The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-05-01

aoan t'ning his policy Of silence un-
I9aer the attacks on Col. Roosevelt had
made upon him and his Administers
Ton. for the first time since Nj.
Roosevelt announced his candidacy
launched into a bitter denunciation Of
the former President From the time
a MIR. TAFT entered achusetts and
made his first speech at Springfield.
shortly after noon. until late tonight,
he hammered away at Col. Roosevelt.
The President made about dozen
speeches.
In all he made II clear that he is un-
siterabiy opposed to MIR. Roosevelt;
that he saw disaster in third term in
the White House for any man: and
that NJ did not believe Col. Roosevelt
had given him square deal" He
spoke To good sized crowds In all the
cities where he made set speeches
and at the towns and villages where
his train stopped briefly the people
fiocked around his private car and
listened with close attention.
The President spoke at Springfield
and Palmer twice In worchester, and
at Natlck. South Framingham and
erseveral smaller towns. In the begin
ming he seemed To utter his attacks
on Col. Roosevelt with reluctance.
This wrenches my soul" he said
once.
AZ the day wore on. however. and
he made speech after speech. IN which
he denounced Mr.. Roosevelt again
~and again. Mr.. Taft grew more ag-
gressive In manner. emphasized his
words with gesture and apparently
laid aside any feeling Of regret he
may have felt at this evidence that
the long friendship with his former
champion was broken.
His principal address was deliver
ed In the Arena. to large crowd. but
before retiring to his private car ne
spoke briefly to an overfowing meet
ing In symphony Hail. His speech ia
the Arena was delivered from man
!. .uscript. prepared during the last few
days I'm Washington. carefully gone
over by members OF his Cabinet and
containing detailed answer to many
OF Mr.. Roosevelts charges.
Mr.. Taft's speech bristled with
counter charges against his predeces-
Dsor IN the White House. He declared
that Mr.. Roosevelt had wiitully mis-
represented him, had falsely distorted
some Of his public utterances. had
failed to live up to his policy Of
square deal and had violated a solemn
promise to- the American people not
60 be n candidate for a third term.
That promise and his treatment Of
&C." said Mr.. Taft. "only throw an in
forming light on the value that ought
now TO be attached To any promise OF
this kind he may make for the fu-
ture."
Declaring that Mr.. Roosevelt Ought
not TO be selected as candidate OF
any party" Mr. Taft said that the for
mer President might now be paving
the way. II successful In the present
campaign to remain the Chief Execu-
tive Of the nation for as many terms
} as his natural life would permit.
III ne Is necessary now to the Gov
ernment. why not iater?" asked the
President. who continues:
"onc VINO so lightly regards consti-
tutional principles. one who Is so ma
turaily impatient of legal restraints
and Of due legal procedure. and who
has so misunderstood what liberty
regulated by law Is. could not safely
he entrusted with successive Presi-
dental terms. I say this sorrowfully.
hut say II with the full conviction OF
Its truth"
Mr.. Taft referred 10 some OF Mr..
Rooseveit's charges against him as
the loose and vague indictment Of
one who does not know and who de-
pends only upon second hand informa-
tlon for his statement"
The President said his speech to-
, night was one ~ the most painful du-
ties of his life. that II was In response
To an obligation he owed the Repubi-
can party. which selected him as It's
candidate. and To the American peo-
pie who elected him President.
at grows" ne said. "out Of phase
Got national politics and national life
tina I believe To he unprecedented In
our history. So unusual Is the exi-