Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-10-03
He Radiates Optimism among
His Supporters.
Wilson Would Upset Conditions, and
Roosevelt would Bring Uncef-
tainty into the Business
World.

u
ent, when he returns to Washington for
day in the midst Of presidential cam
paign, with the air full Of political
rumors and all his friends looking to
him to tell them the latest news in poll
tics. As a result OF his conferences
while In the city two interesting facts
can be stated One is that the Presi-
dents optimism Is doing business at the
old stand. with more vigor than ever; the
other that the reports which have come
TO him are such as to encourage him to
be cheerful.
Mr.. Taft has been essentially busi-
ness president, notwithstanding that his
life training has been In the law. hence
Il Is not surprising to find him regarding
business sentiment as the most trust
worthy of political barometers. The
President and all his advisers are con-
fdent that one Of the strongest factors
favorable to him in the present contest
is the abundant and general prosperity
! OF the country
SITUATION ANALOGOUS TO IS.
The political situation Is. In sense
analogous to that Of 1896, when Bryan
was the democratic candidate against
| Mckinley. Bad crops had united with
| threatened free trade to bring about
hard times. and the country was hungry
| for a return Of prosperity. 1t was gen.
orally believed that the repeal OF the
| Wilson tariff act of 1894 and n return to
high protection would bring back good
| times, The country elected Mckinley by
| an overwhelming vote, and simultaneous
| ~ business begun to improve. and be-
| fore long prosperity was again In full
| swing 1t has remained unbroken ever
since, save for the brief furry known as
the rich mans panic" in the last year
| Of the Roosevelt administration.
The era Of prosperous conditions ap-
pears to have reached Its climax at the
present time. While prices are high, they
are an outgrowth OF many causes, and
wages are higher than ever before. More
people are employed. and at better wages
than ever before in the history of the
country. To continue Taft means to con-
tinue prosperity. In the opinion Of the
thousands of correspondents who con-
tribute to swell President Taft's mail:
hence the basis of MIR. Tafts confidence
that the sober second thought Of the
country. maturing between row and cleo
ton day, will re-eect him.
WILSON USING THE SOFT PEDAL.
The President and his advisers have
been quick to note the significance in the
tone OF the recent speeches OF Woodrow
Wilson. The democratic candidate. It ap-
pears. is putting the soft pedal upon his
remarks dealing with business. demo-
era. and a radical from his youth. the
Governor OF New Jersey Is attempting
the difficult feat OF making conserva-
tive speeches upon a radical platform; OF
trying to cast out the fears OF business
| men respecting his own views upon the
tariff and the trusts. while appealing for
the radical vote in his own party as
free trader and Il trust buster. It Is
believed In administration circles that
Governor Wilson cannot ride these two
horses at the same time without falling
between them; that the people will not
forget his true character as radical
while watching his impersonation as a
conservative
LOI'GEs TRIUMPH IN OHIO.
Reports from Ohio made to the Presi-
dent show that the reception OF Sena-
tor Lodges speech in Columbus last
Saturday has justified the wisdom Of
The national committee in sending tho
distinguished Massachusetts, senator into
the Presidents own State. All the re-
cent reports from Ohio have indicated
that the President was daily growing
stronger there. and the address OF Sena-
tor Lodge covered a phase OF the cam
paign which few other speakers could
have treated SO ably. The Lodge speech.
1t Is reported, has proved extremely val
liable In sitting the wheat from the
chaf and showing the voters the funda-
mental importance Of the real Issues Of
the campaign.
Senator Lodge was among the first. II
not the first of the American thinkers
to expose the fallacy OF the Roosevelt
reasoning on constitutional questions. 1t
will be recalled that Roosevelt recently
accused of untaniliarity with the history
Of the world certain gentlemen who held
to the doctrine that the browning glory
Of the American republic was to DO
found In the restraint which the Ameri-
can people voluntarily put upon their
own power.
FORGOTTEN HISTORY FOR ROOsE-
WELT.
In his famous Princeton speech. Mr..
Lodge found one OF his most striking
/ -
variance with the Roosevelt sneer as to
illuminate in flash the Numerically
opposite positions OF the two men on a
question Of profound Importance. This
Illustration also suggested that possibly
the third term candidate knew less of
history than ne would have the country
think.
ION memorable OCCASION" said Sen
ator Lodge. quoting the great Lord Ac-
ton. "the assembled Athenians declared
It monstrous that they should be pre-
vented from doing whatever they chose.
They resolved that they would
be bound by no laws that were not of
their own making In this way the
emancipated people OF Athens became a
tyrant and their government. the pio-
neer Of European freedom. stands con-
demned with terrible unanimity by all
the wlsest Of the ancierts. They ruined
their city by attempting to conduct war
by debate In the market place.
The repentance Of the Athenians came
too late to save the republic But the
lesson OF their experience endures for
all times. for It teaches that govern
ment OF the whole people. being the
government of the most numerous and
the most powerful class. IL an evil OF
tho same nature as unmixed monarchy.
and requires. for nearly the same rea-
sons. institutions that shall protect II
against itself. and shall uphold the per-
manent reign Of law against arbitrary
, revolutions OF opinion"