The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-02-26
Mn. TAFT AND THE NEW SOUTH.

offics a. sscond class mail matter.
Mr.. TAFT AND THE NEW SOUTH.
Very many different estimates have
been placed on the relation between
MI. Taft and what Is called the new
South" In the first place is there
really a new South"
That there is, is indicated by the
action OF the Board OF Trade of st.
Augustine, which presented a memo
rial to the observation-disclosures and
prayed him to abolish the referee sys-
Etem." They ask him to inaugurate
representative government In its
place. This decision is a direct blow
At the professional politicians of the
South. Heretofore they have been
debating the appointments to the fed
eral officers all over the South. In
the same manner 1t hits at the activity
OF the federal office holders in the re-
publican conventions and their prom
inence on the southern delegations to
the republican national conventions.
Nor is this movement on the part
of the st. Augustine men alone in the
iSouth-other organizations Of similar
character are active also. The Jack
sonville Board Of Trade says that If
the suggestion finds favor with the
new president the dawn of the day of
promise for the South is at hand"
It is reported that q concerted move
ment will be made between now and
the Inauguration to bring to bear on
Mr.. TAFT the requisite influence to just
tify him In making q change.
In reality the whole republican party
should welcome any change in the
present systems. The .Office Holders
Trust" is too we'll known In the pres
emit status OF Southern politics to need
to be exposed. These men are
gagged in the selfish and pernicious
practice OF deliberately keeping the re-
publican party as small as they can,
10 that the plums will always go into
their own hands.
Why should the republican party in
terest itself In fostering an employ
bureau for a few men in the South who
are republicans for. the sake of spoils
while ycrowding out the men who are
republicans because they believe in the
principles OF the party?
But though the conditions are bad
the problem is not easy of solution.
In ONE Of the states the republicans
are . few hat the selection of any OF
them would not materially change the
present conditions. The deliberate
jumping Of party lines as sometimes
attempted. does no particular good as
far a. the party is concerned, and has
! not Ahelped to break the Solid South.
Nor. does the theory that the bestowal
Of office on a democrat always help.
This Is. however. a partisan viewpoint.
But though this will not help the
republican party in the South, it Is in
one way the most honest course to pur-
M 1t in many cases seems better TO
select the best man. regardless OF par
ty in he hope hat the South MAJ
eventually realize that the party is
capable of looking for the good OF the
country rather than the good OF the
party. Is it not in many ways better
that the fitness Of the candidate shall
be considered? Especially is this SO
in places in the South. where the re-
publican party merely consists OF men
who are republicans for pelf.
Al to the real future it is certain
that after having seen some Of the
conditions in the South with his own
eyes Mr.. Taft will do the square
and honest thing regardless Of whom
1t hurts. Whether Mr.. Taft succeeds
in removing any of the sectional ami |
mostly or not, it will be a good start
In the work II he shows that he re-
spects the wishes OF the foremost men.
regardless Of party in the South.
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