Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-29
TAFT ON PRESIDENCY.
Republican Nominee Discusses
Its Responsibilities.
OFTEN THE LONELIEST MAN.

In the Sober Thought of the Majority
of the People Head of the Nation,
He Says, Will Receive His Best
CounseI-Must Be Near the People.
William II. Taft, the Republican
party's presidential candidate, wrote
an article on his conception of the
presidency for a recent issue of Col.
lier's Weekly, in which he says:
''In the four years that have been
a member of the cabinet have become
familiar enough with the responsible
ties and burdens Of the presidency to
know that no man can afford unduly to
seek that great office. If he is attract
ed by honor and power alone, without
the hope of being useful, he is un-
worthy of the honor and unfit for the /
use of the power.
''He must prefer for the sake of his
own peace of mind never to be presi-
dent to being a poor president Conf
dent that the platform on which he
stands is for the best interests of the
nation, he is untrue to himself and his
supporters if he does not fight valiant
ly for election after he accepts the
leadership. But of course he must
draw the line at any compact which
will not leave him free of promise and
of the control of any faction.
''In many senses, though the most
sought after, he is the loneliest man
in the United States. Elected directly
by the people, their representative
head, from them, in the sober thought
of the majority, he will get his best
counsel. They as whole view public
affairs unselfishly. Though indiffer-
ence or preoccupation with private
affairs may keep them from attending
primaries or scanning closely either
candidate or measures, they can center
on the president as their instrument
the expression of their wishes.
1''He should be always near the peO-
pie in thought and as near them in
person as his position will permit. In
common with the people, he is human,
and he must ask their charity for his
mistakes. When they have ceased to
believe in his sincerity and upright
ness Of purpose his is a cherries task.
"Once convinced that he has OWNED
and is carrying out their real wish,
neither elated by any ephemeral out
burst of applause nor diverted by any
outburst Of censure, he must proceed
unwaveringly, always by lawful meth
DDS, to the accomplishment of the pop
ular will.
From Washington he may learn
nobility, fortitude and forthrightness.
Lincolns life and speeches must be his
source of inspiration when he is mis-
understood, and he has to say to HIM
self, Patience and cheer 1t is easier
since we had Lincoln than it was be-
fore to be a good president. He set
a standard.
''It remained for Roosevelt to prove
how the people will respond to a.
strong and true leadership when the
hour has come for great reforms. The
policies which he inaugurated must be
continued and developed. They are
right and they are the policies Of the
people. For that reason his successor
may we'll disregard any charge of lack
of originality if he does not make an
entirely new programme of his own.
"a president at this time has work
before him clearly defined. The en-
forcement of the law equally against
high and low, the powerful and the
weak, should be his first thought. The
danger to our country from laNity or
favoritism in this is the greatest one
we have to face. The conservation OF
our national resources and their devel-
opment for the use of all along the
lines of equal opportunity, too, must
command his immediate attention.
ct should be his aim to give high
tone to his administration, as Mr..
Roosevelt has, by surrounding himself
with men of earnest, enthusiastic in
terest in the public veal and Of the
cleanest but most effective methods"