The Washington herald., 1912-04-21

| AuAulC VI OuI SONCIlulCul III llS keep
ing, will avert destruction.
Perhaps, therefore, the shock which
has been so universal will have its eff
feet in sobering the American mind
into a realization that it is better to be
conservative and safe than progressive
and perilous.
Roosevelt continues his personal at
tacks upon the President He is fret
| ting and fuming because his assaults
are allowed to pass unnoticed. Mr.
Taft always dignihed and regardful Of
the proprieties, will not allow himself,
as President of the United States, to
be drawn into a personal controversy.
He is conducting his campaign for a
denomination upon high plane, con-
scious that by so doing he cannot be
charged with aiding in any way the
effort of his opponents to disrupt the
Republican party 1t is an attitude
typically characteristic of him, and yet
there is no doubt that many of his
closest friends feel that he is too pa
tient and forbearing.
The militant, fighting elements in
President Taft's following are chafng
under the restraint which the Presi-
dent imposes upon them. They do not
like TO see all the hammering upon one
side. They would like to do unto Roose-
welt as he is doing unto Taft, but the
leash is being tightly held. There is
no lack of opportunity or ammunition.
RooseveIt's vulnerability is proverbisl.
Not only the facts already known, but
letters which have never been published
could be used effectively against him.
President Taft has no disposition, how
ever. to widen the rift into a chasm.
Confident of his own denomination, he
appreciates that the struggle for cleo
ton will be the most serious which has
confronted the Republican party since
1896. He has no desire to afford the
enemy aid and comfort Roosevelt is
already making it difficult TO achieve
Republican victory by uttering criti-
cisms and charges which will be re-
peated by every Democratic orator be-
tween June and November. II the
President should indulge in recrimina-
ton, the chances of Democratic success
would be immeasurably increased. This
is the explanation of his present atti-
tude. This is the reason why he re-
mains silent while Roosevelt fills the
air with denunciation.
In the meantime, Mr.. Taft's cam
paign proceeds steadily The result in
Pennsylvania, where there was a re-
volt against the machine, was adverse
to the President, but will not affect the
final result as seriously as the situation
in Illinois. Pennsylvania is such rock
ribbed Republican State that it is diff
cult to believe that its electoral vote
would go to a Democratic candidate
under any circumstances but Illinois
is in different category. II has gone
Democratic more than once under per-
turbed conditions and would certainly
be in the list of very doubtful States,
so far as the Republicans are con-
cerned, if the Roosevelt contingent
should decline to support Mr. Taft for
the Presidency The same conditions
exist in Kansas, where Mr.. Roosevelt
has been successful in securing ma
jority of the delegation In that State
the farmers, who represent large pro-
portion of Republican votes, are against
the President because of the Iatter's
advocacy of reciprocity. They seem to
forget that Roosevelt was once a most
earnest upholdcr of the reciprocity pro-
gramme, standing shoulder to shoulder
with Taft upon the question and only
shifting his position when, as a can.
didate, he found that votes could be
secured by proclaiming himself in op-
position
1t is this Taft-Roosevelt division in
States which may decide the election
by their electoral votes that menaces
the Republican organization. 1t is a.
situation which Roosevelt has himself
created, and which can only be success
fully met by the Republican argument
that the election of Democratic Pres
ident will endanger the business sta
bility of the country. If the business
men. can be convinced of the absurdity