The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-09-13
WRONG TIME TO
CHANGE YOUR PARTY
President Tucker in an Able
Analysis Tells Why He
Stands by Taft.
Tho Former Head of Dartmouth Co.
lsge on Rooseveltism-A Vote
For Wilson He Deciars, Would -
Be an Evasi-n.

/ offer no criticism of those who al
proposing to vote for Mr.. Wilson wit
a view to identifying themselves Wit
the Democratic party. or of those who
without this definite intention, believ
that 1t is for the best interests of th
country that the Democratic part
should now be put in power. l woul
not affirm that it is not for the best in
terests Of the country that the Demo
cratic party should now return t
power. The republic takes the forum
of political parties and on the who'll
profits thereby. If the Democratic
party returns to power through tn
popular acceptance of its distinctive
principles or because of popular con
fidence in it's candidates, the return
will be natural and may be beneficial
If the Democratic party returns t.
power through the impotence or fearl
of considerable number of Republi
cans, the result may not be beneficial
and will not be lasting.
NV contention is with the intelligent
and responsible voter in the Republican
party who is disposed to evade the re-
sponsibilities which have fallen upon
him by virtue of his party affiliations.
It is the wrong time. as ! reckon times
and seasons in politics, to throw Oft
party affiliations aud responsibilities
when the questions at issue within a
given party are more vital than those
which divide the parties.
MR. RoOSEvELT'S PERSONALITY AND
THE CAMPAIGN.
The injection of the personality of
Mr.. Roosevelt into the present politi-
cal situation has entirely changed its
character. 1t has made it something
other than political situation. When
the leaders of the Progressives in many
of the states turned over the movement
to Mr.. Roosevelt, or allowed him to
come in and dominate it lit is not yet
quite clear which was the actual fact
the whole issue was changed from pro-
gressiveness to Rooseveltism. The pres
emit party alignment, outside the reform
parties, is simply according to Demo
crazy, Republication and Rooseveltism.
l make q distinction between Mr..
Roosevelt and Rooseveltism. For Mr..
Roosevelt at his best have had very
much admiration ana respect. I had
regarded him as one Of our most valu-
able national assets, man to be count
ed upon for constant and varied SER
vice to the country. A third term had
not seemed to me to have an impossible
or an improper place in his future Ca
reer. But for Mr.. Roosevelt, committed
to-. or merged into Rooseveltism-that
compound of personal egotism, politi.
cal management. popular idolstry and
semi-religious nthusiasm-I have more
distrust than respect.
The obsession of a great man with
himself goes very far toward neutral
iziug his greatness, for it betrsys and
brings to light qualities which are al
together lacking in greatness. One re-
suit of the recent selfberrayal of the
weakness of Mr.. Roosevelt has been to
bring out the strength Of Mr.. Taft;
and this not only at the points of con-
trast but at the points where Mr..
Roosevelt had been counted strong
The splendid courage of Mr.: Taft under
attack and revolt, his indomitable op.
timism, his sturdy adherence to princi-
Piles and his absolute straightforward
ness are characteristics of which the
country is beginning to be well ap.
prised. They are making their i'm
preston. Mr.. Taft may lack the train.
ing and the varied accomplishments Of
the political gladiator or warrior"
but not the red blood which under
provacation stirs him to do "sll that
may become a man."
1t is impossible to put aside the per-
sonslities of the campaign in view of
the use which Mr.. Roosevelt has seen
fit to make Of his personality. I will
state. however, in general terms, so
far as possible, the reasons which to
my own mind justify my intention to
vote for Mr.. Taft. The statement of
these reasons will call up incidents and
events which, though recent, are in
danger of being forgotten. These
ought to be kept steadily in mind to
give the true perspective through
which to view the political situation.
We cannot afford, in the intent of
truth, to allow the course of events
leading up to present conditions to be.
come covered over with the dust Of the
campaign. These events are an essen
tial part of the campaign
THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE PREsI.
DENTAL OFFICE.
In the first place l regard vote for
Mr.. Taft as vote to maintain the in.
dependence of the presidential office.
The attack of Mr.. Roosevelt. upon Mr..
Taft aopaciol1v tho ,,ocoar 80 a. 80.