The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-09-28
SMITHS APPROVAL OF TAFT.


ton of the day in this community yes
Iterday The emphatic endorsement OF
President Taft contained in that edi-
torial was construed to be guidance
Ito thousands of Mormon voters who
looked TO the head of the church for
direction in their politics as in every
thing else, as TO how they should cast
their vote for President. 1t Will am
doubtedly affect that vote. 1t will also
havc a powerful effect in checking the
movement for the support of Colonel
Roosevelt in his candidacy for Presi-
dent. for it is evident that the article
was leveled in part against Col. Roosc-
welt, its phraseology making this ap-
parent. Where President Smith speaks
Of President Taft s action lin the
treatment OF the great questions that
have come before the nations, ho has
risen TO the occasion and applied such
conservative legal remedies as have
won him true admiration from patriotic
citizens of all parties.' the drive at
Roosevelt is clear; for the charge
against Roosevelt is precisely that he
has done just those things, that he has
not applied the conservative legal rem.
edies. and would not do so If he were
President again
Where President Smith endorses the
action of President Taft with respect
to his dealing with the interests,
(Which means doubtless that he unduly
favors big business or trusts the i'm
phcation is plain that President Smith,
himself the head of number OF local
trusts is quite willing to take his stand
with President Taft President Smith
SAYS that whatever President Taft has
dono in this "he has done it legally,
and he continues:
He believes strictly In tho judicial ap-
plication OF the law In these cases, and
as firmly as any one In the need OF just
and fair laws 70 deal with the impor-
tant question. II is n pcrplexlng prob
lem. which not even the experts know
just how to handle. and which cannot
be solved by u mere change OF Presl-
dents President Taft believes IN flnd
ing out what is necessary. and then In
applying the law as remedy without
resort TO unconstitutional means, 10 law
lessness and anarchy This has been his
has been effective without being revolu-
uonary and Illegal.
It it perfectly plain that this sort
of thing is meant not only as an ap-
proval Of President Taft and his course,
but that IL is n powerful sideswipe at
Roosevelt, since it puts President Taft
In contrast with Roosevelt in their Of
ficial action, ono pursuing legal, tho
other Illegal methods. President Taft q
action "has been effective without
being revolutionary or illegal" says
President Smith. But since tho pro-
posals of Col Roosevelt are fairly to
be described as both revolutionary and
Illegal, tho reflection upon the Colonel
is plain.
The effect Of this editorial Of Presi
dent Smith s must necessarily be dam
aging to Roosevelt in this state even
more than it will be helpful to Taft.
This carries out the suggestion that
we have made hitherto in considering
the local Progressive party here, that
this local movement has far greater
strength than the Roosevelt movement
itself. Local Progressives, TO be sure,
support Roosevelt Nationally because
that is the only National connection
that they can get. But unquestionably
the strength of the local revolt against
bossism, against the corruption of the
hidebound machine politics in this
State as shown by the Federal bunch
in its manipulation of tho bogus Re
publican party, impels thousands to the
support of a local party of protest,
such as the Progressive party is, a
large percentage of those who thus pro
test caring precious little for Roose-
welt or may, in fact, be opposed to him.
All such use Roosevelt simply as a
figurebead, and pursue their real pur
pose in the activities of the local Pro.
gressive party, for local purposes, which
must necessarily be far stronger. than
any sentiment for the personality of
Roosevelt.
It is noteworthy that President
Smith says nothing whatever with re-
speet TO this local Progressive move.
That is left to pursue its course unmo-
Tested. He simply boosts President
Taft and delivers few ead-thump-
ing whacks upon Roosevelt. The Roose- |
velt following here, that is, the follow
ing which is distinctively for Roose-
welt as distinguished from the Progress
i've local move, will undoubtedly be ex.
tremely resentful Of this editorial Of
President Smiths. The Democrats who |
arc free from church fetters will also !
resent that editorial, and those who
have been claiming that the aggression
which has kept the people in
a state of agitation for decades has
come from sensational newspapers,
and that the church and church |
leaders have been the victims in
place of the assailants. will be put to
confusion and shame. For here is n
case of political bomb dropped from
clear sky. There was nothing to call
for il so far rs known; there was no
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