The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1911-09-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.


Coast the gauntlet was thrown down 10
him Thursday by the managers of The
La Toilette campaign eadquarters in
Washington. They characterize his tour
as one of apology and assert that il
will be more disastrous politically 10 him
than was the journey he made into the
"enemy's country" after the enactment
of the Perpendicular Tariff law of 1000.
The La Toilette managers issued
statement under the caption "Can Taft
Win?''
Thousands of copies have been sent
through the mails in all parts of the
country, especially to those living along
the charted course of Mr.. Taft's itinerary.
y is the first of a series of challenges
from the progressives who have laid
careful plans for the starting Of fires be-
fore and behind the points where the
President will deliver his 900 speeches.
The statement was issued by Medill Nc
Cormick, of Chicago, acting manager Of
the campaign headquarters of the La
Toilette movement in Washington. 1t
questions the ability of President Taft, if
renominated, to recover the Eastern
States which went Democratic in the
election of 1910, and doubts his power
TO hold the progressive Western States
which remained Republican last year.
To secure his re- election" the state
ment asserts, President Taft must re-
cover not less than 60 electoral votes from
States carried by the Democrats in 1910,
without losing any votes in the Progress
sive States which stand in the Republi
can column. Can he do it? Can he get
back his native State of Ohio? Can he
develop any strength in the States on the
Atlantic Coast which left him last year,
without making corresponding losses in
the West?
Breathing defiance, he is going into
the "eneny's country" on another tour of
apology. Two years ago he apologized
for the Payne-Aldrich law, and now he
will apologize to the farmers for remov-
ing the protective duties on their products
through the Canadian Reciprocity law,
while he maintained the cost of clothing.
blankets and carpets by his veto of
La Toilette Wool bill.
For six weeks he will lay aside his ex
ecntive duties to invite the West to re-
pudiate the course of its Progressive re.
presentives in Congress. The last tour
was followed by increased Progressive
strength in Congress and the State
capitals. Is it likely that the voters have
so changed that the result this time can
be other than it was before?"
~
President Taft left Beverly Friday
evening on his second swing around the
circle
In the opinion of many of his friends
the trip promises to be one of the most
important ever undertaken by a Chief
Executive. He himself has said he will
indulge in little political discussion, but
it is admitted that opportunity for such
discussion will not be merely offered but
probably thrust upon him.
That be would accept the gage of
battle, If some "heckler" in his audiences
threw ii on the platform. is hardly doubt.
ed. That the Presidents political
fortunes may depend to some extent ON
this journey is agreed to by many men
close to the Administration.
The swing" will be abou, 1900
miles long. Twenty four States will be
visited and in IS the President will speak.
In Kansas, Nebraska. Iowa, Missouri,
Montana, Idaho, California, Oregon,
Washington, South Dakota, Minnesota
and Wisconsin he will spend many of his
busiest days. These States are labeled
'Insurgsnt" by those who keep the
political books. New York, Colorado,
Wyoming, Utah. Illinois and Peuns, J.
vauia will not be slighted. but in those
States the President will not have to work
SO hard. The same political bookkeepers
credit them to the Progressive wing of
the Republican party. Michigan, which
has been called Taft insurgent," will
get lot of the Presidents attention
The trip began in Boston and Washing
ton will see the wind up on November
W.
The resignation of DIR. Harvey w.
Wiley. chief of the Bureau of Chemistry
in the Department of Agriculture aud
probably the best-kuown pure. food expert
in the Government service, will not be
asked for by President Taft, despite rec
concentrations that it be requested made
by the Personnel Board of the Depart
ment and Endorsed by Attorney-General
Wickersham. The .'condign punish
ment" for DR.. Wiley, which Mr.. Wicker