Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-02-12

and all that. But / believe this
work can be carried on successfully
without so much beating of the
drum, without SO much calling of
men liars, without running amnck
and shootlng-up the town. believe
Judge Taft would preserve all the
vital parts OF Rooseveltism and drop
some of the Objectionable parts"
The second subdivision OF public
sentiment in this state ls that found
fRmong the masses OF people. II is
Roosevelt idolatry pure and simple
IL Is a feeling that President Roose-
welt Ia the greatest man the country
has had in public life since Lincoln.
All that Rev. Mr.. Dixon and other
ministers OF tho gospel are saying
about Roosevelt as John the Bap-
list. and all that Burke Cochran
says about him as the only crusader
tho Republican party has. these pco-
pie believe implicitly. They are of
both political parties, OF all political
parties. They are sincere. onthusi-
astlc. almost fanatic in their faith
In the man ana his works. In their
eyes Roosevelt can do no wrong. He
has them completely hypnotized.
They love him and hate his enemies.
They believe II was his enemies who
brought on the panic IN New York
for no other purpose than TO hurt
their idol
Now. tho interesting thing Is that
these two phases OF public opinion
ran together and coalesced IN the
Taft movement IN this state. AZ soon
as Il became know that Taft was
Rooseyelt's choice the masses we're
for him for that reason and no
other. The most OF them would
have been for any man upon whose
shoulders the mantle OF their idol
chancod 10 fan. The business and
profcs iional men were not FOR Taft
because Taft was Roosevclt's choice.
but because they admired and be.
lioved In TAFT himself With them
the Secretary OF War stood on hla
own merits. And when thew began
practical work for him. they found
Il an easy task because the masaes
were OF their way OF thinklng for a
different reason.
Hence Il IL not difiicult 20 under
stand why and how MlchiEan has be.
come a Taft state.
strong az was tho movement for
TAFT among tho mea OF affaira. aud
capably a. they aid their work they
do not deny that II q he'd not beeu
for 'rafta Inheritance OF tho Roose-
Welt following they might not have
been able Ia -arFy the delegation. AZ
any rate. there would have been a
oontest with the friends OF other
candidates. and tho outcome prob
ably would have been a divided dele.
gation. Taft perhaps would have
tbs lergsat block OF votes, but
Hughes. KnoA. CortelYou all had
influential friends hero. II waa the
Roosevelt yoioe thAt settled the mat.
ter once Tor ali Which may be sent
down east 90 those eminent finau-
cirei and railway presidents Who are
quite rurc that the only reason TAFT
oannot ha nominated Il because
Roosevelt Is Tor him-the men Who
have seriously ard earnestly ad-
vtsei Tan to get out of tho cabinet
and cut loose nom tho President In
irdor To make his nomination aud
'leciiop sure Your aycrag, down
'ast financler and railroad manager
Knows about a. much ~ public opln-
on in the heart ~ the country as :
'e does OF men and matters IN
daw
Among the men of affairs IN this
.iate and have talkei With those
sho have beon la every city and
erse town durlng the past Few we,ks
ono finds a great deal OF opinion
hat President Roosevelt Ia l0slne
ll''le ~ his hold upon the men Who
ajax Tor themselves and that Judge
an Is galalaE uIson their respect
ud confidence, one man expressed
be though, ia this way
When the Tan movement m
ilehisan first assumed large pro. II
ortions about SO per cent of lt was
ae 10 Roosevelt and ths remaining \
0 pep cent 20 admiration FOR TAFT n
imself Nov the probabi ties ane