The Washington herald., 1912-04-28
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

The campaign has taken on an en-
tirely new phase. President Taft, re-
spending to the appeals of those who
have long believed that his quiescent
attitude was an error, has assumed the
offensive and has produced the record
against Roosevelt. Calmly and dispas-
sionately he has defended himself
against the falsi6cations and aspersions
to which he has been subjected, and
there is no doubt that he has gained
much thereby
1t is, of course, unfortunate that the
Republican party should be placed in
position where its two leading men,
bers are compelled to engage in a con-
troversy. The contest is not, however,
of President Tsfts seeking. The re-
sponsibility rests with Mr.. Roosevelt,
who, after first declaring that he would
not accept a nomination, announced
himself as a receptive candidate and
finally became a determined seeker
after the honor 1t is Mr.. Roosevelt
who is dividing the organization and
rendering Republican victory all the
more difficult 1t is Mr.. Roosevelt
who in his desire to secure the Presi-
dency at any and all cost, has over
stepped all bounds and plunged his own
party into internecine war.
Mr.. Roosevelt now says that he has
only begun to fight The fact is that
he has got to fight No other course is
left him. Hitherto. he has had every
thing his own way, making extrava-
CANT and inaccurate statements with
out check or denial, and posing in an
attitude which focused public atten-
ton upon him. Now, however. he is
on the defensive. 1t has been shown
conclusively that he was wrong in link
ing President Taft's name with Lori
mer's, for he knew personally that
President Taft condemned 'the mess
and mass of corruption" which the
Lorimer investigation had revealed II
has been demonstrated that he favored
reciprocity, both in letter and in speech,
although now, as a political exigency,
he opposes it. Furthermore, it is a fact
that he accepted the support of the very
men whom he now denounces, because
they are against him, and that his use
of official patronage and power for per-
sonal and political ends 1as most fa-
grant. He will, of course, attempt to
squirm out of the unenviable and un-
happy position in which he now finds
himself He is an adept at extrica-
ton. 1t must be admitted, also, that
he nas a wonderful faculty of landing
OIL his feet.
More than three weeks ago The
Washington Herald took occasion to
refer TO the vulnerability of Roosevelts
record and expressed some surprise
that its exposure had not been under
taken. 1t took some time to bring the
President to a realization that he was
losing ground through silence, but now
that he has spoken ne has made an ex-
haus;ive and convincing utterance. Even
though he is President, he has right
to defend himself against bitter and
unwarranted attack. With the. truth
upon his side he would have erred If
he had not made the record clear
Now that there is an open conflict be-
tween Taft and Roosevelt, there is a
natural anxiety among Republican poll
ticians as to the outcome. What is to
DC tic effect OF this pre-convent;on fight
upon the campaign?
One thing is certain. Taft's speech
in Boston does not make the situation
any worse for the party If Roose-
Vii had been allowed TO continue
his assertions without contradiction, If
his attacks upon the President had been
unnoticed and undenied, the public
would have accepted them as true and
President Tafts position would have
been greatly weakened Mr.. Taft had
everything to gain ana nothing to lose
by exposing RooseYelts inconsistencies