New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-09
PARTY FEALTY URGED
Ex.President of Dartmouth De-
tends Taft Against Roosevelt.
NO TIME FOR WATERING
Tells in the Current "Congrega
tionalist" What a Vote for
Mr.. Taft Means.

Taft means is the subject of an article in
tho current number OF "The Congregation
alist and Christian World" by William j.
Tucker, Ill. D. ex-president Of Dartmouth
College, who says that a vote for Presi-
dent Taft In this campaign Is vote 10
maintain the independence Of the Presi-
Dental Office against the attacks OF an
ambitious man and vote in the interest
of political yeracity. In the course of his
article he says:
Doubtless a good many Republicans,
now that the political situation Is defined,
are proposing to vote for Mr.. Wilson
more. probably, than will eventually cast
their vote FOR him. II viii become in
creasingly evident, | think. as the cam
paign advances that such q course would
he an evasion; IL. that is. one should
vote for Mr.. Wilson TO escape the alter
native OF Mr. Taft or Mr.. Roosevelt. The
Independent voter, who has always been a
large factor In the Republican party, has
never hesitated thus far 10 assert his con-
victions in the most direct way possible
A vote 20 escape n dilemma IL not a genu-
Inc exercise Of political independently.
Or. fuckers contention, he said, was
with the intelligent and responsible voter
in the Republican party who was dis
posed 10 evade the responsibilities which
had fallen upon him by virtue Of his
party affiliations. II was the wrong time.
he thought, 10 throw off party affiliations
and responsibilities when the questions at
issue within given party were more
vital than those which divide the parties.
Continuing, he said:
The injection of the personality of MT.
Roosevelt into the present political stu
alton has entirely changed its character
1t has made II something other than
political situation. Mr. Roosevelt is per
haps the only man in the country VINO
could have effected such a change by the
the use Of his personality. When the
leaders of the Frogressives in many OF
the states turned over the movement 70
Mr. Roosevelt, or allowed him 10 come IN
and dominate it dt is not yet quite clear
which was the actual fact, the Wnole
issue was changed from ProgresslNeness
to Rooseveltism. The present party
alignment. outside the reform parues, ~
simply according TO Democracy, HepuO-
licanism and Rooseveltism.
| make a distinction between M
Roosevelt and Rooseveltism. For MT.
Roosevelt at his best | have had very
much admiration and respect. had re-
garded him as one OF our most NaluaDle
national assets, a man TO be counted
upon for constant and varied service TO
the country. A third term had not
seemed TO me 10 have an Impossible OF
an improper place In his future career.
But FOR Mr.. Roosevelt committed 10 or
merged into Rooseveltism-that COM
pound of personal eRoism, political man
agement, popular idolatry and semi-re-
ligious enthusiasm have more dis
trust than respect.
In the first place | regard vote Tor
Mr.. Taft as a vote 10 maintain the indie
pendence OF the Presidential office. The
attack OF Mr.. Roosevelt upon Mr. Tart.
especially the manner Of IT, was public
dishonoring OF a close personal friendship.
For anything that appeared then, or for
anything that has appeared since, IL was
IN unworthy act IL was avowedly an
act contrary TO 5lr. Rooseyelts first hon
orable impulses. and 10 many OF his
friends gave evidence which could not
be ignored that ha was beginning 10 part
company with his better self. To his
enemies It was simply confirmation Of
their charges I'm regard To his ruinous
friendships.
In the second place l regard a vote for
Mr.. Taft as vote In the interest Of po
litical veracity Apart from questions
connected with certain Cabinet appoint
ments, the sum of Mr.. Taft's offending
was his action on the Payne Aldrich tar
In bill That was the ground of pro-
Roosevelt in capitalizing insurgency
based on this isue may be Judged by con-
sldering his own attitude toward the tar
IN. both when President and now as a
candidate.
Insurgency on this issue was utilized by
him az borrowed capital. The primary
campaign then inaugurated was run large
~ on borrowed capital. What original
contribution To the Progressive pro-
grdmme has been made by him except
that of the recall OF judicial declsions2
Each Item OF the programme has been
taken up in turn, calculated. and utilized
according 10 its exact political value.
Everywhere the politician has been in evil
dence rather than the reformer: no.
where more conspicuously than i'm the
adoption and utilization OF woman's suf-
frage.
In the third place ! regard a vote for
Mr.. Taft as a vote to- protect the rights
of the people as against the surrender or
these rights 10 paternalism. The political
record OF Mr.. Roosevelt as told I'm tho
events OF the past months, showing his
steady assumption OF tho ways and meth
DDS OF the politician. would awaken grave
mlsgivings were this an ordinary political
campaign. IL is not an ordinary political
campaign. The recent convention at Chi
cago did much moro than to make Mr..
Roosevelt candidate, even a third term
candidate. for the Presidency. II virtually
declared him, after the Roman fashion. to
be the one man indispensable TO the safety
OF the Republic.
BY contrast the course OF Mr.. Taft as
IL appears under the light OF the primary
seems 20 me TO show assured
political advance. He stands to-day, as |
see him, -four square" amid the divers