The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1908-10-06
Their Real Sentiment.

Their Real Sentiment.
Presuming that honors have been
even in the matter of the exposures, it
is apparent to politicians here Of all
parties who talk their real sentiments,
that all else has been swept aside be-
fore the one question of the personali-
ty of the two nominees-Bryan and
Taft, and that the ethical must be the
issue. 1t has been forced to the front;
Notwithstanding r politicians try to-
make other issues interest the people.
Some thought that President Roose-
velt's jumping into the midst of parti-
san politics. in defiance of all concep-
tions of executive propriety, would
settle the matter.
1t hasn't. 1t hasn't by million
miles.
Men hitherto loyal to the president
and newspapers now loyal to him. are
saying to him:
Mr. Taft is the nominee; not you;
Mr.. Taft will be in the White House,
if the republicans PREVAIL not you.
What you think is not of concern Just
now. We want to know what Mr.. Taft
thinks. What does he say regrding the
prosecution of those who now are vio-
lating the antitrust law? Does he or
does not he hold to the belief as his
sponsor. the president has declared
for himself that the present law which
would if enforced cure the trust evil,
must be set aside in the interest of &C.
onomic evolution, so-called. or shall
istration accept the laws passed by the
congress. and proceed to enforce them,
leaving to the congress to repeal or
amend them, if they prove to be
wrong? ?"
Managers Desperate.
1t is obvious that Mr. Bryan rea-
Lies that around him in some instan-
ces are men who would better be GUST
ed; and it is equally obvious that the
Taft managers We're desperate ana had
to fall back on the, personality of Mr..
Roosevelt, depending rather on the in
f1uence of the man who is about to
leave the White House than on the
man whom they are trying to put into
the White House.
Coming down, then. to the sole re-
manning issue, the ethical phases of
the two candidates. it is plain that
they must henceforth go before the
people and practically make their fight
on that alone. 1t is clear that the dis
closures on both sides have put the
people on their guard They will de-
mand merciless searching of the re-
cord. They will listen only to that
which will bear on the ethical.
1t is likewise true that the ethical
issue will be considered not alone from
the negative viewpoint; it will be
looked at from the positive side; the
fighting which each one has done in
the past for civic righteousness, the
open stand the getting into the thick
of the battle, the acceptance of un-
popular things from principle rather
than the comp1acent floating along
with the tide of public opinion.
1t is the actual opinion here that the
president cannot save Mr.. Taft; if he
is saved politically he must save him.
self must adopt virlle policy OF
campaigning. must talk plainly about
the awful abuses which have stirred
the nation. and must align himself
without question on the side of the
terrific warfare which will have to be
waged against corruption in politics,
must not hide behind the generality
that .I am for Mr.. Roosevelt's poll
cieS.
Nature of Issue.
know from talking with leading
republican managers that they realize
the nature of the issue: and that 1t
uras in the hone that the public conf