The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1912-05-15
Says the Republican State
or GParty4of9an,2 Au;
ABOUT ROOSEVELT AND TAFT
After Their Disgraceful Dis.
play. Thinks Another
Candidate Advisable.
SIZES CASE UP ABOUT RIGHT

The Louisville Herald, the Re
publican State party organ, says
With an accusation of mendaci
ty made deliberately and in writ
ing against the President, Col
Roosevelt has put the capstone on
the ugly personal campaign that
has been waging between him and
Mr.. Taft. we feared this stage in
the controversy would be reached
in time.
Surely we are now close to the
end of a struggle that has been one
Of the most discreditable in the an
nails of American history. Surely
the sense of decency of the Ameri-
can people will not bear patiently
with the continuance of this en-
Uttered and inconclusive fight
1t is leading nowhere but to
party humiliation and defeat. 1t is
wrecking the regulations and ruin
ing the prestige of both candidates.
Beginning with the belief that each
was a man OF high honor and SPLEEN
did patriotism, we now can not be-
lieve either of them without be-
lieving that the other is a repre-
hensible character unworthy of
public confidence. .
If we are to listen to the Presi-
dent, Theodore Roosevelt is a-man
who breaks his word, maligns his
friends, misrepresents facts and
seeks to overthrow those institu-
tons upon which the safety of the
Republic is based.
If we are to heed Col. Roosevelt,
President Taft is a man who has
been the tool of bosses, corrupt in
terests and plunderers of the peo-
pie. He is untruthful, disloyal and
reactionary. The beneficiary, with
his own consent, of fraud.
How can the party be expected
to nominate either man? And,
how, II 1t does, can it reasonably or
righteously ask the country to sup
port him?
Who knows Taft better than
Roosevelt? Who knows Roosevelt |
better than Taft? Once bosom
friends, they are now bitter oppo-
nents. and each is doing his best to
discredit the, others character In
the eyes of the public. .. /
, While they restricted their con-
troversy to a discussion of policies,
there was no occasion for criticism.
There was room for proper diff
ference of opinion, and a healthy
rivalry on the plane Of administra-
i've and legislative programs held
10 serious peril for party success.
But Republicanism, standing for
certain great principles In, the, ma
ional field, can not afford to have
is fate settled on the ground of
what Theodore Roosevelt thinks of
William Howard Taft, any more
han on the ground OF what Will
lam Howard Taft thinks of Theo-
lore Roosevelt. These two men,
zig as they are and able as they are,
ire not the Republican party, and
t is time they were told so in suf-
iciently clear and emphatic Ian
,uage to make the meaning of the
plain.
1t is unfortunate that there is no
Iibunal. other than the National
onvention. with power to take
hese gentlemen in hand. Having
10 sense of the proprieties them
elves and apparently no true APP
,reciation of the effect OF their con-
luct on the party, it is too much to
lope that they will relieve the con-
-ention of the necessity for action.
But the delegates already elect
ID. and particularly the 112 who
re understood, may we'll consider
eriously whether it is not time to
ring into the field some third man
lpon whom the party can unite 4,
With good feeling and strong hope i,
# victory. Delay in facing this
'roblem only permits longer OPP
'ortunity in which to widen the
reach that every fresh outbreak of
he personal controversy is creating
n the party ranks. r.t 4
Chiidren Cry