The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1912-01-27
SHOULD MARYLAND BE PLEDGED
TO TAFT?

MARYLAND'S delegation to the Repub-
lican National Convention should go I'M
pledged. The Republican party faces a
serious situation at the next election. 1t
will need the strongest candidate that
can be named. AS things now stand that
candidate is not President Taft 1t is
confessed with regret. Mr.. Taft's per-
sonal character is so pure and attractive,
his equipment for high Office has seemed
so exceptional, that one must be permit
ted to regret the course of events which
makes the wisdom If his denomination
so uncertain, because the probability of
his reelection would be so slight. A
great National party does not put can
or to pay somebody an empty compli-
ment 1t INDUCES in some reasonable
hope of its candidates election. On what
would that hope be based, with Mr. Taft
as the nominee? Where would his ma
jority come from? Certainly not from
the Southern States, wnere most of the
early and emphatic endorsements of his
denomination are located, thanks 70 the
activity OF the Federal officeholders who
constitute the chief element of the Re-
publican party in those States, but who
count for nothing in the election re-
turns. Will that majority be found in
the great agricultural States of the mid
die and northwest? Mr.. Taft lost them
by his reciprocity record. We are not
concerned with any discussion Of that
record now. We are referring only to
its political effect. Tens of thousands
of farners warned Mr.. Taft that if HIS
reciprocity doctrine was genuine Repub-
licanism, they would be counted some
thing else in November next.
The same unfortunate laundering has
followed the President in his politica,
allignments, or want of allignments. He
is no less distasteful to the progress
s:Ves' than to the standpatters." The
former charge him with standing for
purely reactionary policies; for which
one might thank God and take courage;
were it not that the latter charge him
with being traitor to his party and
:: &c to the fundamental principles of
Republicanism. Unfold the pages of the
Congressional Record for the last twelve
months, and hear how Republicans from
the East and West, "standpatter'' and
progressive in both Houses of Con-
gress, have denounced the Chief Execu-
tive, the ''titular head of the party" and
one will not be surprised that Mr. Taft's
denomination furnishes a gloomy pros
n ,.ha g.;
our national affairs from falling under
the direction of Democratic policies and
Democratic leaders.
Hence the unrest in the party Hence
the feeling round fer a candidaIe-some
one stronger than Taft-behind whom the
party can line up for hopeful and Wig
orous campaign.
Under such circumstances we are GER
tainly against the plan to have Mary
land endorse President Taft's renomina-
ton That plan is being engineered by
our Federal officeholders and opposition
thereto has the unpleasant feature of
setting us in opposition to a number of
gent emen whom we count as warm per-
sonal friends. At the same time we are
going to say frankly to them and to our
iNiioH VI lHlS state, tnaL
the party must show itself much too big
to be entirely dominated by Federal pat
ronage, or it can never command the re-
spect and support, which it should COM
mand, as a political influence in State
afalrs or elsewhere. Maryland Republic
cans should not endorse Mr.. Taft's no.
mination simply because an active and
biased Federal influence is working to
that end. These Federal office holders
are working for their CHIEF. Republic
cans, who are not so controlled and bias
ed, should have regard to what Mr. Taft's
candidacy will mean to the PARTY. To
this class of Republicans we are address
ing ourselves They are the Republic
cans who should come 10 the front in the
coming weeks; who should make it plain
and emphatic that there is no great
amount of Taft sentiment in Maryland
outside the circle of Federal patronage;
who should carry to the National Con-
vention the Judgment of Maryland Re-
publicans that the Presidents re-nomi-
nation means defeat before the battle
opens: and who should join with other
good Republicans, who cherish their
party's success because they believe in
Its principles, in asking that some leader
be found, whose leadership will fore
shadow victory