The Washington herald., 1909-01-06
MR. HAY DEFENDS
PARTY OF SOUTH
Declares Principles Cannot
Be Changed.
CRITICISES TAFT'S ATTITUDE
ASSERTS Giving Political Preferment
TO Republicans Against Policy of
Section, and that Federal Offices
Cannot BE Used 20 Change the Sen
tIment of It's Loyal Citizens.

That Judge Taft has mistaken the SEN
timent OF the people Of the South. and
that he could not expect political prefer
ment there because giving such prefer
meHt Is against the principles Of the peo-
pie Of that section. Is the statement made
by Representative James Hay. Of Vir-
ginia.
Sir. Hay declares the South the land Of
the Democrats. aid Ee assures the Repub-
licans that it is as impossible 70 change
the principles there as it is 10 change the
spots Of the leopard
Attitude Surprise.
The attitude Of 4Ir. Taft toward the
people OF the South IS a matter Of sur
prise and disappointment to all self-re-
specting Southern men" said 8Ir. Hay.
The people OF the South. as well as peo-
pie elsewhere have principles TO which
they adhere because they believe them 70
be right; but Mr. Taft seems TO think that
by the promise OF political preferment he
can persuade our people 10 desert p-in-
cipIes IN which they believe.
he asks Us 20 crook the pregnant
hinges OF the knee. that thrift may fol-
low fawring.' Every Southern man must
resent this estimate Of our people by the
incoming President
rs Mr. Taft Republican because he
has nas- a-,7s q, or s,,--,..t ,---- 49, r-s~
one2 What policy does 1Ir. Taft advocate
which wiz make for the material pros
psrity Of the South? The South began
70 prosper when II tnrew CT Republican
rule over twenty-five years ago. II has
prosPered ever since under Democratic
state governments. ard could not have
prospered without them, and VIII not
prosper with Republican State govern
ments-
Idea OF StateSmansEIp.
Does Mr.. Taft propose 10 change the
spots Of the leopard? His highest con-
ception Of craftsmanship seems 10 be that
men can be persuaded 10 change their
principles by their desire for Federal Of
Zee is Mr- Taft even consistent IN his
declaration that he thinks the Southern
people should be let alone in their treat
ment OF the suffrage and kindred ques-
tions? Hardly. when ne takes one position
as 10 Alabama OF Georgia and q totally
different one as TO Maryland.
Has Mr. Taft said or done anything
10 diferentiate him from the other Re
publican Presidents who have directed
the political affairs OF the Republican
party in the South? He has dealt IN many
slittering generalities. but has said or
done nothing 10 show that he has any
plan OF action different from his prede-
CessOrS.
No Change in store.
I venture to say that no change viii
be made in the management OF the poIiti-
cal affairs Of the South BY Afr. Taft We
all understand that he Is playing poll
tics, and doing what he can TO set votes
four years hence. when he VIII again be
2 candidate for the Presidency. But
that the Southern people can be fooled by
smooth words, OF be driven from their
principles by the promise OF Office no one
believes. on the contrary, the course
which Mr.. Taft has chosen TO pursue has
caused deep resentment. and has already
done much 10 make the people lose con-
fdence in his sincerity and honesty Of