The Washington herald., 1908-08-13
POLITICAL COMMENT.

efficiency when It secures the retirement
of Elmer Dover, whom It characterizes
as hack number. II says:
The retirement Of Elmer Dover from
the secretaryship OF the Republican Ma
donal Committee IS another MOVEMENT IN
the direction OF efficiency. There has
been a feeling for some time among the
enterprising politicians Of whom Chair
man Hitchcock is the type that Mr.. Do
Yer IS a back number that he does not
know how TO play the game according
70 modern rules. The conduct OF a po-
litical campaign IS IN these days a busi-
nessIike proceeding The brass band and
the torchlight procession have been put
away on the shelf. We have instead
thorough eanvasses Of every district.
card catalogues OF voters-Republicans
Democrats. and doubtful-and the sys-
tsmauc distribution Of political tracts.
Tons OF pamphlets are sent broadcast
through the land TO DO al this requires
not merely money. but q high degree ot
organizing skiH. such as Nj Hitchcock
admittedly possesses Il IN his new sec
retary. william Hayward. he has secured
a man Of the same kind. We may be GER
tain that the Republican campaign VIII
be conducted with energy and inteln-
gence-"
The Revue de Deux Moades has a strik-
ing pen portrait OF Mr.. Taft from the pen
Of II. Andrew Tardieu. who thus pictures
him:
II William Howard Taft aura Gin
quante et In ans le Is septenb-e pro-
chain. Cest IN coIosse aux wastes
epaules. haut SUI Jambes. large de torse
II peso rs kilos-les yeux bleu clair, "a
mousrache, q IN blonde pale. fOurnie et
tombante, a Ia faeon don't on a coutume
de representer ceIle des chefs gaulois. nos
aleux- les cheveux, du meme ton, ulais
estOmpes de blancheur. sont partagss par
une raie au miiieu du front LeXpres-
sion dominante est de calrne et de sereaite.
de volante aussi. Rein d'apprete- II
Taft est simple ct tranquille- lie dOute
dolt Tagfter rarement Il volt IA vie en-
lIgne droite. Et de fait. sa carriere. dams
son developpement regulier, bien que bril-
liant. Iui enseigne qu'au merite tout Went
son heu-e-"
The New York Tines Is still harping on
the Efforts OF AIr. Bryan 70 raise cam
paign contributions. and says that the
farmers are not coming forward with
taeir subscriptions with the alacrity that
yes 70 have been expected It attributes
the farmers indifference TO the Demo
cratic appeals 10 their prosperity. and
says
The farmers are said 20 be disapp0int-
ins The expectations OF their Democratic
friend as 70 their contributions in aid Of
his campaign in their behalf Il would be
odd II they should make Ike response
&c the overtures or their Republican
friend. 10 farmers are known 70 asking
anybody's favor n these golden days OF
Agriculture. and nobody would have any
patience with them Z they were
No class IS making a greater percent
age OF profit. or showing better apPre-
citation OF what 20 60 with money The
telephone and the automobile, the rural
I free delivery and the trolley. have re-
duced the Inconvenience Of residence IN
Z the country 10 the vanishing point and
made lhe farmers lot an enviabie one
7 Yet the campaign IS enlivened by appeals
I n their behalf Il IS too thin The far
/ rner knows that he is his own best friend.
I AID needs TO other. and is not likely 10
have any other after election
The New York Man speaking about
/ the effect OF the direct primary and It's
! defects. says:
We are Of opinion that the direct pro
mary would be preferable 10 the present
/ system OF representative government IN
I State poIiucs, for the reason that the sys-
1 TEN IS pretty vel broken down The sys-
TEN lodges the choice of party candidates
I eIrost as completely IN the discretion Of
Z ;he few as in an autoc-atic government
Z the administration OF affairs IS lodged n
[ n the discretion og bureaucratic chiefs
4 Party government n this state should
/ have a larger infusion OF democracy At
I present. = may be described as a cespot-
{ ism tempered by defeat-or the fear OF
I defeat
This IS not 70 blink the defects and
+ dangers OF the direct primary system.
/ some CT which were developed in the Ili-
/ uCis election OF Saturday, some only
/ threatened Gov. Deneen had TOO narrow
/ a margin IN HIS contest for a re-noruina-
I ton that vas MS right u IS complained
I that in both parties there were too many
/ candidates. especially for the miner Of
I fees. 20 permit the average voter 70
I make an Intelligent choice Of men Il 5
I alleged that Republicans voted lor Demo
/ cratic eubernatOriaI candidates. and vice
versa, with the object Of saddling on the
/ other party nominee easy 70 defeat"
; The Nebraska state Journal has this 70
r
! An urgent reason for revising the
tariff rests on the fact that the Dlngley
/ law makes 60 direct provision for a duty
I o. airshfps. The Mills tariff bill CT
/ President CIeveIaud-s first term would II
/ Ike manner have been rendered obsolete
/ by the arrival ot the automobile The
march Of invention demands a revision o.
the ta-iG at least once IN ten years
1 The Nashville American comments ca
President Roosevelt's desperate attempts
to free Mr. Taft from blame IN The
Brownsville affair. but does think he is
likely TO succeed. II says:
! President Roosevelt is making a des-
! perate attempt 10 free Taft from the
I Brownsviue incubus. by reiterating and
emphasizing his sole responsibility for the
/ discharge OF the negro troops; but Il IS
too late 10 realize political results from
such efforts. That 1fT. Roosevelt acted
f. In the matter on his own Initiative ard
/ personal conviction is most probably traa;
. but Taft. first, as Secretary OF War. and
! second. as the Roosevelt chosen heir. can
I not hope 10 be disassociated from what
/ ever credit or blame attaches to the ad-
/ ministraton's course II regard 10 the
negro troops"
/ The Boston Transcript comments cn ths
! nomination OF Adlai z. Stevenson for the
/ governship OF Illinois. and says:
The nomination OF Adlai E. Stevenson
for governor OF Illinois apparently means
that Roger Sullivan and his associates
have decided to let the state 90 by de-
faulr On both local and electoral fio--ets