The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-10-01
TAFT AS A SPEAKER.
His Talks to the People Winning
Many Votes.
DOESN'T POSE AS AN ORATOR.
Word Pictures Not Needed to State
Facts PlainIy-RepubIican candi-
dates CIearness and Sincerity Garry


as to the outcome of Judge Taft's
speaking tours Republican leaders are
now convinced that one of the wisest
moves of the campaign was the deci.
sion to let the Republican candidate
visit as many sections of the country
as possible between now and election
day and talk to as many voters as the
time will permit. When speaking tours
for Taft were first discussed the oppo
nents of the plan based their OppOsi
tion on the fact that as an orator Taft
cannot be compared to Bryan. They
argued that Taft, who makes no pre-
tense to oratory, would be placed at
disadvantage appearing on the stump
against the gifted NebraSkan. But
Judge Taft himself solved the problem
and cleared the whole situation with
one sentence in his recent speech at
Sandusky, o.
Il cannot dwell in the cerulean blue,
but have to deal with facts" he de-
clared. 1t Is this dealing with facts in
clear, dispassionate manner that has
made William Howard Taft what he
is, that will cause him to gain strength
every time he appears in public. Taft's
best friends cannot claim for him that
he is all orator. But he can tell the
truth and does tell it. He will not have
to paint beautiful word pictures of
what should be DONE He will not have
to plead with silvery eloquence for the
alleged downtrodden nor call on the
masses" 10 rise up and save the coun.
try from the ruin which Bryan has
been predicting and finding various
panaceas for during the past twelve
years.
What Taft has to do is to state
cold, clear cut facts, to tell the truth
about himself, to give to his auditors
a clear and unmiStakable idea of what
Taft the man is and what he stands
for. And this he can do, and do well.
By nature he is frank and open. 1t
would be difficult for him to dissemble
If he wished to do so.
Already Taft has begun making seri-
GUS impressions on his audiences. Bry-
an never fails to tickle his audiences.
In most instances he arouses enthusi-
asm, but it is an enthusiasm which
rarely lasts. Those who listen and
applaud go away and forget. With
the Taft audiences it is different. By
the clearness of his exposition and the
absolute sincerity of his manner he
carries conviction. His auditors are
soon impressed by two things-Taft's
ability and Taft's sincerity.
THAT man means what he says" is
comment frequently heard after Taft
has spoken. Another Taft character
istic that is winning many friends for
the Republican candidate among those
who knew nothing of him before they
saw and heard him is his great cour-
age He says what he thinks, and
says it in such way that it remains
fixed in the minds of those who hear
him. At Athens. o., he was address,
ing 400 union coal miners. He told
them about having issued injunctlons.
II issued them" he said. because
the rights of the plaintiffs demanded
it. When l am on the bench l enforce
the law. And l have no apology to
make"
For minute there was absolute 81.
lence dramatic in its intensity. Then
the 400 miners broke not merely into
applause. bur into enthusiastic cheers
After the meeting they were heard ex
pressing their views.
THAT man Is on the level" said one
He doesn't hand out any con talk,
He knows where he stands and Is not
afraid to come straight out with a
thing. He amt the orator Bryan is.
dare say"
Unlike many of Bryan's utterances
Taft's utterances will bear inspection
| He, will, make no declration that is
open. to, doubt II have to deal with!
facts" he said. In some of 4 his
speeches Bryan, intoxicated with the
sound of his own words. Frequently.
makes, statements not entirely, trust,
WORTHY, Taft has, been too long on the,
bench. too long in high government +po-
| sltions, where his utterances CARRIED
weight, to permit of his making care,
less statements. Furthermore, Taft
| possesses to marked degree the abil.
| ity to discuss the most intricate sub
| jects in the simplest language. He
| proved this most concluslvely at San:
dusky when he made perfectly plain to
his audience the development Of anti,
trust legislation and the powers. and
limitations Of the federal government:
Everybody knew exactly what be WA.
talking about and understood lt clear,
ly, yet t.there were few in the audience.
who. .reallzed that he was discussing
| abstruse legal problems without resort
ing to bewildering legal phraseology.
AS far as personal magnetism goes,
/ Taft and, Bryan are nearly equal. But
where Bryan's personality is one that
creates interest and enthusiasm Tafts
| Aone that inspires affection and trust
fulneSs. 'That man has fine face;
would trust him anywhere" said
West Virginia woman who with a
large party came over the mountains
to hear Taft speak at Hot Springs.
Those who meet him feel that he is
not only sincere, but that he possesses
the ability and.courage to handle safe
ly the many problems that confront
president. 1t is the knowledge Of all
this that makes the Taft managers
glad that be is to go out and meet the
people.