Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1912-05-02
ROOSEVELT VERSUS TAFT.
A Comparison Between Progressive
and a Reactionary.


and a Reaetionary.
In his Louisville speech Mr.. Roose-
Welt suggested these standards for dis
tingrishing between the progressive
and Tho reactipnary:
Every man who fights fearlessly and ef-
feet vely AGAINST special privilege ina any
form IS TO tnat extent a progressive. Ev-
cry an Who directly or Indirectly Up
holds privilege and favors toe special In
teres s. whether he acts from evil motives
or T erely because he is puzzle headed or
dull Of mental vision or lacking IN social
Sympathy or whether he simply lacks in
tere . IN the subject. is n retactionary.
Evetv man Is TO tbat extent progress
sive II ne stands FOR any form OF social
justice whether It Is securing proper pro-
lection Tor factory girls against dangerous
machin On securing proper limitation
or hOurs az labor for Or1en and children
in n as =. TO- securing proper wing
conc. lions .or thoa. VINO dweh ia the
thickly crowded regions Of our great cities,
for helping so far as legislators can help,
all the conditions of work and life for
wageworkers In great centers OF industry
or for helping by the action both of the
national ard state governments, so far as
conditions VIII permit, the men and wom-
en- who dwell IN the open country 20 In
crease their efficiency both in production
on their. farms and In business arrange
ments for ne marketing OF their produce
and also TO increase the opportunities to
give the best possible expression 10 their
social llfc-- The man -ass reactionary.
whatever may be his profession and no
matter how excellent his Intentions. who
opposes these movements or who If in
high place takes no interest in them and
does not earnestly help them forward.
The Metropolitan Magazine in an edi-
toral makes this comparison between
President Taft and his predecessor:
The present incumbent OF the office is a
man OF comfortable habits He enjoys
good food aud fast motorcars. His recre-
alton IS golf over the links OF two of the
most exclusive country clubs in America.
IL he We're John ID. Rockefeller or the
Duke Of Westminster he could not be
further removed from the atmosphere of
manual labor. One cannot conceive Mr..
Taft spending days among the miners of
Pennsylvania or the steel workers of
Pittsburgh. Nor can one picture him taxi
ing any passionate interest I'm the toillng
masses IL they get what the law allows
them he is well content TO dismiss them
from his well balanced mind.
The other candidates are like Mr.. Taft
with the exception of Roosevelt. He is
different. not because he does not like
the good things or this world; he prob
ably likes them Just as much as Taft.
Who doesn't? But he Is not dependent
on them And he has q burning sympa-
thy with the poor wretches who never cain
enjoy them He is rich man, compared
with the vast majority OF his fellow coun-
-trymen but the comforts OF life are not
enough for him. He was born with the
divine discomfort He cannot be easy In
wealth so long as the wealth OF the few
Is built upon the misery of the many.
Roosevelt has been for days among the
miners OF Pennsylvania Probably he
would much rather be shooting hons or
leading a regiment in battle. But the in
justice OF life so lmpresses itself upon
him that he cannot rest until he has at
least done his share to improve things.
This comparison Is keen analysis Of
the reasons underlying the events Of
the last four years which must newt
ably eliminate in making Mr.. Roose-
welt the peoples candidate for the pres
idency in November. - Kansas City