Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-06
TAFT on PRESIDENCY.
Republican Nominee Discusses Its
RESPONSIBILITIES.


William II. Taft the Republican
party's presidential candidate, wrote
an article ON his conception of the
presidency for recent issue of Col
lier's Weekly, in which he says:
in the four years that | have been
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 I'M
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 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 ut 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 unseltishly. 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.
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 &c
believe in his sincerity and upright
ness of purpose his is cheerless 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
Lincoln's 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 good president. He Sc
q standard.
1T remained for Roosevelt to prove
how the people will respond to {
strong and true leadership when thu
hour has come for great reforms. TIL,
policies which he inaugurated must b,
continued and developed. They ar,
right, and they are the policies of tn,
people. For that reason his successo
may well disregard any charge of lacl
of originality If he does not make al
entirely new programme of his own.
"a president at this time has, worl
before him clearly defined. The en-
forcement of the law equally agains
3 high and low, the powerful and tn
/ weak, shoald be his first thought Th
: danger to our country from laXity o
favoritism in this is the greatest on
+ we have to face. The conservation o
, our national resources and their deve
opment for the use of all along tn
, lines of equal opportunity, too, mus
command his immediate attention.
at should be his aim to give hig
tone to his administration, as Nj
Roosevelt has, by surrounding himsel
with men of earnest. enthusiastic in
terest in the public veal and of tn
cleanest but most effective methods,