Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-06-13
THE BENEFICIARY OF POLITICAL
THEFTS.

There can be no possible hope of
union of the two discordant wings OF
the Republican party. if Taft is the
nominee, when it is openly charged in
an address TO the public by Roosevelt.
that Taft is the beneficiary of the most
unblushing thieyery that has been
practiced in American politics. The
American public may not be ready IL
endorse all of the vagaries of the
former president, but it is even less
likely to approve of the methods util-
zed by the Taft committeeman to de-
orive Roosevelt of the support won in
fair fights in Northern and Western
states. The Taft candidacy stands
effectually discredred by the methods
that have been adopted to put his
lieutenants in control of the national
convention. The disgust will be wide
spread in his own party. The public
conscience in this country is as yet
too acute to tolerate such robbery as
undoubtedly seems to have been per-
uetrated. for the benefit of Taft. 1t
will be more apt to endorse the -senti-
cents Of Roosevelt, who says:
Il fail myself to see how an honor
able man can profit by or take part in
'nch niece of triohnrv as this Ohio
same wav. fail to see how an hon
7rabIe man can profit bv or conniva
II or approve of the farc'al New York
county primaries. But the case was
far worse in Washington. in Indiana,
in Mf"NiPan. In manv of these cases
the Taft delegates represent absolute
" nothing but fraud as vulgar, as
hrazen and as cvnicallv omen as anv
Te@ime III New York forty-odd years
ago.
Mr.. Taft cannot be nominated I'M
less he gets an overwhelming maiori-
" OF the rotten horonph states which
never cast a Republican electoral
vote and in which the delegations rep
resent only the officeholders. Even if
he gets practically all the delegates
from these states he cannot be nomi-
mated unless, by deliberate fraud. in
such states as Indiana. Michigan and
| Washington, not to mention others.
the Republicans are defrauded of their
right to express their preference as
to who is to get their votes. He can
be nominated only by disregarding
the expressed will of an overwhelming
majority of two and one half millions
| rh4
etts and Pennsylvania to Illinois and
California have voted as to their
choice for President. Under such cir
cumstances his nomination would rem
resent the overriding of the express
ed will of the people by Messrs.
Barnes, Penrose, Guggenheim, Powell,
CLAYTON and the rest"
The Baltimore Sun is a very con-
servative parer. While Democratic t
stands for cleanness in political meth
eds REGARDLESS of nartv. It gives vent
10 its disgust at the Taft methods in
the following language, which is none
too harsh and probably Indicative Of
re feeling of men of inderendent
thought and genuine character
throughout the country:
| "Bv TIE high handed action of his
representatives Taft has made larg-
| er Issue and given Roosevelt a more
imnortant mission. Regardless of his
policies or personality. in the proceed
lngs at Chicago Roosevelt stands for
decencv in politics. He is making a
bra"e fight against brigandage..
The issue is not partisan; it is
more than political. 1t is a great NOR
al issue. If we condone political theft.
If we do not resent injustice that af-
| fects the whole nation. our civiliza-
ton cannot endure. Such methods
will wreck not merely the Republican
party but popular government. They
ere monstrous and should be indig-
nantly condemned by the moral SEN
tlment of the whole country as a
crime which strikes at the heart of
| political decency and honesty, and as
treason TO the people whose mandate
I tramnles under foot and whose SOW
eretgntv it deliberately usurps.
by fairness, justice to all and a
| disposition to nominate the choice of
! he Democratic masses and not few
leaders, the Baltimore convention can
make the Democratic party the repre-.
sentative of honest politics and COM
mand the sunport of millions of dis
gusted Republicans. THE Democrats
in Baltimore should emphasize the is
sue Of political honesty, adopt a pro-
gressive platform and nominate a
candidate who can crystalize the
sentiment of honest people aroused
against this monstrous attempt to
thwart the popular will; a candidate
who in himself represents political
decency, who stands against bossisn
n bis own party and who will stir up
the whole country in his demand for
the rnI OF right which will put an end
TO nomination by theft"
Members of the Republican Nation