The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1912-03-28
TAFT AND ROOSEVELT.

American Falls Press: Many
of the small country papers and
some of the larger ones are readi-
ly disposing of the absorbing
question of whom the republicans
should nominate for president.
Some of them declare for Taft
and belittle Roosevelt. Others
champion the cause of the former
president and make uncomplimen
tary reference to Taft. Both
classes appear to be entirely for
getful of the fact that they are
dealing with. two of the greatest
characters in American history,
the two men of greatest achieve
nent since the time of Lincoln.
The champions of Taft, who
belittle the man who set in mo-
ton the machinery which has
resulted in more reforms and
the correction of more abuses
than any other president in the
nation s history do not increase
the esteem in which they are held
by the thinking part of the public
About the only thing the Press
can compare them with is that
other class which belittles the
president for carrying out and
extending those same policies.
History will accord to both admin
istrations of Roosevelt and Taft
the highest places, probably, of
any of the presidents serving dur
ing time of peace. The man who
belittles Roosevelt has forgotten,
and there is a justifiable suspi-
cion that those who make light
of Taft have never kept in close
enough touch with current events
to make their judgment worth
while.
When Roosevelt was at the ze-
NTH of his popularity, immediate
ly after his second Inauguration,
he remarked that he might leave
the White House on of the most
unpopular presidents who ever
occupied it. To set the country
at rest following the death of Nc
Kinley, he pledged himself to
continue McKinley's policies to
the end of his administration, and
this he adhered to. But when
he was elected president he de-
termined to correct some of the
abuses which had fastened them
selves upon the country, and, the
remark he made shows that he
fully realized the tremendous
power of the forces with which
he had to do battle. No other
president, perhaps was so sue
cessful in getting so much need
ed legislation as Roosevelt. The
contest was so fierce and the
people so greatly interested that
the achievements of the Roosevelt
administration are fresh in the
public mind. His administration
was one in which any citizen may
take pride and it is no evidence
of great genius to have any part
OF the public press decry it.
Taft inherited Roosevelt's fight
Different in temperament, he dis
carded the big stick and tried
moral suasion. While but little
less successful, his methods were
not so impressive and have not
been so well remembered. Every
one knew what Teddy did and
when he did it. Taft, however,
has been content to let the peo-
pie learn of his achievmnts after
ward, and does not seem to care
if they never learn of them. Ow-
ing to this fact the average citi-
zen will have more difficulty in
remembering what Taft has ac-
complished than they will the
deeds of Roosevelt, although they
are more recent.
In this contest of two of the
very foremost men of the nation
the people should guard against
becoming so partisan as to blind
themselves to the worth of either.
It is only a choice between great
men, the triumph Of neither of
whom can mean injury.