The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1908-06-25
TAFT THE CANDIDATE
But Roosevelt is the Republican
Platform
A REMARKABLE CONVENTION
Walter WeIlman Tells How the Con-
vention's Work Crowns Whole
ROOseyeItian Era

Herald.
Chicago, June 19.-William How
ard Taft Is the candidate Theodore
Roosevelt Is the platform.
Yesterday was day of signal tri-
umph for the man in the White
House; he won d greater victory
than if he himself had been nom
mated.
In spite of all opposition he has
induced his party to choose for its
new leader a man designated by
himself, his personal friend, pledged
to carry on his work.
In spite of all opposition he has in
duced his party to move up to the
advanced position occupied by him.
to make his policies its policies, to
peldge its honor to their continu-
ance and perfection.
1t is this which fixes Theodore
RoOsevelt's place in history. This is
the greatest triumph of his career.
All that has gone before has been
militant, sowing, path-finding. the
work of the leader and explorer.
This is permanent, enduring. 1t is
the harvest.
Again has it been demonstrated
that the Republican party is the
party of conservatism in this coun-
try, the party which represents
wealth, property, business, stability
But the genius, the popularity, the
practical politics and the higher pol
itics found in the control of public
opinion of it's radical leader have en-
able him to make the party keep
pace to his step. He has not only
averted threatened reaction and rep
udiation; he has compelled the par
ty to take his radicalism and stamp
it with it's unqualified approval and
thus name it conservatism.
The neutral observer of political
movement and tendency must admit
that this is a trump not only for
Roosevelt the leader, but for the
party itself. After the events of the
| last few days it stands forth patent
and unmistakable that while Repub-
| licanism is conservative it is not
OOui IL ID q PelI "hiSh NaA1
and does move forward. It's inertia
is the other way through it's compo-
sitiOn and it's instinct. Left to it
self it would take steps backward,
would become more and more the
party of wealth and property, less
and less in sympathy with the mass.
But in the hands of a leader truly
/ ,cfn f,1I To nj for nYh
lie opinion and to fix committees and
win tricks all along the line in the
game of practical politics, it is re-
sponsive, reluctantly plastic, some
what sullenly progressive.
| The convention of today Is at
heart reactionary. Only the genius
of Roosevelt, aided by Taft and the
superb organization built up by and
through Roosevelt and others round
Taft's name, has sufficed to avert the
taking of that step toward the rear
planned by some of the ablest lead
ers the party has, with the co-opera-
ton of some of the mightiest inter
ests. That is why Roosevelt's victory
is so marked, so significant. He has
mastered his party, he has whipped
"the interests" he has ouplayed the
politicians at their own game.
1t is also apparent to every fail
observer that the old Republican
party has once more put its house II
order, organized its forces, stopped
up many weak spots, prepared itsel1
lin truly efficient fashion for the com
ing battle against Democracy
battle which every well-informet
man admits is sure to be bltterl!
waged with doubtful outcome.
There have been plots and conspir
; acies, and charges and counter
charges, and accusations and recrim
nations of juggernauts and roller
and frauds and tyranny and tricker.
and the improper use of federal pat
ronage; there have been threats o
war to the bitter end, of exposure
of retaliation; there have been ex
, pectations of desperate struggle owe
the proposal to declare for limita
tions of the power of the judiciary
} But in the end it is noteworth
e that one threat after another has dis
solved into thin air. One war afte
another has taken itself off the fiel
and been conspicuous only by muc
4 heralding, and then by complete ah
e sence from the arena. There was n
flight over the crucial question OF In
functions, but a compromise. Their
was no fight in the convention itsel
i over the contested seats. There wa
e no fight over the presidency.
= Harmony prevails. The nomins
q ton is made unanimous. Such il
telling as exists will quickly disaI
pear. The old party is getting read
{ for a battle Roosevelt has don
e that which a year ago seemed abst
d lutely impossible. He has used th
power of his great Office to fore
upon his party an out-and-out Ell
y dorsement of his policies, which
l. was not originally willing to max
d and he has forced it to accept cal
10 didate whose greatest source
~ strength was his favor. And tn
he has done without leaving benin
~ any serious marks of revolt or di
i'd content. No osher Presidento recel
IS years could have done that.
o+ The Republican party have move
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