The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1908-03-13
REASON FOR SUP
PORTING. TAFT
Is That He is Pledged to Con-
tinue ROosevelts Policies
Fairbanks Is a Great Man, But
Is Too Conservative to Be
President.

Editors Republican:-In the matter
of the Taft-Fairbanks contest for the
nomination of the Republican Nation
al Convention for President, you have
stated rather strongly, in a recent is
sue of the Republican, the claims of
the Fairbanks forces.
. In no way questioning your right
nor impugning your motives in this
matter, l shall ask you to allow me
to state for a large number of your
readers who are Taft supporters their
reasons for such support. The first
and most important of these is that
President Roosevelt's administration,
admittedly the most popular admins
tration in the history of this Govern
ment, is ON trial. If the Republican
party means to stand by the admin
istration the nomination of Taft, who
is avowedly for the administrator
policies, is imperative.
The single issue to which the Amer
ivan pOOpiC VIII 6lfC dNlCHllOn III tic
approaching Presidential campaign is
the restraint of Predatory Wealth.
Taft stands for a continuance of the
policies already inaugurated by Presi-
dent Roosevelt and no length or
strength of resolutions iaudatory of
the present administration would be
acnantad nc cincara FROM, q convention
that failed TO nominate a candidate
whose declared purpose was a con-
tinuance of such policies.
Mr.. Fairbanks is a great man and
under the old conditions would have
made great President, but, the 9TH
er ground being already taken, the
very necessities of his aspiration to
the Presidency have forced him to
align himself with the interests against
which popular wave is beating with
fearful violence. Mr.. Fairbanks is of
present necessity a conservative, but
unhappily for him Morgan, Stillman.
Hartman and Belmont find their in
terests in Mr.. Fairbanks quality of
conservatism.
The unhappy history of a Demo-
cratic National Convention in 1896
damning its own administration is a
folly too recent to be repeated. Per-
sonality l thought that administra-
ton deserving of being damned, and
If there are Republicans who see their
own recent administration in
a similar light they should sup
port Mr.. Fairbanks-remembering
the while that no political party in
the history of this government has
condemned its own administration and
succeeded itself. 1t is fair to con-
clude that the beneficiaries of unholy
combinations of wealth are trimming
their sails for the Roosevelt storm,
and will with some reluctant grace pre-
fer Taft's certain restraints to Bry-
ans uncertain vagaries but it is diff
cult to believe that the disturbed
masses can be lined up with the
kings of crooked commerce in a har-
monious support of Fairbanks conser7
vatism. No Kentucky Republican ex-
cells me in gratitude to Indiana and
to Senator Fairbanks for favors shown
Kentucky Republicans in the most
trying times in its history, but
.misjudge the loyalty and patriotism
of the Republicans of the great State
of Indiana If they would demand that
we extend our gratitude to the ex-
IRENE of sacrificing our convictions
of principles vital to the welfare OF
the great nation of which We are in
tegral part, If Indina Republicans
would demand that We chance ma
tional victory merely to attest our
just gratitude for favors, the impor-
lance Of which l am not inclined to
depreciate that we sacrifice our con-
victions in matters Of national i'm
portance to sense of gratitude, how
ever just, l must then relieve,at least
myself, from any obligation, nay de-
cent respect. for Indiana Republicans.
]. H. THOMAS.
Narrows, KY March IL, 1908.