Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-07-12
GUILTY BUT DESERVING OF MERCY.

IdIt Is having uOuDle with many OF
its readers who persist in addressing
communications to the editor and ask
ing embarrassing questions The oc-
cas1on seems to warrant a two column
reply in the Register and Leader which
for purposes of discussion is of value
as it illustrates first, the quite general
public dissatisfaction with Taft in
Iowa and secondly, the extremely pa
thetic admissions that have to be made
even in an ardent defense Of his claims.
The Register and Leader argues that
Taft is going to be the nominee for a
second term without serious opposition
and that La Toilette will be unable to
capture any delegates except in a few
western states. This Of course, may
be prophetic vision. 1t is at least sup
ported by the political signs of the
present, but 1t can't bury the record
of q recent past.
The r. & L. also argues that if the
prosressives in Iowa could not control
the delegations to the national con-
ventions in 1904 and 1908 when they
Were united" what prospect is there
now, and it Is true that the progress
sives in Iowa have suffered some dis
organization Of late. The Register and
Leader has done what it could to ac-
compHsh It,
Accepting it as settled then that the
president will be the candidate" con-
cludes the Register and Leader, pro
gressives will be compelled to decide
whether they are going to accept his
performances Of the past year as in
compliance with the platform on which
he was elected"
Which 10 not exactly what pro-
gressive republicans are going to do
They may have to accept him as the
candidate and they may come into the
next election compelled to choose be-
tween Taft and the democratic nom
inee, but they are not going to accept
his performances as in compliance with
the platform on which he was elected
This is impossible unless next year de-
velops radically different performances.
The voters generally are thinking about
this very thing and that is why poll
ticians among the democrats are just
now buoyed up with so much hope.
Then to bridge over the troublesome
chasms of these past performances the
Register and Leader gets down to real
labor.
1T makes all the difference in the
world in estimating public man
whether we look upon him as being
driven to do something he does not
want to do, or look upon him as COM
ing back to a Job he prefers, that he
has 1ca. heart so1:"
Says the Register and Leader and
then in defense it is recalled that Taft
speeches. that In his campaign he en-
phasized tariff revision downward, that
even Roosevelt SHE'D at tariff revision
and then for performance the Register
and Leader says that:
1T 10 not worth while to 20 over
again two years that Immediately fol-
lowed nor to offer any explanations of
the genesis Of the Payne-Aldrich bill
Now why is it not worth while
There was the opportunity for per-
Torrance In the things he "had a real
heart for" in the things he had en-
phasized, but what did he doc He
joined with Aldrich and Payne. the
powerful leaders of special interests
and when such men as Senators Dol
liver and Cummins Numbered thei1
terrific exposure of the crookedness Of
that bill the president sought by with
progressives into silence. After the bill
had passed over progressive protest be.
cause Of the presidents influence. an6
after his personal certificate of char
acter given it at Winona had stirred ur
such public reputation that dem.
ocratic congress was elected. Presiden,
Taft then announced, thru his private
secretary, that he would hereafter rec
ognize the progressives as republican.
In matters of patronage. Now, was h,
driven to do something he did not wan
to do or did he come back to the jol
he had real heart for?
'sWhat is true Of the tariff is true o
conservation" admits the Register AM
Leader. president Taft was Away
an advanced conservationist. He wa
looked upon as the most progressive
man in the Roosevelt cabinet" An,
then for the record the Register an,
Leader continues why BaHinger wa
appointed and apologized for we nee
not stop to inquire
But why shouldn't we? Did not Taf
Are Pinchot when the latter as a sub
ordinate rebelled against Ballingers eff
forts to serve the land grab
bers? Ills ringing letters as to in
subordination in Pinchot and as to
certificate Of character for Ballinge
mnst b remembered 1t was after tn
voter. protest in the Iaii election
Which alncted democratic conGrea