The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-24
"CANNOT STAND THE GAFFo.

GAN MI STAND IHE bAff
Prior to President Taft's plea for the mercy
of my distinguished predecessor, The Vtr-
gilman, in taking note of the New y ork situation,
headed an editorial with the query, "Will Taft
Fight!"
The query, as we saw it, pertinent for
several reasons: First, because every indication
pointed to the fact that a fight inevitable,
second, because the uncertain and dubious quail
itv of recent Presidential actions sufficient
TO raise the doubt; third, because the question
that was applicable to Taft could MOI apply to
Roosevelt. Roosevelt, at least, will fight, even
if he does have band to advertise the fact;
whatever of pugnacity may have been concealed
at one time beneath the Presidential adipose has
not been much in evidence.
Would Taft fight was a question which we
think the country was asking ITSELF and the an
swer TO which was disappointment to the coun-
try, in common with ourselves In the growing
certainty that Mr. Taft could not escape the beat
ing that the future held for him-,-whether it came
at the hands of the friend who has been per-
Isistenty engaged in undermining him, at the
hands of the open enemy of the Democracy
every reason dictated the desire on the part of
every citizen who held the government in re-
I spect that he should fight rather than lie down.
Since that time, events have shown the Pres
dent in position of recumbcncy. lgnominious-
y and with whine he waits the kick that he
must see is inevitable, which yet he attempts to
postpone. We hold that it is public misfor
tune that, when the opportunity existed TO stanc
up for his medicine, the President now lies down
and cringes against taking it.
! How widespread the disappointment is may be
/ IL III D.tn
Index-Appea made TO the query mentioned
Stating that an Ohio newspaper man once hat
doubts on the subject, but they were speedily
dispeled when the future President gave him
terrible thrashing, and then sat on his PROSTATE
form until promise was given to leave he
State, our neighbor says;
''Will Taft fight! Don't you be de-
ceived by that smile, for the man that
smiles and smiles is the worst in
the world to tackle when he is angered.
Instantly all the milk Of human kind
ness in his nature changes to vIrtlol,
and there's sure to be something do
ing and lots of it, When You want
to negotiate an easy proposition, call
| down the buffer that is always look
ing for a fight, and If you call him
right he will come down promptly,
and there will be no fight But don't
| Try the experiment on the good-na-
/ tured, smiling man, unless you mean
business. As between the President
and his predecessor, we would pick
the President as a hrst-class fighting
man. and we believe that the inpend-
ing fight in the Republican party will
yindicae the soundness of our judg-
ment."
big Biz may have been terrible fellow in
his younger days in the Buckeye State. His
local reputation may have been .of the best, and
he NAV have been bruiser of whom all the other
brusers were afraid. But that was before he go
into fast company. That was before he had had
enlightment at the hands of the ''profesh'' Ane
that 100, was before he had received hearty
jolt or two Many magnificent fighter crumple
up at the first punch, and is thenceforward fl
TO do no more than groom some man who has
nerve as we'll as strength. will Taft Fight 2
We regret to say that everything goes TO indicate
that he will not. AS the old time chicken fighter.
used 10 have il, Gle cannot stand the gaf".