The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-02-15
Roosevelt or Taft.

nee Tor PRESIDENT, ROOSEVELT OF IaIJl
Apparently the contest has narrowed
down to these two men. While La
Toilette and Cummins, are both avow
ed candidates and have many enthus.
iastic and ardent supporters, people
conversant at all with politics can
re Oily see that the only man having
a chance to defeat President Taft foi
denomination is Col. Roosevelt That
Col. Roosevelt is a receptive, although
not an avowed candidate is certain
unless he is false to his friends and
supporters.
1t is claimed by some that he is not
candidate and will not accept the
nomination If offered him; that he is
simply allowing his name to be used
to kill off other opposition to the re.
nomination of President Taft. This
we can not believe. The most enthus.
iastic and Jealous advocates OF the
nomination Of Col. Roosevelt are men
who have visited him at his home
at Oyster Bay and after their talks
with him have come away urging peo-
pie TO support him and taking part in
perfecting organizations in his behalf.
Many Of these men are influential in
their communities, men with wide
experience in political life, men hold
ing high offices, men who do not be-
lieve that Pres ident Taft should again
lead the Republican party.
We can not believe that these men
would act and speak as they are and
have been doing unless they had some
assurance from Col Roosevelt that he
was a candidate. Neither do we be-
lieve Col Roosevelt or these men
would allow themselves TO be used as
mere puppets to advance the political
fortunes OF any m IN, even If they were
his most ardent admirers AMI surely
even II Col. Roosevelt is willing to
sacrifice his honor and dignity for
President Taft, which we do not be.
lieve, some OF his supporters would
not be accused of doing this.
thN oiOudOiOu lSi luuooui pOSuliai
one. Four years ago Col. Roosevelt
and his followers were the most ac-
tive supporters OF President Taft. 1t
has often been said that Taft was
the personal selection Of Col. Roose-
yelt as his successor, the one man
Roosevelt considered best qualified TO
carry out his policies. Everyone
knows but for the belief of the people
that Taft was Rooseyelt's choice he
could never have been nominated and
elected. Four years ago the ''old
guard" "stand.patters," "conserva-
tives," "reactionaries" or whatever
name you want to call them were the
ones opposed to the nomination OF
Taft.
Now the situation is entirely
changed. Congressman Mckinley, OF
Illinois, one Of the 'old guard, a
Cannon and Aldrich class OF Repu bill
can, has charge of President Taft's
campaign and Senators Reed Smoot,
Of Utah, Boise Penrore, of Pen nsyl-
vania, Murray Crane, OF Massachu-
setts, and Congressman Cannon are
his chief advisers. And opposed to
him will be found the followers Of
Roosevelt, the entire wing Of the
party known as progressives.
We are strongly in favor of the
nomination of Col. Roosevelt. believ-
ing that 1t Is best for the nation and
best for the party. We believe that
he is in closer touch with the great
mass Of the people Of the country than
any other man, that the people have
greater confidence in him than In any
other man and that he better under
stands the needs Of the people than
any other man. The people are de-
manding his nomination a7d even
with the great power OF the organiza-
tions in the hands OF Taft and his
fTisnds, wherever primaries are held
we have but little doubt that Roose-
welt will easily carry them.
Al this time we will not give any
particular reasons why we are opposed
to President Taft except that to
secure the support OF Aldrich, Can
non, Smoot, Penrose Crane and their
crowd he must have assured them he
Is in sympathy with their ideas and
views and we are opposed TO them and
what they stand for
We hope to see Col. Roosevelt again
the standard bearer Of the Republi-
can party for 1912