The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1911-11-30
A LINcoLN sToRY APPLIEp no president TAFT.


There is story told of examination for promotion
during the time OF the Civil War. A military board
pounding list of tactical questions to the asprans for
officers commission Suppose they said, that you
marching your army down canyon where could
depoy and it too steep to turn back and the rocks
impossible to climb the Sides and the bottom
lay the enemy nrenched with artillery and another hostile
force closing behind you in the canyonwhat would you
dor One meek spirit thought it and said, why, I'd
d resgn! Another more warlike blade without
military knowledge but with soul of fire. burted to the
dapper little tactical warrior who propounded the catechism
DO, you fool! Why, I'd give EN- hell that's what I'd
do Tradition says that the great Lincoln made the last
man general something like that for all his unmiltary
About the same condition confronting and surround
ing and closing behind the Republican party today 1t IS
going down the canyon of nevitabeism around it the
walls of routine politics. behind it. ready to close in the
stragge is the whole countryside and its people, and ahead
enrenched is the democratic party And it's to the Re
publican party to find answer to fit the
1t is inevitable perhaps that President Taft shall be
mated if he continues to want it. Which, from accounts
he does most ardenty He has all the Federal patronage
which, counting less solid South will give him the
convention. He has returned from 000mle swing
around the country which, through the OF the men
closest to him. may look like whole united people clamor
for his return No doubt he believes that it the
and not the office the personality and the curiosity seek
ing propensity that attracted the mildly cheering millions
Without doubt he is honest in believing that he in de
mand as the for the party II not the whole
country for the next four years Doubtless the little birds
just sweety the leaves vnkled just mery the
ripping brook munured just rowsy the leader who
marched his hypothetical army down the canyonto give
EN- hell, to resign
Disregardng the names of Republican and Democrat
and they longer the shibboeth to identify think
manthe people of the United States looking for
something substantial than the present political
There Progressive emocrats and Reaconary Republ
though primarily each party believed to represent 9th
than what its apparently distinguishing trait With
the and states rights nd slavery and the Union
settled the old names outgo the old issues forgotten
The time here fer lines Of thought The election Ola
Democratic congress- simply because, the old conservative
Republican machine having secured strange-hold the
Republican party, the people wouldn't stand longer
is enough evidence Nationally the Republican party
to be powerleSs in the hands of the past the Od Man of
the Sea- could not be persistent than the old element
controlling the destnie of the party The faint protest
of year ago going to be revotor revolutionary the
time of the next election and the nomination only
months away.
The leader Of the hypothetical need not have led
his forces into danger He might have the tracks, and
the smoke of the camp fires of the enemy and taken another
route he might have resigned earlier he might have sfen
I'd his backbone and really given EN- hell and David
Harum- like, done it first But story pedcates the
whole action the blind laundering of the who IS not
lble to see the signs around him.
Why should Idaho Republicans who progressive and
intelligent and able to the signs willingly fall into such
rap Why not make platform c suit, and then pick
who is able to stand and do something when the
ight comes? 5