The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-17
President Taft Divides Them in
His First Speech
Made Since He Accepted His
Second Nomination.
ARE DISHONEST
Who Stay on Republican Ticket
and Vote Against 1t.
He Puts Forth a Plea for a
Fair Fight.

Washington, Aug. 17.-President
Taft made his first political speech
since the one he made when notified
Of his denomination to the members OF
Maryland Republican Editorial asso-
citation in the east room of the White
House. He declared bluntly that
presidential electors were "dishonese
men" If they let their names appear
on the Republican ballot and intended
to vote for the candidate of another
party. He asserted that those VINO
were not for the Republican party
were egainst it and should get out or
the way.
"All we ask is fair fight. A mana
cannot be in the Republican party andt
in third party at the same time. and
should be compelled to make his se-s
lection" said the president. "Regu-7
larity or feeling Of regularity and res
spect for the Republican party for
what it has done, what it is capable of
doing, is going to bring over into the
Republican party many man who
has been doubtful, and it is going to
increase that number. in my Judgment
as we approach the election. It sss
therefore, essential that we make the
cleavage as clear as it can be made.
so that those who are Republicans
shall be Republicans, and those who
are with the bolters shall bear their
name and title and not be Republi-
cans and boilers. because they cannot
beat least they ought not to be in all
fairness
1--WE ought to have electors in each
state bearing the emblem of the Re
publican party, bearing the names OF
the candidates of that party for presi-
dent or vice president, at the head OF
the ticket, covering the electors who
are going to vote for those names. II
there are any men on that list who
are not going to vote for the men az
the head of that ticket, don't hest
tate to say that they are dishonest
men, in that they are holding out to
the people who are to vote for them an
implied promise that they will vote t'r
the names on the ticket when they IN
fact, intend to vote for somebody else
I think that is just following t1e
plainest kind of principles of ordinary
mo-ass."
To Force Issue in Maryland.
Some of the editors told the presi-
dent that either the electors chosen
for the Republican ticket in Maryland
would declare their intention to sup
port him or a new state convention
would be held to make new selections
He said he felt sure Maryland would
take long steps in the right direction.
The president began his speech with
a brief summary of what the RepuDh-
can party stands for. He said:
1--WE are Republicans. That means
that we believe in certain principles;
that we believe in the constitution Of
the united SIdleSs IndL we DCiA6fS A&A
maintaining that constitution; that we
believe in progress along the lines that
constitution indicates. We are PRO-
tectionists and we are in favor of
maintaining the present prosperity by
maintaining a tariff system which
shall preserve business as 1T goes on
now and shall secure as high wages as
possible to the wage earners and a
reasonable profit to those who invest
their capital. Those two propositions
cover a good deal of Republicanism-
Being a party, we are anxious to
have the opinions that our party rep
resents put into force in the operation
of the government. The only way wa
can do that is by electing a congress-
and a president who will carry them
out Now, that means that we have
20 be a single party, and not a party
of two parts 1 don't think we are
unfair in asking that we be given a
chance for fair fight and in counting
those against us who are not with us
ITO have a man on both sides OF the
fight when we are on one side Is un-
comfortable, especially when he is be-
hind you.
Before the convention it is all right
that we should differ as to the men
best qualified to represent us as Re-
publicans in carrying out the prin-
ciples of the party. But after the con-
vention each voters influence should
carry its proper and proportionate
weight in the election of the party'9
candidates.