Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1908-10-29
To tho Independent Voters:

I address this to you because you are
"the salt Of the earth" In your hands
lies the result Of this election. You can,
and II you act with one accord you will
decide who shall 6ll every Office in this
county and state and who shall receive
Kansas electoral vote. You have the
greatest opportunity. the rarest privilege
ever offered to voters. and because there
Of upon you now rests a correspondingly
great duty.
There are issues in this county and can
didats standing upon those issues upon
which you must pass judgment!
The moral and financial welfare Of the
people Of this county invite, demand that
you 70 to the ballot box and cast your
votes for those who stand for moral and
hnancia betterment.
And there Is another and no less press.
ing duty: The presidency is in your hands,
Think we'll upon this!
Unless you choose to vote for one of the
lesser.supported candidates, and thereby
have no voice in the decision. you must
decide between Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Bryan
Which shall it be'
OF Mr.. Taft it may be said that he is
clean and Of good ability; that he can. il he
will. fill the Office acceptably. But, ask
you as men. what has he ever done or
said to uplift mankind What "sheaves"
has he brought in' Where is there any
thing upon which to base belief that he
will, that he can do aught to correct the
evils that prevail in our body politic1
Are you not satisfied that, at best. with
his temperament, duly considering his en-
vironment and the power of party con.
trolled and possesses by predatory inter-
ests, he can and he will but follow the line
Of least resistance and passively and
smoothly drift
In your "heart of hearts," reading the
platform of his party, considering his en-
vironment and the interests supporting
him. do you not know there is little to
hope from Taft3
And now Of Bryan: His life and his
character are an open book to you. None
in public life has ever lived nearer to the
people and to God than he. In the last
ten years no man on earth has done so
much for the uplift of humanity: none so
prominent and effective an exponent of
Christianity. He is our highest type of
Christian citizenship and Christian states
manship. No man has done so much as
he in the development of craftsmanship
that seeks to restore to the people the
rights taken from them by Entertainments
of predatory interests fostered by the party
supporting Mr.. Taft-all of which inter-
ests are arrayed against Bryan.
Bryan's heart beats for the people: his
statesm anship land to none may the word
statesman" so fifty be applied as to him)
has for its goal their welfare.
In brief: On the one hand you have "a
good man weighing three hundred
pounds" on the other you have a virile,
soulful Christian man, Of the people and
close to the people; whose equal as a
statesman does not exist. A man in whom
is combined more fully and perfectly than
in any other who ever stood before the
people as a candidate for the presidency
every element that goes to make up the
perfect man. Never before has either of
the great parties presented to your suf-
frage such man; never before has there
rested upon you such duty as now is
yours, to vote for man of unblemished
name, of purest and loftiest character and
life, Of commanding ability-a Christian
Statesman" You will not soon look up
on his like again.
Citizens! Rise to your opportunity and
your duty!
SAMUEL H. SMITH.
Baxter Springs. Kas.. Oct. a7. 1908.