The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1912-05-02
SHARP STICK FOR
COL. ROOSEVELT
President Taft AssaiIs Former
Friend as Falsifier.
WAR OF CANDIDATES IS ON
In Speeches at Springfield and Boston
President Puts Aside All Reserve
and Speaks His Mind with
Great PIainness.

Springfield. Mass, April 26.-Heavy
artillery was used by President Taft
in his speech here and in Boston.
His friends who have urged him to
the fight will be quite satisfied with
the manner in which he went after
Theodore Roosevelt.
With the campaign for denomination
at it's crisis-for if the president loses
the Massachusetts primaries next
Tuesday he will be defeated-Presi-
cent Taft followed his advisers and
drove 16-inch shots at his distin-
guished opponent.
Mr.. Taft began his speech by de-
claring that he spoke plainly only be-
cause he believed it time for him to
do So. He brought in Mr.. Roosevelt's
name only because events had forced
him to use it.
"In 1908 Theodore Roosevelt recon-
mended to the people of the United
States that /, then the secretary Of
war, be nominated by the Republican
party and be elected. He labored
hard and long to bring this result
about, and he succeeded. felt the
deepest gratitude to him.
Neither in thought nor in word or
action have / have been disloyal to
the friendship owe Theodore Roose-
yelt When the time came for this
campaign to begin let the people
know that I would like to have my adj
ministration approved by their giving
me another term. At that time Theo-
dore Roosevelt said he was not can
didate and that it would be calamity
If he were nominated. Since then he
has changed his mind"
He replied in detail to many of the
charges that Mr.. Roosevelt has made
against him since the present cam
paign began. He took pains to make
plain Mr.. Roosevelt's knowledge of
and complete agreement with many
of the actions and policies of the pres
ent administration which lately he has
condemned and denounced.
The president declares that after
the Columbus sreech of Mr.. Roose-
Welt, he found the country unrespon-
sive and he shifted his method of cam
paign from declaration of "princi-
pies" and proposals of reform to a
series of attacks upon the administra-
! ton.
| Mr.. Roosevelt's doctrine of the re-
call of decisions. his willingness to
disregard the wise custom that for
BIDS a third term. whether ccnsecu.
tive or not. his appeal to "class hatred
and prejudice" and his absolute fail
ure' to put forth any concrete prop
ositions for true reform and true prog
ress. Mr. Taft said. all combined to
make him believe that the American
people should not choose Mr.. Roose-
welt to sit again in the White House.
| So far as he, personally, was con-
cerned. the president said. he never
would have attacked Mr.. Roosevelt
nor had quarrel with him.
! $50 far" said he. "as personal am
bit:on is concerned. so far as personal
feeling is concerned, | would never
answer his charges. But I can not
act for myself l represent cause.
! represent an element of the Repub-
liean party that believes in constitu-
tional government and its preserva-
ton. that believes in wise progress un-
der the guarantees of the constitution.
by misstatements throughout the
country Mr.. Roosevelt has led many
people to believe charges MADE against
me and my administration"
In Boston President Taft repeated
his speech with more detail and en-
deavored tn show how Mr.. Roosevelt
had Endorsed and recommended nearly
all important policies inaugurated by
tie administration only to repndiate
them after he had thrown his nat into
the ring as candidate.