The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1910-02-25
PRESIDENT TAFT'S
CAMPAIGN SPEECH.

President Taft's Lincoln Day address
before the New York Republican club
was designed primarily to strengthen
his party in the coming congressional
elections
No man who gave thoughtful read
ing could possibly arrive at any other
conclusion.
We do not say that Mr.. Taft is to be
criticised for coming to the rescue of
his party at a time when it is in such
sore distress and need. But we do say
that, despite the skillfully calculated
utterances of a partisan President it
ought not to be forgotten that the peo-
pie are in distress, too, and that their
welfare is vastly of more Importance
than the success of any party in a
congressional election.
Joseph w. Folk, former governor of
Missouri, recently said:
There are only two great contending
forces in this country today. On one
side are the advocates and the benefici
aries OF special privilege; on the other
are those who stand for equality of OPP
portunity to all. 1t is an issue between
money and morals; between dollars and
men. Upon the result of
the fight during the next few years
hangs the fate of government by the
people. In the war against privilege
some battles must be lost; with each
defeat we should not become discourag
ed, but fight all the harder. With each
victory we should not become apatheic
and think all has been won. If the
issue between public rights and special
privilege could be presented squarely
there would be no doubt as to the out
come anywhere, for the majority of the
people will do right when they know
right. The representatives of privilege
are too shrewd, however, to permit
plain issue between public rights and
special privilege to 90 before the people:
and they generally adroitly manage to
confuse the main issues with other
questions so as to bewilder and con
fuse men Of even the best intentions"
Now, we believe that most people will
agree that this is the absolute gospel
truth. And yet if President Taft in
his Lincoln Day speech had said Just
that and nothing more, Wall Street
would have been thrown into panic the
heads Of criminal trusts would have
been frantically arranging for bail
bonds, and the protected, privileged in
terests would have taken a solemn oath
never to contribute another dollar to
a Republican congressional campaign
fund so long as Bill Taft had ANYTHING
to do with the party.
So what Mr. Taft did say was con
siderably different. And that his
speech was intended for Republican
campaign purposes is evidenced BY the
fact that, upon motion of Representa-
tive Hill, it already has been ordered
printed by congress as an official docu-
ment to be mailed throughout the eoun-
try by the Republican congressional
campaign committee uHdor the franking
privilege so generally abused by mem
bers Of congress of both parties.
Mr.. Tart's speech was many sided
There was one side for the benefit of
the people who are too busy to think
there was another side for the benefit
of Wall Street that thinks all the time
about how to- get the foolish peoples
money. and there was another side in
tended to reassure the protected inter
ests that furnish the funds so badly
needed in a political campaign.
Mr. Taft said
"If the enforcement of the law is not
consistent with the present method of