Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-10-30

DAAII OAIII
sea, From the greatest wiseacres Oh
. forecasts down to the local chair
warmer, no one dares express hi
opinion.
That the Republican party is bus,
over an idea of possible defeat il
plainly In evidence. | venture to sa,
that the money, that monumental pile
that was spent in 1904 in the inter.
est of the Roosevelt campaign, would
pale into insignificance alongside the
present expenditure In the interest of
Taft 1t takes money to organize the
entire United States, and that is ex-
actly what has been done in the inter-
est of the reelection OF Taft this
year. Travelling speakers and stereo-
typed columns of Taft reelection mat
ter spread throughout the entire press
OF the state, is some indication of the
effort being put forth. Mr. Taft, him
SELF, Is running around playing golf in
the fog, according to late dispatches,
hut 1t is quite apparent that none of
his machinery is heating at the bear
ing for want of oil. Every possible
thing is seized upon by the Taft press
fand handed down the line from county
to county Inspired news is constant
ly offered the voter.
Aside from this palpable indication
of fright on the part Of the Taft man
ayers, 1t is noted that all the fire is
concentrated on Roosevelt Not much
time Is spent on Wilson. These being
"the latter days. it is worthy of note
that Roosevelt is the most feared of
any or all Taft opposition The elev-
enth-hour broadside is generally in
tended as the best shot of the battle,
and since 1t is aimed at Roosevelt 1t
Is somewhat evident that the Republi-
cans themselves believe that Roosevelt
Is the real opposition to the re-elec-
tion of President Taft This being so,
there must be a great silent vote ex-
pected. 1t is pretty hard to find
man who openly says he intends vot-
ing for Roosevelt. These men are true
blue Republicans so far as the party
is concerned but they are not Taft
men. They want Roosevelt through
personal admiration for the man.
Among Roosevelts admirers, more
will desert the Republican party to
vote for him than stay with the party
and have to vote for Taft
AS one looks back over political
history it appears that there Is 'des-
tiny that shapes our ends" and no
amount of opposition can stem the
tide Upon the merest chance, the
most slender thread, hangs in sus-
pense the destiny of nations. Theo-
dore Roosevelt was once made presi-
dent Of the United States by an as
sassin's bullet. viii he be again? By
this l mean, will the attempt on his
life react to the extent of political sue
cess. While everything incidental to
Tafts support is broadly published in
the press, likewise and contrariwise,
everything disparaging and condem-
natory Is published about Roosevelt. |
One critic, with long face said that
Roosevelt never told joke. l sup
pose, in the natural order of things, |
hat this critic was, or is, a descend
ant Of the man who, in Lincoln's time,
said Lincoln was sitting up there in
he White House telling yarns while
he country was going to the devil.
And so on, Strange individuals we
American people put up for president.
t there's anything that hasn't been
iaid against Roosevelt, why, haven't
'eard it. Now that the country is
breaking loose from party lines and
principles, and direct obligations
hereto it is rushing into maelstrom
VI personality. =
The way the battle stands now, we
Zee that Taft and the Republican party
re afraid of Roosevelt and his popu-
arity On the other hand, Roosevelt
sn't at all afraid of Taft, it is Wilson
hat is worrying him. Again, Wilson
) afraid Of both Taft and Roosevelt. {
udge Grosscup, a retired part of the ]
aft administration, said, in stepping ]
own from the bench, that Mr. Taft !
'as, in his opinion, the last of the old !