Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1912-03-27
WINNESHIEK FOn TAFT.

be given an opportunity to express
their preference for presidential can
didates through the medium of a
county preferential primary, propos-
ed by the standpatters of the county
and accepted by the progressives, SO
that. the party stands united on this
proposition.
The primaries will be open in the
various precincts between the hours
named in the notice printed else
where in this paper. Voters will be
handed a ballot with the names of
the four presidential candidates
printed at the top. They will be
expected to mark a cross in front OF
their choice for president. Below
will be found blank lines for the
purpose of writing in their choice for
delegates to the county convention.
1t is altogether probable that no
active campaign for organization of
the county will be made on behalf
of any of the presidential candidates,
but we urge every friend of Presi-
dent Taft, every friend of fairness,
of justice, and of the republican
party to go to the primary and vote
for Taft. This county is vociferously
claimed as progressive county, but
We don't believe it. The last two
primary elections must be taken as
avidence, and in each Governor Car
roll carried the county by good ma
jorities. When the vote is out our
people may be depended upon to do
the Ugh. thing.
The entrance of former President
Roosevelt into the campaign elimin-
ates Senator Cummins of Iowa from
serious consideration. In fact among
the ten delegates already elected
from Iowa districts to the national
convention Cummins has only two,
while Taft has eight, so that his own
state will not be behind him. His
name is seldom mentioned in this
connection outside of Iowa and he is
practically out of the race.
ROOsevelt's announcement was
sprung at "the psychological mo-
ment" it was thought. 1t was not
received with anything like. the ex-
pected enthusiasm. AS a matter of
fact 1t fell fiat. Thousands upon
thousands of his staunch friends had
said that he would not be a candi-
date, that he would not prove false
to his own word and traitor to his
best friend. He himself said that his
position in history had been made,
and that he would positively not be
candidate. But he could not with
stand the overpowering ambition to
be leader, dictator, and in a mo-
ment he has lost much of that which
he had spent a lifetime in building,
and had accomplished so successfully
the confidence. and esteem of the
people. There is no reason for the
Roosevelt candidacy. Nothing is to
be gained by it. 1t stands for moth
ing except the Napoleonic ambition
of one man. 1t represents nothing
good which Taft does not represent
and has not done more, much more
to bring about in four years than
Roosevelt did in seven. 1t is built
upon a shaky foundation, and it will
fall.
The conspicuous service rendered
to his country by President Taft be-
fore he became president; his sin
cere, candid efforts to carry out the
policies of his predecessor whenever
they were found to be practical and
expedient; his straightforward, hon
est, dignified. frank administration
OF affairs as he has believed for the
best interests of the entire country;
his record of accomplishments which
places his administration alongside
those OF our greatest presidents;
these In spite of the unfavorable con-
ditions which surrounded him stamp
his record as that of great, good
man, a president of all the people, in
whom every citizen can have the
utmost confidence.
Certainly the American people will
not give to Roosevelt what they re-
fused to Grant, what they aid not
give Lincoln or Washington-a third
term as president. Certainly Amer
lea has not come to such a pass that
but one man is big enough to be its
president. Certainly the man in
every sense entitled to a second term,
and in no way not entitled to it, the
man who is most certain to be elect
ed II nominated, the one man to
whom true republicans should give
their earnest support and influence is
William Howard Taft, our next presi-
dent.
Republicans of Winneshiek county,
go. to the primaries next Tuesday and
cast your vote for Taft.