The Washington times., 1912-10-10
HAVING A PRESIDENT IN THE FAMILY

American boys ambition, that some day he may be
President" Likewise, II has been one OF the in
centves spurring public men, generally to give their
service to their country that the greatest Office in
the gift Of any nation is among the possible rewards
Of those deserving we'll Of their countrymen.
Perhaps that was true, once. Perhaps It will be
true again. But the spectacle Of an immensely
wealthy family buying Presidential nomination, not
but twice, and then financing the election cam
paign to a successful issue, just as matter OF fam
lily distinction is calculated to give pause to serious,
thinking people.
II may we'll be questioned whether American pol
cs has seen so degrading spectacle as that barred
by the testimony Of Charles p. Taft before the Capp
committee Look at it from the standpoint Of an
Englshmen used to the strict corrupt practices re-
strictions Of his country. What must be his opinion
OF American democracy, when he learns that one Of
the wealthy families Of this country has literally
been able to finance one OF its favorite into the
Presidency of the United States!
This is a showing of real decadence. There IS
no buncombe about it. Go back to your history and
read Of that era in which Crassus, Pompey, and
Lucullus used their vast fortunes to buy eminence
power-and yet more opportunities to attain yet more
wealth. 1t was the prelude to the Caesars, the en-
pre decadence-and the barbarians.
Charles P. Taft testified that he contributed
1928 53I 80 to the expenses o; the post-convention
campaign Of 1908, and S2l3 35924 to the cost Of the
pre-convention- is, the nominaton-campaign
Of 1912.
The committee was not authorized to ask him
about the pre-convention expenses OF 1908, or the
post-convention expenses Of 1912. Assuming, as is
certainly conservative, that these two campaigns will
finally cost as much as the corresponding two for
which figures have been given, We have q total Of
nearly ST, 100 900 spent from the family exchequer
Of the Tafs, to maintain a member Of the family in
distinction whose briiancy might have been ex-
pected to reflect some honor on the other members
Of the I.yal family.
In behalf of Mr. Charles P. Taft it is pointed out
that 10000 Of his contributions to the election cam
paign Of 1908 was finally paid back to him. This re-
duces the total Of his ultimate expenditure by that
amount But, far from being creditable, it is the
most discreditable part of the whole performance.
AFTER ELECTION-after it was certain that the
family candidate was winner after the tremendous
power Of the Presidency was within his grasp-then
the campaign manager suddenly found himself in
funds, and was able to pay back part Of the amount
that had been contributed from the family Golfers.
That may look to Mr. Charles P. Taft like merely
an acceptable windfal To other people, It will look
as il the contributors-at-large had tardy come for
ward, after they that the privatelyHnanced can
didate was sure to win, or actually had won, and
made their contributions in the hope of saving favor
with the apowerful man Of the money chest
Mr. Charles P. Taft told the committee that he
was anxious that his brother should 60 into tht
Presidency free and unhampered Of obligation to an,
sr ecal interests On that basis he was-willing tt
go the limit of contributions, as he put it. Better
for him IT, after he had adopted this pleasant justih
cation for his generosity, he had been consistent AMI
not accepted the money which came to him by way o
refund AFTER 1T WAS KNOWN THAT HE Hal
SUCCEEDED IN GETTING THE PRESIDENCY
INTO THE FAMILY.
i But Mr. Charles P. Taft's sacrifice OF good tast,
| cid not end with the acceptance, AFTER ELECTION
| of money that the campaign managers were unab
to raise when it was pressingly needed BEFORE
ELECTION. Not only did he take the refund, bu
he forthwith announced himself as a candidate TO
the Senate from Ohio Basking in the light an
warmth of the family eminence that had come s
high it does not seem to have occurred to him tha
there was any reason, on good taste or public moral:
why he, the paymaster, should not sweep off sc
of the glory A man who could finance Presidenc
into his family, certainly ought to be entitled to
Senatorship. He would take his!
i 1t is not pretty tale. But il is the story Q
conditions as they have been under the regime
the Tafts. 1t gives concrete idea of the thing thi
the public is fighting against, right now. 1t explain
why there has been political revolt grown into rev'
t luton; why new party has come into being.
Could it by any stretch of imagination be expecte
: that an Administration thus brought into dominato
c of the Government would make good with the people
The one thing about the whole performance th
somewhat palliaes the national disgrace of it, is I'll
J. fact that the Administration proved utterly unsati
factory to the country and that the country is rg
e now poised for drop kick that will land the who
c outfit in the oblivion Of private life. .