The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1908-01-24
For Taft and the Roosevelt Poll
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The fixing of date and place and
the basis of representation for the
next Republican national convention
will be the signal for intensified effort
and moro systematic organization in
behalf of various candidates.. With
the day of fate only FIVE months off
and forty-fve states to be canvassed
the promoters of booms must be act
i've if they would make the desired
impression on sixteen millions OF
voters aud win in the choice of dele
gates to Chicago.
Left to themselves, there is little
doubt as to what course the people
would take in selecting the nominee.
The Republican party is heart and
soul Rooseveltian party Not only
this, but such has been the breaking
down of party lines in the general f.d-
herence to the policies and programs
Of Theodore Roosevelt that thousand S
Of men once aligned with the Democ-
racy are this year, so far as those poll
cies and programs are concerned. Re-
publicans. The call of the nation,
barring a few thousands of maIcon-
tents, is for the nomination of the
man who, of all others, will satisfy the
present occupant of the White House
as most certain to carry on the work
of reformation and reconstruction
which he has begun.
All other candidates. are therefore
of necessity regarded as inimical to
the popular desire; DIS factional, and
as intended to serve personal and
narrow interests. People may, with
more or less reservations, admit the
honesty and ability and past services
OF each of the men put forward to
contest the nomination with the man
of Roosevelt's choice. But the mere
fact that they are willing to be used
in an effort to deprive the president
of reasonable hope that his plans
will be carried forward by his sue
cessor makes their candidates. repel =
liant to most of the men who would.
if they could, vote for Roosevelt him
self again.
The fight, then, of the next five
months is to be one of personal am
billions and of unpopular interests
against the popular desire. 1t is the
field against Taft as the representa-
tive of Roosevelt. All these am
billions, all these interests. will
apply themselves to weaving the peo-
pie from their present inclination.
They may claim to be friendly to
Roosevelt, but the salient part of the
situation is that their success means
a Roosevelt defeat. Unborse his
champion in the person of Taft, and
bis cause is lost. And it must be
borne in mind that his cause, his poll.
cies, are what his enemies hate. Sep.
arate his personality from these and
they could endure him very we'll.
Do the American people desire that
the administration of Theodore Roose.
welt shall suffer defeat and condem.
nation at its close? Such a desire
would be implied by the nomination
of any man not the presidents choice
"The mercenaries" have reason to
fear Taft even more than they fea1
Roosevelt. Where Roosevelt has cut
the way and erected temporary brest.
works of political and economic re-.
form, Taft will follow with permanent
and enduring structures. For con.
structive work in the interest of the
millions, and of the purest republican
deals, he has an unmatched endow.
ment. Let the builder succeed the
fghter.-Pioneer Press