The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-15
TAFT IS URGED TO ACT.
Observers See signs of Campaign They
 Don't Like.

"Get out among the people, This is the advice given Judge Taft by some of the best political observers in the country. Later on this counsel will be followed. Those who give 1t sincerely believe there is more or less danger of the defeat of the Republican national ticket. They do not believe the danger is acute: they are not alarmed; but there are certain signs they have been reading and which they do not like. These are signs like the distant rumblings of a storm. The sound is ominous, but favorable wind may drive the tempest away. At the same time 1t behooves those who have interests at stake to take measures for their protection.
 At this early date no man may say with confidence what the result of this years Presidential battle Is to be. There are plenty of men who think they know. but they are simply permitting their wishes to father their thoughts, The chances naturally favor Taft; but not by any such ridiculous odds as they talk in Wall Street. The great danger to Taft Hes in that condition of the public mind which his friends perceive and recognize, and which leads them to urge him to go out more among the people. speak to them, get to know them. and be known by them.
 
 What is this danger? Tn what pecu- liar phase of the psychology of public opinion Is it found germinating? Let one of Mir Taft's friends-one who has advised Jim to make a speaking tour of the country-answer.
 "The danger to Taft" said this man, Ties right herein the belief of many of the middle or wage-earning class of people-that he is an aristocrat; that n udGnnfnf1nnD sympathies are with the aristocracy. Mind, I do not say we have a class issue in this country. We have never yet come to that. and I hope we never shall. But we must nevertheless face the truth. that consciously or uncon- sciously millions of voters are infiu- ehced by their opinion of the category to which candidates belong. There IS widespread though not always con- scious classification of the candidates for the Presidency as belonging to the ranks of wealth and culture or to the people. Mckinley was looked upon by everyone as the peoples man. Bryan is in the same class. only little more so. Judge Parker was distinctly and almost universally put in the other category. Mir. Roosevelt is every where regarded as an aristocrat by birth and education and family sur roundings who is at heart and by choice and instinct a man of the masses. In this contrast between him and Parker we find the most adequate explanation of the latters crushing defeat of four years ago.
 have tried to analyze this feeling and for that purpose have talked with 1 many workingmen. My belief Is that l the greatest cause of it is belief that | Taft belongs to the aristocratic class, as Roosevelt does but that his sympa- thies are not with the people as Rocse- velt's are. Workingmen with whom I have talked spoke to me of Taft's | multi-miliionaire brother who has so l far financed his campaign; of his suc- cessful lawyer brother in Wall Street, | who, according to rumor, had much to | do with bringing the interests into l line for the candidate; and of the fact l that Judge Taft spends his Summer at an aristocratic resort playing golf. | You may be surprised to learn that | such things as these exert influences l upon the minds of millions of men, but i they do, unreasonable. as it may ap- pear to you and me; and what we have l to consider Is that which is, not that which we think ought to be.
 The truth is.@ concluded this friend of the Republican candidate, at 1 Judge Taft is strong with the upper | | the lack of better one, and weak with | the ranks down nearer the base of the | pyramid of society. Strong, splendid. trained, efficient high minded as he | is-probably the best-equipped man for the Presidency all things considered, l we have had on a national ticket in many years--the fact remains that he | rouses no enthusiasm that the men of 1 affairs are for him without being much | Ar EfFHnVOnG ahnnf if I and that through misconception and a bIand- running prejudice considerable l percentage of the hewers of wood and | carriers of water are opposed to him. i Unless this prejudice can be in large l part removed, the election will be a | very close one. The best way to re- move it. in my judgment, Is to have Taft make tours of the country. cut l loose from Hot Springs and golf and show himself to the people. He won the Filipinos with that famous smile of his, behind which lies so much | strength of character and wholesome clearheadedness, and he may win his own battle among his own people in ! the same way.
 I spoke of the foregoing observations to a Democratic friend of mine, one | who is working hard for Bryan, and his l comments were interesting.
 ''The man Is absolutely right" he said "He has put his finger on the | tenderest spot in thls campaign. He has touched the very nerve upon wh Ich | we depend for the success of Bryan We are delighted that Taft has a brother worth many millions of dol lars We are delighted that Taft spends his summer at an aristocratic resort playing golf with rich men clad in white duck trousers. Do you know that hundreds of thousands of working. men in this country look upon golf as a sort of dude game. Well, 1t is true and I am a golf fend myself. All we want Is to have Mir. Taft stay where he is. playing golf with millionaires, Did you ever heard of Mir. Bryan play. ing golf? When he wants exercise he takes a scythe or a rake and goes out to his fields"
 All of which leads to the interesting questions; els it true that working men look down with contempt upor golf? And is golf to be an issue 1T this otherwise dull and apathetic cam paign?
 TAFT ANGRY AT STEAM
 ROLLER MAN Hitchcock stIFM Candidate From Hi
 Usual P1acIdIty.
 Hot Springs, Va, special to Chicago
 Record.