The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-09-01
TAFT's AFTERWORD
An Ohio Minister Criticises His
Common Enterprise
With Bosses.

II appreciate the opportunity Of adj
dressing you, and | wish you TO un-
derstand. that every one of you is a
man whom | feel to be in common en-
terprise with mes
Now, this William Taft, candidate
for the exalted Office of president,
used the above language in the pres
ence of George b. Cox of Cincinnati,
Walter Brown of Toledo and G.. w.
Bieser of Dayton, and in 1t he de-
clares,before the whole state and ma
tion he looks upon them as equals and
fellow.workers. And yet, only three
short years ago, we hear him de-
nouncing Cox aud saying that II he
was home In Cincinnati he would feel
IL his sacred duty as citizen to vote
against the ring, and not only the cor
rupt ring in Hamilton county, but
every other so-called Republican ring
in the state. And that, which we may
term his honest foreword, did much
to elect Mr.. Pattison governor The,
large majority of the people of Ohio
! recognized IL as the simple truth.
They had seen enough for themselves,
| and Mr.. Taft's speech at Akron came
when most needed, and the people, be-
lieving the president and all honest
leaders were backing him, took heart
and so voted as to bring about the
much.needed change.
But now, "Alas, how have the
mighty have fallen" We hear him
say these men are good and faithful
workers and worthy of all honor in
the Republican party. Now, what has
brought about this wonderful change
in Mr.. Tafts opinion? We do think
he owes every Republican voter, at
least, an explanation. It does not give
us any just cause for voting to con-
tinue these men in power for him to
say: I'VE will not go into the past,
that is all wiped off the slate" What
we want to know is why are we sup.
posed to wipe the said corrupt slate
clean, and by what right does Mr..
Taft take II upon himself to issue bills
of health to said gentlemen? Has he
found out he was, mistaken in his
Akron conception of their characters
and modes OF political work? If he
has he should make us acquainted
with the fact. He owes it to himself.
Without 1t he can not retain his self
respect, and can hardly hope to retain
the respect of thoughtful and self-re-
specting men. He also owes II to the
men he assailed at Akron II they are
innocent W o.
The voters of9Ohio would like to
know II Messrs. Cox, Brown, etc, are
men who can be trusted-men who
are worthy of being leaders and man
ayers in the Republican party. Or, II
they are still the same In conduct and
character let him inform us by what
process of political logic he makes 1t
possible for himself and us to accept
them as equals and political brothers.
Does the rise and fall of Mr.. Tafts
conscience depend upon whether he
happens to be running for Office Or
not? And does he imagine he can
talk the common people into seeing
men and things from his personal
point of view? This is one of the
questions he must answer. He can
not afford to ignore 1t. Silence here
means bad politics. II these men have
undergone political regeneration we
demand to know the when and the
how. II they haven't then we would
like him to tell us how we can, with
clear consclences. vote for a man who
is not brave enough to say: Gentle
men, If my election depends upon
your favor am not seeking the office.
My manhood and my duty to the
truth, as | see II, are worth more TO
me than anything else"
We are waiting for the answer. We
must have II, because we want to vote
for the good Of our country, and we
know II can not mean well for our
country and its general interests to
elect men who will owe their offices
to the maneuverings of such men as
Mr.. Taft felt 1t incumbent on him to
denounce at Akron. For If they were
too corrupt to vote for in state mat
ters, they are too corrupt to have any
thing to do with national affairs. Or
Is II possible Mr.. Taft imaglnes II
doesn't make much difference what
kind OF men have the job of making
president? Are we to go on the
rule, the higher we go the less care
we need take? Or is he SO anxious to
have the Office that he doesn't care?
Again we say, Mr. Taft, we are wait
ing for your answer. You know you
didn't touch on 1t in your speech Of
acceptance. Why not?
| REV. JOHN p. CALVIN.
Lakeview, o., Aug. 10.