Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-11-07
WILLIAM HOWARD TATT.

In very special sense and aside
from the formality OF mere compli-
snent the country is to be sincerely
congratulated on the election of
William q. Taft.
The Sentinel has throughout the
campaign now happily ended assumed
that the real issue before the voters
as the voters themselves saw it re-
solved itself into a comparison OF
personalities. a choice between men.
The considerations of policies and
platform professions has been sec
Ondary to the personal one. What
the voters have really been asking
themselves. what the ''man on the
street. has been arguing about, is
which of these two candidates is the
litter to be president
On the one hand was a statesman,
man of affairs and proved executive
ability-in fact, of real genius for
getting things done on the other, a
gifted talker and snowy theorist
whose capacity for administration,
even on the smallest scale. was an
absolutely unknown quality.
It seemed entirely incompatible
with the practical sense of our
eminently practical people that in
choosing a man for an Office involv-
Ing the greatest executive respon-
sibility that can fall to any man,
they should reject the statesman with
a long and brilliant record of achieve
nent distinctly in the line of presi-
Dental duties. and select the, mere
orator and doctrinaire.
The vital objection to Mr. Bryan
candidacy from first to last was that
his career is absolutely barren of evil
dence of fitness for the duties of the
office His infinite capacity for
fins talk was no evidence whatever of
his capacity for performance. The
country was asked to take Mr.. Bryan's
executive capacity on trust.
Lit is useful TO note this primary
.shortcoming in Mr. Bryan g candidacy,
for it brings out more clearly by con-
trast the chief merit Of the candidacy
of Mr. Taft.
No man elected president In the
history of our country mas ever demon
strated in advnce more clearly than
Mr. Taft his exceptional fitness for
the entire round of presidential
duties. He has shown what he can
do. He has already faced Ieponsi-
bilities as great as any he is likely to
be called upon to face as president.
In every case he has "made good. :"
It seems almost presidential that
when President Mckinley and Score
tary Root were casting about for a
colonial administrators. for an Ameri-
can who might measure UP to the
new and tremendous problems in the
Philippines, their choice unexpected
~ fell on Judge Taft From that
day to this he has been demonstrating
his splendid fitness for the presi-
Niency.
What Mr.. Taft has accomplished
for humanity and his country as presi-
dent of the Philippines commission,
as civil governor of the islands. as
head of the work in Panama, as secre-
tary of war, as provisional governor of
Cuba. as envoy to Japan, as wheel
horse of the admin stration. needs
no reorganization for any intelligent
man. He has scored great successes
and made no failures His past in
vites the fullest confidence in his flu
ture.
A humanitarian by impulse, the
oppressed and unfortunate can look
to him with hope. An eminently
Just man trained in the law. every
class and interest can look to him for
Justice. no more, no lass. Massive
strength. Judgment. pOise. a rare
gift no less for winning hearts than
persua1ing minds, q wise moderation
that holds the balance true between
conservation and progress are
the traits of Mr.. Taft as the country
has learned to know them.
If the past of William Howard
Taft foretells his future. he will live
in history as one of the greatest,
faiIest and most broadly and genuine
" American of our presidents. Mil
waukee Sentinel