The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-08
CHAPTER &c.


IPolitics.1
The straw vote is not serious pro-
position. It is a diversion generally
on railway trains. 1t is not taken
/ seriously 1t is a joke too often. Many
/ sensible people will not cast it 1t is
an unAmerican thing. without princi-
pie. authority or safeguards 1t is
referendum without any safeguards 1t
is being carried to an absurdity al
nauseam BY certain newspapers which
are frothing at the mouth about it
The straw votes now being taken by
the over jealous alleged friends OF
! Colonel Roosevelt are virtually result
ing in ballots for the man whom the
box holders are advocating
The insurgents vow that LaFollette
has dropped himself out of the game
even quite as abruptly as he had Deeh
dropped are not united on any one Wlio
| is a candidate or who represents liie
inslrgent ideas. The game now Is u
trv drag a popular and exemplary GU
zen who has hell the office twice anu
made good. into Third Term caloi-
date. So far these straw vote getters
nave been unable to get a stateIneiie
| that they have implored that 'llei
| d
steadfastlv. constantly and emphatlcaI-
- raf,,sed to be drawn or dragged
into a race or to serve as a VENICE
For milling any political chestnuts out
of the fire or into office.
me Roosevelt boomers continue 70
IGNORE the coloners wishes ana are
rersisting IN trying every ways ana
means to get delegates who VIII De
For him-despite the request by their
desired nominee that this be not done
Meanwhile the Taft sentiment IS
crvstaIlizing and votes of Republicans
in convention. not straw votes from
every political source, are registering
for the presidents denomination Wit
ness New York, $40 to II; Chicago eoO
70 100 etc Taft is getting the sober sec
ond thought and sentiment of informed
4 cit zens. Gradually the people are be
ginning to realize that Taft is writing
INTO law the promises he and his party
made. that political pledges in a plat
form are becoming material enact
roen+s- and that President Taft having
been elected to the high executive
nosition. is executing the law in man
ner which has developed opposition
with certain classes, but which has
certainly brought the respect and appro-
baton of the masses
They saw Taft is not a good politi-
cian. He is proving himself the best
politician, that is a statesman. States
men in embryo are generally polit-
4 clans. If they remain only good poll
ticians they cannot go up higher as
Taft has and become real and effective
craftsmen in the affairs of state. sucn
as our president has become. He has
earned a denomination by sheer merit
He has profted by and grown through
his mistakes, as well as his wise meas
; nres and actions. He has recognized
! errors and used them as stepping
stones to his country's welfare, regard
! less of personal predicaments.
IF Won are Republican take the
platform of the party made in 1903. and
now a "Reminiscences largely writer
l into permanency on the statute books
and note the remarkable success Taf
has achieved in doing the very things
that the com bined wisdom Of his party
al the time he was selected as stand
bearer, told him and instructed hin
to do
You must then realize that if an!
man has served his party. and thereby
his country. as a great party sees 1t
= President Taft is that man and being {
: candidate the party must renominat'
r him. or stultify itself. go on the de
e fensive and write a new platform OF
e opposite - that it, Democratic-line
$ and trade horses in the stream an
= try a new leader.
As the colonel quoted Lincoln yester
day what some Republicans seem t
want now is "a squabble and a fuss
e The Insurgents cannot in the Ian
= guage of the great Emancipator, foe
e all of the people all of the time-an
e that is why Taft is rapidly and daily
It this country over coming into h
= own"
Il This straw vote in Kansas, which
If being taken principally by Missoul
newspaper has made straw carrier
out of our governor and one of GU
II candidates for his position Vine
h this man of straw is constructed OF
e of all of these straws, for the res
n Roosevelt himself is not running, Their
d is likely to arise a real man, T. R. b
st initials. with big stick who wi
= knock the straw man that certai
= friends are trying to make him out
st be. into ''smithereens.'
t William Allen White comes out in a
editorial in which he announces tha
Senator Curtis is with the Democrats
" Is it possible that our Charlie and OF
lei William are getting together as clos
} as that, Mr. White announced som