Omaha daily bee., 1912-03-05
Nebraska
CURRIE TALKS OF OUTLOOK
Secretary of Taft League Says Sup
porters Flock to Banner.
PEOPLE FIGHT FOR PRINCIPLE
Present Contest Not One TO Elevate
Candidate for sake of Glory
Taft Has Many Progress
siyc Laws 20 Credit.
From a staff corrcspondentl

tFrom Staff Correspondent
/ LINCOLN, March 4-lspecial l-secre-
| tary Frank Currle Of the Nebraska Taft
league left today for Texas TO be gone
week. Before leaving he save out the
following statement regarding the poiiti-
cal situation in Nebraska;
"A week has now elapsed since Colonel
Roosevelt announced that he would be a
candidate. The people Of Nebraska have
not received his announcement with that
enthusiasm which his friends expected
and his opponents feared. Personally the
colonel Is popular in Nebraska. but our
people are intelligent and fair in their
judgment. The La Toilette republicans
believe that the colonel has not treated
him fairly. Even La Follette's political
enemies admit that he always has been
fair and consistent fighter He has
fought in the open; he did not misiead
nor deceive his followers. In season and
out Of season-in good report or bad re-
port. whether scaling the ramparts or
his enemies or going down in the ditch
in defeat-he always has been fighting
with his face 10 the foe.
Hefue &c ne sthWptutu.
Mos, people like TO believe they are
fighting for a principle, and not for the
mere glory or following some popular
hero TO victory. For this reason the La
Toilette progressively Nebraska are re-
tdslng to be stampeded by such syeo-
phantic dreamers as Garfield and Pinchot.
or by that other class of great reformers
like Governor johnson OF California ana
Governor Stubs OF Kansas, who hope TO
ride into place and power by the impetus
OF Colonel Roosevelt's personal popular
fly. Most Of the La Toilette crowd are
standing pat, believing that 1t Is unfair
for the colonel to encourage him TO spend
his time, his money and his energy In
making a campaign for progressive prin-
eiples and then try TO rob him OF the
legitimate fruits Of his labor.
Taft Forces Augmented.
ION the other hand, the Taft forces are
being augmented and, strengthened by
large numbers, heretofore lukewarm sup
portsrs, who believe In common honesty
between man and man In politics as In
other things They believe that Colonel
Roosevelt. meant what he said when he
sald as clearly and as positively as he
could in most excellent English. Under no
circumstances will be a candidate for
or accept another nomination. The coll
onei is a master of English He has no
difficulty in finding words to express
his ideas. There is no double mesnins
ia this declaration. Either he did not
mean ~ when he said II or he has
changed his mind. In either case he is
false to himself and his friends. On still
higher grounds many. earnest. Thought
hui republicans are refusing to leave
Taft for Roosevelt. Taft was drafted by
Roosevelt TO succeed him. lie had been
Ro6sevelts most trusted friend and most
powerful ally. Much Of the best in
Roosevelt's administration originated
with Taft and was carried into execution
by the force of his great secretary's gen.
ius. Every influence at Roosevelts COM
!nand. the entire machinery of his great
office. his personal prestige. and the po-
tent power OF all. the patronage of his
exalted position. were used without stint
and almost without limit 10 secure his
nomination. g..
Taft Has Made Good.
The republicans trusted RooseSelt's
Judgment then. They took him at his
word and elected Taft He went to work
intelligently, fearlessly and honestly to
carry out the pledges Of his party with
out hoise or buster or beating OF the
tomtoms. or humping Of the big stick.
lie has more. real progressive legislation
to his credit in three years than his
Predecessor had in seven. He has made
food. Roosevelt himself, said so In the