Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-07-10
Surprising His Friends by His
Strong Management Of
Political Affairs
CANDIDATE WAS MIsJuDeED
Knows How to Meet and to Handle
People = Republicans Have Chance
to Make lnroads in the Solid South
Middle West tho Great Baltic
ground.

Especial Washington Correspondence
Washington, July 10.-Secretary
Taft is going about the business of
getting the campaign under way
in fashion that threatens to
convince many Of those who
have criticized him as a poor pol
itician that after all they are mis-
taken. Politicians vary in their meth
DDS just as lawyers do. Mr. Taft is
not a politician Of the kind that Mr.
Roosevelt is, but this does not alter
the fact that he has shown extraordin-
airy ability in the art of handling men
and securing their cooperation on
more than one trying and difficult oc-
casion. He has done this In Panama,
in Cuba, in the Philippines and else
where, and there Is no reason so far
as yet appears why he should not prove
as masterful in the political field as
he has in others.
No one can deny that Mr.. Taft pos
sesses diplomatic ability of high or
der. He does not use either the big
stick" or any weapon of that sort
habitually. But those that know him
best know that he Is capable OF
swinging club as effectively as any
one. His disposition, however. is to
pacify and conciliate. In this he re-
sembles Mckinley rather than Roose-
Welt.
Taft Has Boon Misjudged.
Mr.. Taft has not yet afforded the
country much opportunity to gauge
him as a politician. But it can be said
that the impression that is being
formed among politicians In Washing
ton. where politicians are moro num-
erous than anywhere else in the United
States, Is that many have misjudged
him and misread him in respect to his
capacity for politics. His disposition
to ieach out TO all parts of the coun-
try and take the leaders into his con-
fidence and secure their advice and
counsel Is looked on as Indicating that
he is not going into the campaign
blindly. His friends say that there
is much misunderstanding as to the
part Mr.. Taft played in his own pre-
convention campaign, and that he was
at all times in close touch with what
was going on and was giving direction
to things to a much greater extent
than many suppose. Then, he was
hampered by having on his shoulders
the enormous responsibilities OF the Of
fee of secretary Of war. But now
that he has no official cares, he will
give unremitting attention to campaign
matters from now on to November,
save when he is recuperating, and 1t
may be safely predicted that he will
in no small degree be his own cam
paign manager.
In the last week, since Mr.. Taft left
the war department. he has been meet
ing leaders from all over the country
and has been doing a lot Of talking
with them. He has not by any means
been combining these talks to the chair
manship. He Is inquiring minutely into
conditions in different states and is
getting an idea of what efforts will be
necessary In one section and another.
He has called in many men who did
not support him for the nomination and
some who have maintained a sullen at
titude since the convention. He Is
smoothing out the wrinkles left by the
happenings at Chicago wherever it APP
pears needful to do so and Is getting
the republican machine in good work.
ing order Already there are numerous
signs that his efforts to bring about
peace and harmony in various quarters
are having their effect and that long
before November the republican lead
ers in every state will have their coats
off and will be working for the success
Of the ticket.
Knows How to Meet People.
Mr.. Taft knows how to meet people
and please them and 1t is certain that