices in
Ohio were practically turned over to
Cox. AS result the most prominent
Republican newspapers in the state
save those owned by Charles P. Taft
have openly bolted the state ticket.
Yet in all probability Mr.. Taft will
receive the Republican nomination for
the presidency. Thus far there has
been no serious setback to his ambl-
tions, and only few days ago the
Republican convention in New York,
while mildly commencing Governor
Hughes, selected delegation which
will be in effect for Taft. The only
state which has definitely instructed
against him within the last week Is
Wisconsin, which gave its delegation to
La Toilette, who is the best Democrat
in the Republican party, but who has
no chance of nomination and under
stands that fact.
The anti-Taft people are banking
upon the great number Of contested
delegations from southern states. This
is putting much trust upon very slen-
der reed. The probabilities are always
against the seating Of contestlng del
egation. It is true that this was done
in the cases Of Michigan and Nebraska
In the Democratic convention of 1896
and thereby resulted in the nomination
of Mr. Bryan, but the evidence in favor
of tile contestants then was over
whelming, and political conditions had
| made the men in control Gf the major
ity of the convention determined to
make their control ccm:'lrit. II is i'm
probable thar such condition should
arisc again in either party.
The Presidents Position.
Ny own ;;;:i.;,,Ir.:l IS that TIE Repub-
'lran n|:::i:..,' will he Taft unless Pres
,lent EnaSrvrl; permits Tie convention
lrr &tamun,'rd rnr himself and ac-
ruls The nominating iIus rendered. An.i
,...i,nrs II: liza, VIII IT, quote two
tavurui- ma l.. - - - 'llr course or
aSlIa! CONDENSATION I,y men llnac'
,uainltd with "a. II Tier. Lut each Of
rlu;u i< one of the favored guests al
ihr W,:Nr IIouse.
The .;rst The distinguished editor of
Il New Y.,rk magazine. coming directly
from Il ,;::"..i v.i:h l!:r president. said
to nlr .!lat. withurt cnotin% Mr.. RooSe,
vclt's words. he crNld SAY that under
no circumstances whatsoever would
the president accept a nomination this
yGt.r
The other one of the newspaper cor
| RESPONDENTS. who is known to be q IA
vorite at the White House, declared
that the president had said to him that
If nominated lie would refuse; that If
the convention renominated him in
spite of that refusal he would telc-
graph its leaders that they must reas-
semble and select some one else.
There is q good old phrase which
may we'll be applied to consideration
of Mr.. Roosevelts position this year
namely, Put yourself in his place
At the end Of almost eight years of
| power. with the house and senate In
accord with the principles Of his party
ba onnrnaches the end of his second