The Delta independent., 1912-08-09
MIR. TAFT's NOMINATION.

MIR. TAFT'S NOMINATION.
The Independent Is in receipt Of
the arguments in the matter of
charges regarding Mr.. Taft's nomi-
nation-which nomination has now
been formally tendeHed. and accept
ed-but as the document covers q
full page Of type. we can hardly af-
ford it space, though may do so In
a later issue. Commenting upon the
document, which It published in
full, the St. Louis Globe-Democrat
says editorially:
I've print today a resume of a
statement relating to contests over
seats in 1.-The Republican national con-
vention, prepared from the official
records Of the proceedings OF the Re-
publican national committee and Of
the credentials committee of that
convention, and attested by the Of
ficers of both committees. The OBJ
ject of this statement is to place
before the American people in gen.
eral, and members of the Republican
party in particular, the actual facts
of those contests and to show by a
plain and unvarnished presentation
of the truth that Mr.. Taft was fair
ly, suarely and honestly nominated.
THE man who charges unfairness
and then refuses to hear the evil
dcnce for the defense, convicts him
self of unfairness. But first the read
er should recall one or two import
ant facts. 1t has been the custom
of political committees. Democratic
as well as Republican. to consider
contests behind closed doors. 1t was
so at the convention of 1904 when
Mr. Roosevelt was nominated. And
there are some sound reasons for
this policy But at this con-
vention Mr.. Taft himself, requested
that the hearings be open to the
public. This. it should be under
stood, was the breaking of a long
established precedent, but MIR. Taft's
request was complied with and the
public, through the press, was ad-
mitted to the hearings in both com
mittees. 1t would seem that this
act, at the very beginning, indi-
Gated a disposition to deal fairly
with the questions at issue. Ras-
cality doesn't seek the light. Dis
never courts publicity.
Another fact to be remembered is
this: No man, not even his bitter
est enemy, has ever questioned the
integrity of Mr.. Taft. There are
differences of opinion as to the wis
dom OF some of his actions-there
have been such Differences of opin-
ion as to the acts of every presi-
dent. from Washington down-but
no sane man has ever doubted the
and sincerely of Mr.. Taft's
purposes. He has always done that
which he believed to be right. In
deed it has been charged to him as
a fault that his judicial tempera-
sides of a question and to decide
upon the evidence even when that
decision Is detrimental to his own
interests. Is 1t reasonable to sup-
pose that man of that character
would sanction and accept a deliber-
ate theft?
Again: The national committee
which acted upon the contests was
elected four years ago when Mr..
Roosevelt was the dominant power
within the Republican party. They
were all eminent men and were hon
ored with the confidence of the
people of the respective states who
chose them for their high offices.
Is it conceivable that all OF these
men, except twelve or fourteen.
should have rapidly gone the down.
ward road to the depths OF iniquity
and sin during these four years, and
become SO lost to honor and patriot
ism as unanimously to commit the
crime with which they have been
charged? They were fairly represen-
tative of the Republican party. Has
the party itself after a half century
of mighty achievement, of honest
and honorable administration, sud
denly become unfaithful and cor
rupt?
at rs possible that both commit
tees may have erred In their Judge
ment in some cases. No tribunal OF
men is infalliable. But that is not
the question. They have been
charged with Stealing" the nomi-
nation. and charged so clamorious-
ly and with such iteration and re-