Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-02-04


The controversy amongst Republic
cans for the presidential nomination
i not SO much for individuals, or pol
icies, but for spoils. There is of
course, the natural ambition of indi-
viduals to be considered but under
meath that is the more important ques-
tion of the issues that the Republican
party viii be bound for and which fac
don shall distribute the offices. The
question, therefore, of what Individual
will be nominated is not of so much
consequence as which faction he viii
represent. II Secretary Taft. or Sena-
tor La Toilette is nominated he will
be supposed to carry out the Roosevelt
policies. Ii Speaker Cannon, or Fair
banks, or Foraker or Knox is nomin-
ated, the Roosevelt policies will be
placed in cold storage and the ald Re
publican machine and methods as rep
resented by the Mckinley administra-
ton Will be on top again.
1t will not make much difference TO
the people. but it Will make 4 vast
difference to the Republican politicians
which faction wins out. for all the vast
patronage Of the United States gov
eminent is at Stake. The Congrcssion-
al elections will have much more effect
upon measures than who is to exc
cute them. Any Republican Congress
will be bound TO the policy of con-
tinued tariff protection, and even if
Roosevelt should be reelected, by any
unlocked for turn of the political
wheel. his administration would be
again bound, as it has since he was
first inaugurated, to protect the trusts
about rs they now are protected by the
tariff. although show of tariff revis-
ion might be attempted.
The panic has 50 scared President
Roosevelt and his faction that no fur
Their addition to the rate regulation law
can be expected, and. of course, il the
other faction should succeed, the rail-
roads would soon be running things in
the old rut. The financial issue viii
under either faction be settled in the
interest of the national banks, and
ship-subsidy and eXtravagant apmo-
priations would proceed as heretofore.
1t is not a very inviting prospect to
the people, harried as they are by BUSH
ness depression, ana Republicans
panic. which the administration was
unable to prevent by all the power of
the United States treasury. The gen
era! lack of confidence in the RcpublI-
can party and its politicians viii be
made more acute if the business condi-
tions do not mend before election, and
there is every evidence that the coun-
try will require time before another
business boom can be attempted Thus
outside of the Republican politicians
who expect to profit by tho public plum
der, the ordinary Republican, citizen
viii hardly enthuse over a eompaign
that promises nothing of advantage to
him whichever faction is successful.
With the independent Republican voter
it will rather be, plague upon both
your houses. That the Democrats will
profit by the lack of interest that many
Republicans are certain to display is n
matter that cannot be settled until the
conventions are held and the respec-
tive champions selected have declared
their purposes. The question of mo-
ment is. can the Democrats unite on
candidate who will consolidate the
party, and thus take advantage OF the
divisions that harass their opponents?