The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1908-07-30
A Charge Exploded.

| a Charge Exploded.
Candidate William Howard Taft,
in his splendid speech of acceptance
at Cincinnati yesterday. among other
things, exploded into smithereens the
denunciatory charge about an increas-
ed number of federal Office holders
and an alleged extravaganza in the
handling of moneys. which constitute
the first plank in the Democratic ma
tional platform. In this plank of
denunciation the Democrats wildly
and indiscriminately charge the Re-
publican party with all sorts of high
crimes and misdemeanors in conduct
ing the federal administration, but,
as Mr.. Taft shows, the charges are
nnfounded and misleading, and quite
characteristic of Democratic denunci-
alton which denounces without being
specific or able to denote remedy.
Said Mr.. Taft:
Our opponents denounce the Re-
publican party for increasing the
number OF offices $4,000, at u cost of
sixteen millions of dollars, during
the last year. Such denunciation is
characteristic of the Democratic plat
form. 1t fails to specify in any way
what the Offices are, and leaves the
inference that the increase was re-
sisted by the representatives of
Democracy in Congress. As matter
of fact, the net number of Offices in
creased was just about half the NUM-
Der stated; the increase was due
chiefly to the enlargement of the
Navy, the construction of the Pana-
ma Canal, the extension of the Rural
Free Delivery, and to the new Offices
necessary in the enforcement of the
pure food, meat inspection, railroad
rate regulation, arid land reclama-
ton, forest preservation and other
measures which Congress passed with
almost unanimous popular approval.
The Democratic platform so far from
attacking any of this legislation
specifically approves much, and, con-
dennis none OF ii. and ii is of course
dangerous to claim credit for approv-
ing legislation and yet to denounce
the expenditures necessary to give II
effect
again, 1t charges that deficit of
sixty millions of dollars between the
receipts and expenditures during the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1908, oc-
Cured. As explained by the Secre-
tary of the Treasury, :t' least half of
this deficit is only an apparent one.
The falling off in receipts was, of
course, occasioned by the unusual
panic, but there is ample free money
I in the Treasury to meet the difference
and the difference itself is not half
of it properly deficit, because in
volved in it was the retirement of
some thirty-three millions of the
bonds of the Government.
During the past seven years the
income and expenditures of the Gov
ernment have been nearly equal,
some years showing surplus, and
Others fewer in number a deficit
! Taking one year with another, in
GLIDING this year, there has been an
average surplus. The surplus last
year. for instance, was greater than
the deficit this year, so that. in fact,
under the present administration
there has been no deficit but sur
plus which is actually in the treasury.
The Democratic platform nowhere
points ont the expenditures which
might be reduced or avoided. 1t
would be found generally that to
the increases which have occurred,
Democratic Representatives in Con-
gress made no opposition, but rather
4 supported the measures providing
them, and now the party has not the
courage to indicate what part of gov
\ eminent cost it would end. 1t joins
lthe Republican party specifically in
approving the outlay of $15O.000,000
rs pensions. 1t expressly favors a.so
the cost of greatly increased River
and Harbor improvements, the cost
of doubling the Navy, and of many
other enterprises to which it urges
the Government. Its attack, there
fore, has Nothing In it either of fair
ness or siiserity.
The truth is that 1t is known OF
all fair-minded men that there never
mas been an administration in the
Government more efficiently conduct
ed. more free from scandal, and in
5 which the standard of official duty
has been set higher than in the pres.
: ent Republican administration, which
the Democratic platform has de.
nonnced. 1t has had to meet the
problems arising from the enormous
expansion of Government functions
under new legislative measures as
! well as in the new dependencies, ant
: in the greatest constructive work Of
: modern times, the Panama Canal, ant
+ its members may well feel jus
/. pride in the exceptional record fol
efficiency, economy, honesty and fidel
ity which it has made. We may rel!
upon our record in this regard In al
0 appeal to the American people To-
n IN af,. anNrayoI