The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-08-13
P(liICQ| Comment.
Tested and Infested.

Mr.. Taft has bsen yariOuSly tried
In the public service. Mr.. Bryan
Is untried- Mr.. Taft has been doing,
while Mr. Bryan has been talking
One Is a man of known performance !;
the other is man of promises only.
Mr.. Taft has identified himself with
no issues that he hides; Mr.. Bryan
conceGls several that he once adyo-
Gated with the greatest energy Mr.
Taft has no record of defeat or fall
ure; Mr. Bryan has been twice defeat
ed In a national election by a large
electoral majority and a margin Of
from eO0,O0O 10 100000 in the popu-
lar vote. Mr.. Taft has had a long ex-
perience in high judicial positions; as
q cabinet officer, governor In the Phil
ippines, pacIficator in Cuba and or
ganizer in the great work at Panama
Mr.. Bryan has no such credit mark
For the last twelve years his business
has been that of presidential candidate
and anti-administration politician.
While Taft has been busy in con-
structive craftsmanship Bryan has
been a radical agitator. seeking to
pull down what has been done so that
he can shape national affairs after his
own rashly experimental fashion
Taft points to his record in carrying
important responsibilities. Bryan has
never borne any. As worker in a
large sense Taft is known and Bryan
unknown.
Men can be judged by their asso-
ciates as well as by their records. Mr.
Taft had the active approval of Nc
Kinley and has that of Roosevelt. He
is in accord politically with Root,
Hughes. Fairbanks, Cannon, Knox
and other men Of distinction who are
sustaining, and have long sustained,
the heat and burden of the day. Bryan
has had for his political partners
Weaver, Altgeld, Tom Johnson, Tom
Watson, James X. Jones, William ].
Stone, George Fred Williams and men
Of this stamp He has fused with va
rious parties, including Greenback.
Silver and Populist. He would be de-
lighted IL he could now arrange an
alliance with Hearst, and Hearst is by
no means backward about claiming
a lions share for his help. In gen.
eral way the composition Of a Taft
cabinet can be foreseen. What con-
sentative citizen can guess, without a
sense Of alarm, who would be select
ed by Bryan as his nearest advisers?
The quality Of his past and present
associates is the best indication as TO
what his cabinet would be. His free
silver crusade and his unexpected
jump into the championship of the
public ownership of railroads are fair
specimens of his intrinsically unsound
judgment.
u Bryan were elected he could not
have during his term a Congress in
political harmony with himself, and
legislation would accordingly be tied
Up for the next four years, a period
thar would be wasted In q discordant
deadlock when the need of The coun-
try is unquestionably an adIninistra-
Of a president Implies the exercise of
a sober judgment based on definite
knowledge and accomplished facts.
A vote for Bryan denotes a willingness
to take a man on blind faith, beyond
the known points that are plainly adj
verse to him. The election of Bryan
) not probable. Under the circum-
stances 1. seems scarcely possible. 1t
IS. in truth, impossible IL men will
think over the matter with calm de-
liberation. weighing the two men fair
iy In the light of reason and expert
ence. putting aside the clamor Of
sham popularity. Taft means q steady
forward march. Bryan means doubt,
dread = general pause until a strange
situation could be cleared up.-St.
Louis Globe Democrat.