El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-04-26

7 charged that am one who has pub
licly announced that I am in favor Of
/ an aristocracy Of political bosses and
| that am linked with political bosses
| IN seeking my denomination He
charges that the patronage Of the gov
eminent is being shamelessly used TO
secure my denomination and that in
| the conventions and primaries which
/ have been held. fraud and violence
! have been systema tically used TO de
feat the will of the people and to
secure delegates for me He says that
1 am not a progressive but a reac-
. tionary; that I was Nominated by pro-
gressives and after election Joined the
ranks of those opposed TO me for nom
insLiOn. and he intimates that I have
not the spirit of the progressive, or the
mag nation. or the clear headed pur-
pose essential to the makeup Of such
a person He says that I am a friend
OF the interests and an uphOlder OF
special privileges and that a vote for
me is vote for the interests and
against the people He minimizes and
flouts the Importance Of the laws en-
acted and the executive action taken
during my administration.
Much at Stake.
If in this contest there were at
stake only my own reputation or the
satisfaction Of my own ambition,
would without the slightest qualm and
without care as to the results, con
tinue my silence under these unjust
attacks I would do so because Of the
personal relations that have existed
between Mr.. Roosevelt and myself, my
debt Of gratitude TO him and my in
cllnatiOn, because OF the office I hold,
not TO indulge in personal controversy
I would hope that in the future. near
or distant facts would disclose them
selves showing the injustice OF the
course he is pursuing toward me, and
the merciless truth concerning his mo-
tives and his sincerity Of statement
and purpose.
But / am confronted with this diff
flcuIty. represent a cause. / stand
for wise progress in governmental at
fairs and in the Improvement of the
condition Of all the people that the
Republican party stands for. am the
titular leader Of that movement. and
the substantial and sane legislation OF
my administration vindicates its exist
ence and continuance
The supporters Of this cause look
TO me to see to il that fl is not seri-
ously injured by the unjust. unfOunded
charges against me and by the adrolt
appeals TO discomfort and class hatred 2
that Mr.. Roosevelt is now making 20 {
the public They feel that by such I
charges and appeals Mr.. Roosevelt mas
clOuded the real and critical issues Of T!
the campaign and has misled a great I
many good and patriotic people Of the I
country to his support because no one /
has answered them as they ought 10 /
be answered
They think am the only one whose /
position is such as to make an an {
sWer effective; that as the president 1
whose administration is attacked, as 7.
the titular head Of the Republican
party. whose integrity is threatened
and as the man whose character is
1 must meet Mr.. ROOsevelts
attacks, however unpleasant may be a
personal controversy with one whom
IN the past ] have greatly admired and ]
loved and whose present change Of
attitude is the source Of the saddest
disappointment.
Is Il n Square DeaIs
Mr.. Roosevelt prlded himself on be-
ing true sports an and he likes to
take from the rules and language OF ,
sport. maxims to be applied to life in I
general The maxim which he has ex-
alted above all others, to which he has
given currency the country over. and
which he himself in his conduct Of life
wishes TO have il thought he eXempIi-
lies, is that every man is entitled to a
square deal I propose to examine
the charges he makes against me and
10 ask you whether in making them
he is giving me a square deal"
In detail Mr.. Taft dealt first with
me statement by colonel Roosevelt in
ms Carnegie hall address in which the
colonel said:
when ne says that our government is
and should be a government Of all the I
people by a representative part of the
people. That is an excellent and mod
crate description Of an Oligarchy. It
leIines our government as a govern
lent Of all the people by few Of the
In reply Mr.. Taft said:
The excerpt which Mr.. Roosevelt
uses Is taken from my speech at To-
eco I did not say this should be
government Of all the people by rep
Il sentative e part Of the people: 1 said
~ Is thus apparent that ours is a gov
7Thment Of all the people by a repre-
tentative part of the people and II is
The context shows clearly what
meant had pointed out that the
government was by popular vote that
me voters did not include the women Z
md children: that in number OF voters
were less than One-fourth of all the /
people and that their action was the I
action OF their majority. so that the (
government was controlled not 10y al /
the people. but by a represeu -atlve g.
part Of the people, tOwit: a majority
II the adult males Does Mr. RoOse-
-elt deny this fact? I pointed out the