The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-18

TO steal from the people the victory
which the people have won. Last Feb
rnary II was evident that Mr.. Taft was
the accepted representative of the
bosses, of the men who uphold the
combination of crooked politics and
crooked business. which has been the
chgief source not only ut our political
hut OF our social and Industrial corr
ruption. 1t has now. alas, become evi :
cent that Mr.. TAFT is willing to ac-
quiesce In and to condone and TO ac-
ccpt the fruits OF any course Of &C
ton on which these men embark, even
though such action represent treason,
as we'll as destruction, to the Republi-
can party. to which they nominally
belong, and also treason 10 the cause
OF the American people as a whole.
MnH BE Decent In Private Life
Among the national committeeman
VINO have taken part In this conspiracv
therc are a number OF men who In the
ordinary relations of life are doubtless
decent and reputable. Probably these
men excuse themselves TO themselves
for what they are now doing on the
ground that they are not committing
what the law recognizes as a crime |,
may well he doubted whether on the
whole our country does not suffer
more from the misdecds OF men who
recognize as binding on their con-
SC ences only the obligations of law
honesty. than II suffers from the mis-
deeds Of actual criminals. Men like
MessIs Crane of Massachusetts.
Brooker, Of Connecticut. and Nagej Of
Missouri, who trail behind their hold
er associates. such as Messrs. Penrose
Murphy. and Mulvane, are doubtless
genuinely shocked at the misconduct
OF deraulting bank cashier or at tho
acuon or some small election Of
al
the returns.
Yet the wrong to the American neo.
hie, the damage 10 the country nv
such acI!on as these national commit
.e'ii'eh nave taken In deliberately
Vii 10 Auil!iy and overthrow the
pressed as 20 their choice for prcsf
49, INFINITELY greater than the
vi Vns zone By the tempted cashier or
I VIC DT!D"d election official. 1t has 10
NJ oceh noth u SAD and Il strange
'hlnS 10 see men hitherto esteemed
!tPu'AGIe take part in sucn action, and
s{ds - sustained by similar men ont
11iut; suppose the explanation must
DE FOUND in the fact that in ihe si1y,
hut general moral advance certa n
men lag a Nttlo behind the rate Of
pIosIrss o. the community as a whole.
and where their own yea! or fanct.,i
interests are concerned, such ,net. III II
| 10 recognize generally accepted stand.
a af,.. OF r!sni and wrong until long
. b
| thc majority Of their fellows sh.r.
| vas period when piracy ana IYreTle-
! !ttS We're esteemed, honorable occtina-
upns, and long after the comni,iiii, 4.
/ as IL whole had grown TO rcprehend
| mem there wero still backward nor
/ SONS VINO failed to regard them ,,s
aihPIopcr. IN the same way. as late
| men IN public life who, while thcy
| YOU'D refuse to receive n bribc ana
J t"t mink II objectionable 10 give a
| ~ !bF' h!thougE now the sentiment III
N community has grown so strona,
Inat ~ IS no longer possible to OK.
,,uso tH" n,ibe-ElNer any more than
tNe "i lbt-takcr. III the same wav liner.
are sun IN certain parts o! this coun-
Wy Feprese nta tivcs Of Il class ,nr iron,
"HI 9unoh quarter OF Il century ago
C!dSa winch regards an election q :
4 game without rules. In which &, is
! merely Sign OF cleverness to swiudI.
ana cheht- Evidently the minority
pam OF on the national commit
sun occupy this attitude toward non,
nations, although some OF them NAV
nave passed beyond Il as regards eioc.
lions. but on the committee and os.
soc!atod win the mon VINO assam.
70 pc respeetab!e. there are ccrtnl
representa- ives OF Mr.. TAFT whose
whether there are not far worse ia.
Nuenccs behind the acton OF tho com.
anlttcc than any at which nav,
guessed. Mr.. Stevenson. Of colorado
mas appeared on the committee nov.
holding the proxy OF one o. Mr.. TAFT,
zen - Lindsey, in his book. I'm,
heast and tho jungle" has Given ,
Very graphic account OF Nj steven,
son po'ltlcal actTilies tp Denver.