The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-06

Taft. and said that while he remain
ed the sincere friend" of Mr.. Roose-
welt, he could not support him for the
presidential nomination.
Mr.. Stimson entered President Ta1t
cabinet last year, after conSuItatloQ
with Mr.. Roosevelt, and with the dis
Gnct understanding that he would be
bound in no way to take part in the
political activities of the adm1nlstra-
ton. In a speech before the IaIt
club of Illinois he declared ms
belief that President Taft's admins
tration represented the highest ex-
preston of progressive Republican
policy.
II am here tonight to speak for the
denomination of President Taft, said
Mr. Stimson, "I am now and always
have been progressive
81 am for Mr.. Taft because L De-
Iieve he has faithfully carried out the
progressive faith of the Republican
party; that his administration stands
for orderly, permanent progress in our
national government; and that to re-
fuse him the nomination on the asser-
tions that have been made against
him. would be a blow to that progress
and would put premium upon nasty
and unfounded criticism
s'I entered in public life under the
inspiration of Theodore Roosevelt: L
am q firm believer in the great nation
al policies for which he has tought'
and now remain his sincere friend
But I believe that those who are fore
ing him. contrary to his original IN
tention, into the arena against Mr.
Taft, are jeopardizing instead of help
ing the real cause of progress in the
nation.
Danger of Defeat.
s"The introduction of such a contest
at this time dragging in, as it neces-
sarily will, new and personal issues
which are quite foreign to the great
progressive policies for which the Re
publican party stands, cannot fail to
Neaken whichever candidate is even
enaIly nominated in June. Il, as re-
suit, the candidate is defeated in No
vember, the government may be thrown
into the hands of truly reactionary
party for years to come
Mr.. Stimson said that President
Taft had devoted himself increasingly
70 the carrying out of constructive
work along progressive lines. The ad-
1ninistration was begun, he said, upon
a Dlan that had 1.-The thorough approv-
al and deliberate endorsement of Mr.
Roosevelt" and to that plan President
Taft had adhered rigidly.
rs it fair now to criticise him,
asked Mr.. Stimson, because, in faith
fully carrying out this pledge of four
years ago, in performing this Vlta!Iy
useful though inconspicuous work, he
has not dominated the public atten-
tion with dramatic display?'
President Taft pledged himself. said
Mr.. Stimson, to a progressive deveI-
opment' of the work that President
Roosevelt had inaugurated, and the
Completion and perfection of the ma
chinery by which the moral standards
set by President Roosevelt may be
maintained
s'To this work Mr.. Taft has devoted
himself" said Mr. Stimson. 'He thus
deliberately renounced more striking
methods of reform, and set himself to
the undramatic and inconspicuous
Dublic service which leaves out all
thought of a mans own aggrandize-
ment.
urged upon congress to place upon the
classified civil service virtually all of
the presidential offices. a measure which
would at one blow strike out most of
the enormous political power of the
president
Deliberate Self Abrogation-
s.The results of this deliberate self
ahrogation are shown in the great