Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-05-17
DEMOCRATIC TICKET.
THE LOW STANDARD OF THE
CAMPAIGN.

Was there ever such spectacle as TINS
campaign presents to the American people
Il has fallen to such low plane that the
dignity which has always heretofore been
associated with the highest office in the
gift of the people has been lost sight Of.
The candidates are going about over the
country, not only seeking the Office like
they were running for constable. but calling
each other names and dragging the Office
into the filth Of bitter and contemplate
personal politics. 1t is nauseating to de-
cency and revolving to responsibility.
There was a time (and it has not been
so long ago. that candidates did not seek
the Office Of President by running all over
the country making speeches. Such a
course was thought to be undignified and
lowering to the responsibility of the can
didate.
Not over twenty years ago Presidential
campaign for party nomination was con-
Quoted by the friends of the various can
didates and the candidates themselves
remained at home with proper modesty
and due sense Of the fitness of things and
with regard for the high Office with which
their names were connected until the par
ties decided upon their candidates
How the mighty has fallen and how
degenerate have our methods become when
Col. Roosevelt and President Taft visit
each State at the time for it to select Its
delegates with speaking tours. covering all
the important cities that limited time will
allow, for self-exploitation. 1t is even
worse than this. for as bad as self-explOita-
ton is, ii is not as bad as calling an oppo-
nent liar, hypocrite and demagogue, which
each Of these aspirants for the Presidency
has called the other in little more polite
language. If President Taft's estimate Of
Col. Roosevelt, as expressedin his speeches,
is proper estimate. then Col. Roosevelt
is unfit TO be President. and the reverse is
equally true.
If we are to listen to the President, Col.
Roosevelt is a man who breaks his word,
maliens his friends, misrepresents facts
and seeks to overthrow those institutions
upon which the safety of the republic is
based.
1t was only last Monday and it seems
that the disgraceful scene is to be kept up |
TO the close Of the campaign, growing |
worse as the end nears, that the President |
made use of the following cutting Language.
applicable to Col Roosevelt, in his Stu
benville. Ohio, speech:
Mr. Roosevelt compares himself more
to Abraham Lincoln and resembles him |
less than any man know of in the history |
Of the country.
in every announcement he would make |
you think he was the whole show. It is
Il TT If you feed that vanity and that |
eeotism by giving him something Wash
ington did not get, jefferson did not get, |
and Grant did not get. you are going to |
put him in Office with sense Of his power |
that will be dangerous to this country.
mr.. Roosevelt says he is necessary to |
do the job Suppose he were waited to |
the skies in chariot like the prophet of |
old and were to disappear from sight
how do you suppose this country would |
staeeer alongH When he comes here, ask
II he is going to have a third term. why
not fourth, a fifth. a sixth, and why not
for life. in order to relieve our minds and
enable us to 60 home and attend to our
business and let him run the government.
If we are to heed Col. Roosevelt, Presi-
dent Taft is man who has been the tool
Of bosses. corrupt interests and plunderers
of the people. He is untruthful, disloyal
and reactionary. The beneficiary, with his
own consent, Of fraud.
How can the party be expected to nomi-
nate either mani And how. if it does, can
it reasonably orriehteously ask the country
to support himf
Who knows Taft better than Roosevelt 7
Who knows Roosevelt better than Taft 7
Once bosom friends. they are now bitter
opponents, and each is doing his best to
discredit the others character in the eyes
Of the public.
While they restricted their controversy
to discussion Of policies, there was no
occasion for criticism There was room for
a proper difference Of opinion, and healthy
rivalry on the plane of administrative and
legislative programs held no serious peril
for party success.
1t looks like the Republican party has
been disgraced by the campaign that is
being waged by these two candidates, and
II either one Of them can be elected after
what they have said about each other and
the feeling which it has ensendered be-
tween their friends, we very much mistake
the temper and spirit Of the American
people.