The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-14
Carrying His Personal Endorse.
ment Of Judge Taft.
NOT NEEDED. HE SAYS
If the Candidate Had a Record
of His Own.
Would Like to Hear From His
Opponent Himself.

simple sentences from Mr. Taft will be
worth more than the eulogy that the
president pronounces. The president s
| endorsement is of no value unless the
president VIII agree to stay in Wash
ington and see that Mr.. Taft makes
good"
| In these words. William ]. Bryan
summed up his opinion of the letter of
| President Roosevelt commendatory of
| Mr.. Taft soon after the Democratic
| candidate arrived in this city
1t was expected, of course" said Mr..
Bryan. that President Roosevelt would
support Mr.. Taft. He could hardly do
less in view of the fact that he selected
| him as the administration candidate
| and supported him with all the inf1u-
ence that the administration could
bring to bear. The presidents letter,
| however, may be objected to as irrele-
want, immaterial and not the best evil
dence- II Mr.. Taft were dead it would
| be interesting to know from Mr.. Roose-
welt what he knew of Mr.. Taft's opin-
Ions and work, but as Mr.. Taft is alive
ana able to speak for himself 1t is
hardly necessary for Mr.. Roosevelt to
| tell us what Mr.. Taft will do
Mr.. Taft is running upon a platform
when was SO unsatisfactory that he
had to amend it in several important
particulars and yet even as amended
| 1t gives the public no definite idea as to
what Mr.. Taft stands for. Mr. Taft
also has made some speeches and
promises to make some more. The
| ones he has already made have not
thrown any light upon the political
situation, but it is to be hoped that
he will yet conclude to define his posi-
ton with sufficient clearness to enable
the public to know what he stands for.
1t is not sufficient for the president
to say that Mr.. Taft is a friend of Ia
Dor. That is a subject upon which the
laboring man is entitled to an opinion
and Mr.. Taft's friendship is to be de-
termined not by the presidents en-
dorsement but by the measures which
that the labor organization should come
under the operation of the antitrust
law, thus dealing with the men who
belong to the labor organization az if
they We're merchandise for the anti
trust law deals with the monopoly of
| the products of labor.
Mr.. Taft is opposed to trial by jury
| in cases of indirect contempt, thus de-
nying to the laboring man a safeguard
which is guaranteed to every man tried
in criminal court Mr.. Taft does not
| agree with the laboring man in regard
| to the use of the injunction in labor
disputes. No words of praise from the
president can change Mr.. Taft's atti-
|
titude more acceptable to the wage
| earners.
mr.. Taft's position on the trust
! question is not changed by the presi-
dents endorsement. The president
| himself has not succeeded in putting
any trust magnates in the penitentiary
| and only few of the trusts have been
disturbed. If Mr. Taft is no more sue
cessful than the president in his at
tack on the trusts he will not satisfy
the expectations of the public. There
are more trusts in the country today
! than there were when Mr.. Roosevelt
| was inaugurated, and Mr.. Taft favors
| a weakening rather than a strengthen
! ing Of the antitrust law, for he has
| advocated an amendment that will
| limit the operation of the law to I'M
reasonable restraint of trade.
"On the tariff question Mr.. Taft has
failed to. express himself with clear
ness. The Republican platform does
not use the word reduction 1t only
promises revision and Mr.. Taft has
construed that to mean that some
schedules will be lowered and some
raised, but there is no intimation that
| the average will be lower or higher
| than 1t is now.
Should Speak for Himself.
And so in regard to all the questions
which are at issue Mr.. Taft must make
his position known. He can not rely
upon the presidents endorsement. An
endorsement on note is not necessary
IL the maker of the note is good and
the endorsement is only good when
suit can be brought against the en-
dorser to enforce 1t. If. Mr.. Taft had a
reform record of his own he would not
need to be endorsed by the president
and the presidents endorsement is OF
no value unless the president Will agree
to stay in Washington and see that Mr..
Taft makes good. We ought to have
some definite statement as to what the
public is to expect from Mr.. Taft. No
such definite conclusion con be drawn
from Mr.. Taft's speeches, and 1t does
not answer the purpose for the presi-
dent to say that he feels sure that Mr..
Taft will do what is right or what is
just for there is a wide difference of
opinion as to what is right and as to
what is Just. A few plain simple SEN
fences from Mr.. Taft will be worth
more than the eulogy that the presi-
dent pronounces.'
Mr.. Bryan was asked this morning
In regard to the printed rumor that if
elected he would appoint Admiral
Schley as secretary of the navy.
mo one has asked me about the
matter, and 1 have not talked with
any one about it," he said. 1.-THE story
therefore was absolutely imaginary.
While am an admirer Of Admiral
Schley and feel that he was unfairly
dealt with I have no thought of pick
ing out any cabinet officers before the
election. Were 1 to announce that any
one would occupy any cabinet position
in case of my election, would at once
be called: upon to select the rest of
the cabinet and each state with a IA
vorite son would feel that 1 should
state my preferences"