The Washington herald., 1908-08-05
POLITICAL COMMENT.

The Ohio State Journal maintains that
the Republican party is the party Of pro
gressive politics and that all others that
claim progression are merely imitators
II believes that Judge Tafe stands for
progression ana says:
Tt IS progressive politics. and the Re
publican party has started Il, and all
other parties that claim 70 seek the same
purpose are simply imitators- The spirit
back OF the purpose that started the
movement in 1S5s controls to-day. I IS
the life principle. Of Republicanism-to
establish human rights. and that IS what
Il Is trying 10 DO to-day. as surely as IL
did In Is5e-60
This tide OF political opinion is not the
furry OF day. Il moves steadily
through the ages. and in this country
the Republican party has been its expo
[ nent and has. applied il to the changing
I forms Of human duty. Il Is this fact
alone that dignifes a party. The tenn
I porary theories and policies don't do 81
/ Iney are discussible as methods The
I imperial fact is The conscience and pur-
. pose that control q party in its efforts 70
compel men 70 be truer and squarer with
/ one another. That is the progressive Re
I publicanism that we see shining out
I through lines OF Judge Tafrs acceptance
/ speech"
/ The Nashville American thinks that
Nj Taft may follow out his avowed
| purpose % making a bid for the vote
| Of Tennessee. but Il IS sure that the
I purpose Will fsH OF success as there is
nothing in his. policies that makes him
/ in any way so desirable candidate as
I Bryan II says:
/ It is said that Taft will make a spe-
cial EFFORT 10 carry Tennessee. Doubt
[ less he viii But neither he nor any
/ of his friends can give any reason why
Tennessee should vote for him He IS
a clean man. but that is no reason
why Democrats should vote for him
The Democratic nominee is also re-
garded as a clean. able man. Certainly
TAFT has no such superior qualities on
this score as 10 induce any Democrat
TO vote the Republican ticket. What
are there in the Taft policies that make
/ him more desirable than Bryan2 Bryau's Z
views are his own. TAFT seems 70 depend
largely on Roosevelt for his policies. I
TAFT shows no more real conservatism ]
/ than Bryan No Taft supporter car yeIl
at Bryan as a radical Nobody questions
Bryan's honesty. integrity. or exalted pur-
q Democrat voting for Taft Even though
Bryan may not be the ideal candidate.
/ In the opinion OF some Democrats he is {
more 50 than he ever was before and he
certainly is as much an ideal Democrat
as Taft"
The New York Tribune SAYS that the
Republican party in New York state vii
have 20 make its guberuatorial fight on an
sH.H I.
Hughes, and u says.
The party. moreover. viii have 20 en-
te- the campaign upon the record Of Mr..
Erghes' adu1lnistratioa- Il win have 10
indorse IT,. any other course is untaink- 7
able Il VIII have 20 point with pride 20
lis public service legislation When r. is /
cshsidered where the -n!ef strength II the .
party is and how il feels II cannot depre-
cate. regret. or even ignore TIE passaze Of
IRE ant-gambllng bills. but must stand
for them. too Its strength with the ue1-
PIE, whatever IT is. VIII be the success OF I
the Hughes administration L canlsor re-
probate Mr.. HUEhes and rUl upon MS
strength and popularity as an admins Z
l. atoT. II cannot divorce itself from IL. /
Hughes record IL It would"
The Chicago Tribune points out that the
battle ground for the coming campaign .
VIII be mainly in the West and that the
people there gladly welcome the shock OF /
battle. II says
1t IS argued that II Mr.. Bryan can
carry Illinois the same tide. the same in Z
hue1ces. the same prevailing state OF
mind viii carry into the Democrats col I
unln Wisconsin, Ohio. Nebraska. probably 4
Iowa, surely Indiana and Colorado. and /
ment Is made also upon the significance I
Of NJ. Bryals remark IN connection with /
the choice OF the Democrats national 4
chairman that il was Indicative Of me- 7
party's purpose 20 make the fight fo- New I
York Why nOJ2 or course What other
Democratic candidate IN a generation \
would have thought Il necessary 10 an
noCnce such a purpose. as If BY any. con
ceiVao.e chance he would otherwise have 1
any prospects whatever of Successy
Things are changing. surely enough in 4
American politics. The people OF the. East
are recognizing The fact The people Of I
the West have been conscious Of their in
creasisg importance during recent cam 4
Paigns- They welcome the coming shock i
OF battle The Republicans Of the West I
appreciate the position they must take
during the next three months They vii u
not fail IN their duty on the day OF de- /
not have cause 10 regret the shifting Of I
The storm center"
TIE Springfield Republican believes that 4
the New York bosses viii fan in their
effort 20 turn President Roosevelt and NIr.
Taft against the reelection Of Gov.
Hughes Il declares
There are indications that the New
York State Republican bosses are failing
in their efforts to turn President Roose-
welt and Mr.. Taft against the renewed
candidacy Of Gov Hughes. This is not
because they have any fondness for tne
governor it is because they. recognize his
strength with the conscience vote Of rne
state and would utilize il on behalf Of
the party in the Presidential election.
They cannot afford to do otherwise No I
chances are 10 be taken OF losing New
York II the Presidential election. and
thus Gov Hughes denomination becomes
assured
The Pittsburg Post takes occasion 20
call on Representative James S. Sher-
man for an explanation Of certain mat
ters- Il says
Young Hitchcock 4 authority for the
statement that he intends TO have Rep
resentative James s. Sherman. RepubII-
can candidate for Vice President. make
a long stUmPing tour as soon as the
speaking campaign begins probably
about the middle OF September It IS 10
be hoped that Mr- Sherman will find
g ~