Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1908-01-16
Our Next President.

recent incidents in Ohio and else
where, are beginning to clear
the public mind as to his re-
lations with President Roosevelt.
Under ordinary conditions it
would be heavy handicap to
candidate TO be known as the
choice of an outgoing president.
The strength of Secretary Taft
is not only evidence of Mr.. Roose-
velt's astonishing hold on the
people, hut it is decided proof of
the confidence and esteem in
which Secretary Taft is held.
The public discriminates in this
case with nicely, accepting Pres
ident Roosevelt's view OF Secre-
tary Taft without placing the
president in the attitude OF at
tempting to misuse his official
power or placing Mr.. Taft in the
attitude OF being mere shadow
of the president.
The reason why the public is
turning toward Taft is not only
because it is sure he is in har-
mony with the Roosevelt policies
but because he is individually
and distinctively, in his own
right, admirably fitted for the
presidency. The public does not
demand from Secretary Taft or
any other candidate a pledge
that the Roosevelt policies will
be executed to the letter, exactly
as Roosevelt would execute them.
In the first place, no one can fore
tell what is best to be done under
circumstances not yet developed.
Mr.. Roosevelt himself cannot tell
what he will do in the remaining
year OF his administration, nor
would it be wise to exact pledge
from him. A plan which appears
wise now might be foolish when
the time arrives for its execution.
Secretary TAFT believes in the
Roosevelt policies, and if elected
he will, no doubt, endeavor to
carry them into effect. But he
will do so in his own way. Has
anyone so short memory as not
to recall the declaration of Mr..
Roosevelt when he took up the
work laid down by Mckinley?
Mr.. Roosevelt labored faithfully
to execute the Mckinley policies
knowing they were approved by
the people. No one charges him
with failure but surely no one
would have the hardwood to con-
tend that the history of the last
six years is what it would have
been if Mr.. Mckinley had lived
and remained president. Temper
amental differences between
| Roosevelt and Mckinley have
caused surprising episodes in
this history although there may
be no radical departure from any
of McKinley's plans.
Through the same cause SINH
lar effects could be expected if
Mr.. Taft were elected president.
AS a man of individuality and
sound common sense, he would
not even try to execute the
Roosevelt policies in the Roose-
welt way. His manner would be
the Taft manner-the manner
native to the man. He would
travel along the pathway of his
predecessor, but he would deal
with each situation as it arose,
acting according to circumstances
for the best, without regard to
outer appearances. No fair
minded man would insist upon a
lavish imitation of any preced-
ing action, however renowned.
AS president Mr.. Taft would be
in possession of all available in
formation, and he could be relied
upon to make prudence his first
consideration, whether his de-
cision would be one that Mr..
Roosevelt would have made or
otherwise. Mr.. Roosevelt him
self is the last man in the United
States, probably, who would try
to tie Mr.. Taft down to a certain
course of action on future events.
AS a winner OF friends by per-
sonal contact, Secretary Taft is
world-famous. His wholesome
personality, his good cheer, his
evident ability and readiness tC
tackle and carry heavy burdens
without perceptible strain, and
his hearty Americanism of man
ners and ideals make him a
marked man in any company.
lie has not suffered by compari-
son with any othsr American
against whom he may be pitted
for the presidency. 1t is not
90, ~ 10 ,,nta M FNaftb.,