Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-06-26
Washington Letter.
Washington d. g. June Il

Who would have believed 1t possible
when Lincoln was nominated, thai
the Republican party would in few
years tamely submit to the Chief Mag
istrates, after two terms Of Office, de
creeing who his successor should be,
allow him to subscribe the platform
edit the speeches delivered, and even
dictate the nomination OF the Vice
President? Can any one deny thai
President Roosevelt has ordered al
these doing ofthe Republican party
by Just touching the button at the
White House?
Allowing tina. President Roosevelt
10 patriot, who can be trusted tc
manage the politics and policies of the
United States how will the country
fare when some less able and honest
man undertakes to follow his example
In years TO Gomez
II Mr.. Taft is elected can he be trust
ed to dictate his successor? 1t will be a
very dangerous proceeding TO trust
him, judging what he has done to aid
himself in obtaining his ambition.
When the campaign opened for the
nomination of candidates, as far as
Secretary Taft was concerned, he hav-
ing but little personal strength, the
crucial test was whether with all the
power Of the Administration, he could
secure the delegates from Ohio. Boss
Cox, whom Secretary Taft had de-
nounced, as corrupt. would control the
delegates from Cincinnati and some
other counties, and prevent them from
supporting Taft, and these held the
balance of power. They were naturally
allied ana favorable to Senator Foraker.
What was promised or paid to Boss
Cox to go back on Senator Foraker
may perhaps never be known, but
whatever the influence was il can
hardly have been honest influence.
Secretary Taft and his sponsor, the
President, must know what brought
about this conversion OF Eoss Cox.
Senator Foraker might perhaps tell
what happened, if he would. 1t is said
to have been the dictation of the prin-
cipal state offices by the corrupt Boss
Cox, which many Republican news
papers are now depouncing.
The question for voters to consider is
whether they are willing to perpetuate
the Roosevelt dynasty by electing Taft
after his unholy alliance with Boss
Cox, and then again elect whomsoeveT
he may decide should succeed him.
The Taft policies, whatever they are,
will be just as dear to his heart as Tiny
policies" are TO PRECEDENT Roosevelt,
and whether good or bad the effort to
perpetuate them can be made just as
successful through the exceeding pow
er of whoever is President of the Unit
ed States. The precedent of the Admin
istration debating its successor has
been set, and ambition will force it to
be followed if Mr.. Taft is elected.
There perhaps will never again be
such strong combination of Republi-
can leaders attempting to defeat the
Administration p ogram of perpetu-
ating itself. But all these favorite sons
have dwindled into nothing, and will
get a few complimentary votes with
out any prospect for future for any 81
them. They were as clay in the hand
of the White House potter. They will
have to take their medicine ard shout
for their master, or the Republican
elephant will be ruthlessly driven
over them. The Republican leaders
can only blame themselves. They have
been persistently giving power to the
President, and following this Hamil.
topian policy of Capitalization shave
defeated their own plans and pur.
poses.
There is 81 id to have been So mil
millionaires who were delegates tothe
Republican National Con vention, and
those Republicans who are dissatisfied
with the candidates nominated, or the
platform adopted can hardly wonder
that their party favors Wall street and
the Trusts, when those representing
"the interests were SO numerous in
that gathering. Some of those "male-
factors great wealth. are no doubt
practical men" like Hartman, who
was delegate to the Republican Con.
vention of 1904, but was perhaps fol-
obvious reasons. unwilling to represent
his party this year AS one ''practical
man" drops out, there would seem tc
be dozen others drop IA to the Re.
publican game of practical politics
Their Doodle, if not their presence, viii
no doubt be badly needed before The
campaign is ended. 1t is not difficult
to decide whether these citizens o.
great wealth who were delegatest 10 the
Republican Convention are interested