The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-06-26
First AID TO TAET.

FIRST AID TO TAFT.
Having declared that Mr.. Taft would
make an excellent president. if elected,
and that he probably will be elected,
the Deseret News processes astonish-
ment that the most prominent Demo-
Gratis of the state, Mormon and Gentle.
think il has abandoned its position as
a non-partisan newspaper. Indeed. so
profound is its surprise that it con-
snmes some columns in two editions TO
explain that the editorial referred to
was not a partisan statement. that it
is still a non-partisan publication, and
that the church of which it is the Off
cial organ is not, and has not been for
some time, in politics.
Possibly the disclaimer is made in all
sincerity, but if it is, the man who
wrote the Taft editorial is unfamiliar
with the exact use of the English Ian
guage and should have his copy read
more carefully. Not only the tenor,
but the wording of the editorial would
have fitted any radical Republican
newspaper. To quote the words, SO
there may be no misunderstanding, the
News says:
Secretary Taft, if elected president,
AS HE IN ALL PROBABILITY
WILL BE. will make an excellent
chief executive" There is
a quiet but certain feeling among the
masses that Taft is the best man for
the coming four years that the nation
affopls. that il would be better for the
country that he be in the presidency
for the next four years, rather than
any other man, even Roosevelt him
self"
Whatever the intent. and no matter
what the disclaimer. that is about a.
profuse praise of a partisan candidate
as he himself could ask Coming from
q professedly nOn-partisan newspaper,
it has much more partisan effect than
if il occurred in the columns of an out
and-out Republican organ. Coming.
further, from a great religious daily.
which is Ostentatiously impartial as
betW cen political parties, it is worth
much more To the Republican party
than if it came from any other source.
But what of il? Why should the
prominent leaders Of the Democratic
party object to such outspoken ap-
prevail of Taft by the News? Isn't it
better to have the News come straight
out in support of the Republicans now.
early in the campaign, than TO have it
wait until toward election and quietly
throw its influence 10 the Taft ticket
at the psychological moment? Has
there been a time since McKinley's
candidacy that the Democratic party
could hope for a purely non-partisan
attitude in the News? And isn't it de-
sirable to know exactly what TO expect
from the start?
As a matter Of fact. the influence Of
the News IN politics has depended
largely upon the belief that it was in
reality nom partisan: and that influence
loses a great part of its power the mo-
ment it is understood that the paper is
committed to support of Taft and
Smoot and Sutherland and the other
Republicans who control the party's
destinies in this state. If its editorials
could have disbanded the Democratic
party there would have been no Demo-
cratic organization in Utah now. It's
present attitude is only a frank state
ment Of what has been its position for
some time. and the Democratic party
has managed TO continue its course in
spite of that position. as it will keep
on maintaining its organization and
making its fight for legitimate politics
in Utah
II anything. the Taft editorial has
helped the situation because it has
made plain to thousands what was
only a matter of suspicion before-that
the Republicans of Utah need no or
gan Of their own so long as the Desc
ret News is willing To print such edito-
rails as leading expressions of its
opinion.