Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1910-03-24
PARTY cHAsTIsEMENT.

The fourteenth Massachusetts con-
gressional district. heretofore a Re
publican stronghold has sent Eugene
N. Foss. a Democrat. to congress,
turning a Republican plurality Of
1880 into a Democratic plurality
of 584O Political wiseacres predict
that this portends a general Demo-
cratic victory at the congressional
elections in November next, and
there is some ground for this pre-
diction, although there would appear
10 be no reason why the support of
the lower house of congress should
be withdrawn from President Taft,
thereby weakening his opportunities
for carrying out platform pledges.
Mr.. Taft has just completed the first
first year of his administration, and
perhaps no president has ever been
so Handicapped in an effort to per-
form his duties to the people. He
is unfortunate in that he succeeded
a man who held to the utmost the
confidence of the people, and man,
at that, who was probably better
versed in the art of political adver-
Using than any previous incumbent
of the presidency. Roosevelt was a
head-liner all through his term of
Office, and anything that might add
to his popularity, whether it was
advice on how to raise a family or
a body blow at some trust. was made
much of and turned to account by
the strenuous ex-president and his
friends. Those same friends are now
apparently doing their utmost to dis
integrate the Republican party,
whether it be from misguided loyalty
to their former chief or with a view
to personal political ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
it is hard to say One thing is GER
tain If Mr.. Roosevelt wishes to
maintain the affectionate respect Of
the thinking people, he must, upon
his return to American shores, or
even before, put a stop to the agita-
ton which has riven the Republican
ranks, or stand branded as a man
willing to see the structure he reared
torn down for the sole purpose that
he may appear as the partys savior.
We think that Mr. Roosevelt is too
honest and too good a politician not
to curb the attacts on the Taft adj
ministration Mr. Taft is not much
on show. He lacks the happy
faculty which his predecessor pos
sessed of coming catch phrases for
the edification of the masses. but his
speeches on all important topics bear
the impress of careful thought and
honesty of purpose, and he is en-
titled to the unqualified support Of
his party and of all those to whom
the question of good government is
important
The Republicans have controlled
the reins of government in all It's
branches since 1896, ana have not
even had the salutary and corrective
influence of a cohensive minority to
keep them from getting off on the
by-paths of undesirable legislation,
owing to the disorganized condition
of the Democrats, and it would be
strange, indeed, if they did not be-
come intoxicated with their fancied
power and scout the idea of popular
chastisement at the polls But even
the Roman Empire fell. and if the
Republicans do not unitedly support
President Taft, if they do not cui
out their petty fights. if they do not
cherish the confidence so readily and
repeatedly placed in them by the pep
pie, there is sad time and many
lean days in store for the party.