The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-07-18

bred thousand ofticeholders were in thu
field. The Republicans of Missouri know
what happened here. Practically ever,
tive, dictatoriaI. noisy Taft propaganda
Scarcely could a county, mucn more {
district convention be assembled with,
OF an official representative of the White
House. The Globe-Democrat the Kansas
City Journal and other Republican or.
gans cried out in vehement protest, but
the ponderous machine rolled steadily or
Ike a juggernaut crushing out all op:
position. Uncle Joe Cannon, the rugged
Car of the House. gnawed his big che.
root more viciously than ever and looked
helpless. And Fairbanks, Knox. Hughes
and such old Tho as Crane, Car
ter, Cullom and Kerens were bowled
never been seen in American politics
The machine was irresistible. The Presl-
dents triumph was complete. He nomi-
mated his protege, and made him the
scion of u new Republican royalty
With this situation, viewed solely as
a Republican party condition, I ought not
perhaps to feel very deep concern. And
yet 1 cannot view with indifference the
spectacle of a great party, which for the
major part of a half century has doml-
mated the American Republic, having its
organization, its policies and its destiny
taken bodily and by force into the hands
the sinister and selfish end of perpetuat-
ing themselves in power. But over and
beyond that is the universal question as
to whether the American people, without
regard to party. endorse the notion of a
President openly and extensively using
the great powers of his great office, and
Of employing a s~tupendous force OF sal
aired subordinates, to compel the Selec-
ton of his choice to the Presidential sue
cession. None would deny to the Presi-
dent the privilege of a preference, nor the
right within conservative limits to ex-
press it. hat is a right inherent in him.
not as President but as citizen. Against
that I make no protest, but I do pro-
test against the President aggressively
using the tremendous power and infiu-
ence Of his office, and aggressiyely direct
ing the organization of a vast official
OF a successor Upon the country. such q
course Is violatsye of historic usage, and
violative also Of the civil service, law
public officials in politics Moreover, II Is
intolerable as a matter of good taste ana
public decency. and Is dangerous as a
complished today. it car be successfully
accomplished hereafter, and SO, If per
come the rule for one President after an
other to name his successor. That IN
itself would border pretty close on TO a
species Of monarchy, wherein the presi-
Dental viii would be substituted for an
that would Intimately lead no man can
f~oreteIl. Hear what the Hon. Henry F.
Cochems of Wisconsin had to say In his
speech nominating Senator LaFolette for
EIGEiuGlL DC4OLG liz OAAALa6O III
He declared that the man who succeeded
Roosevelt should be neither his heir nor
his crown prince. AND Lurther ne sa 1hs
government by an election to a third
term, that reason obtains with equal
force against the wisdom of a second
term incumbent debating the candidate
for the third term" That is Republican
authority, OF all things It IS most i'm
portant hat the supreme right Of the
American people to voice their will at
the ballot-box should be absolutely free.
dlenea fSst II MS Is eS or orS no ana VULGAR
misuse of executive power should be IN
stantly rebuked. and that this arrogant
patton should be rudely checked In its
Those who win party v1cto-
rieS in this fashion should be taught tnat
they must afterwards account to an in
dignan people.
Of Judge Taft as a possible President
assume to outline with certainty what he
might or might not do But of one thing
trust magnate, the exploiter of special
and all who represent preda-
didacy. They have tested him on the
bench and In other stations, and they are
man, with intellectual qualities OF a hig
order he is yet deficient in combative
force and by. nature unfit for uncom-
promising resistance. Those mighty in
dueuces the people dread the most will
be behind his candidacy, and II elected
they win be forever grouped about him,
extent the creature OF his environ
j. Pierpont Morgan arrived in
New York from Europe on the day fol-
owing Mr.. Tafts nomination at Chicago.
an Associated Press reporter he ex-
pressed himself as pleased at the choice
Of the Secretary of War. remark1ng, 1t
Is good, very good" The reactlonarles
feared the idiosyncracies, the broncho
and the impetuous o~utbursts OF
ROOSEVELT, but they are not much alarmed
about Taft. The Wal street sentiment
was well expressed by a prominent broker
he said, 1--WE think Taft has sense
enough to stand hitched." He inherited
RoosevelCs policies. so-caiied. but what
he viii do with them no man can pre-
dict. About an we can saw is that he is
an uncertain quantity. and II he should
be elected, all we can do Is to hope for
the best.