The Detroit times., 1912-10-21
TAFT WOULD
PUT BAN ON
PERSONALITIES
Comments on Shooting Of Col.
Roosevelt by Fanatic
In Milwaukee
PLEADS FOR DIGNITY
In SEEKING OFFICE
Z Says Great Danger to Republ''
can Government Lies in Lack
of Interest of Citizens
Copyrighted b, United Press. .,.! ;,

oco.xr,xht.a BIZ United Presso
BEVERLY, Mass, Oct. 2l.-ina' NO
Is opposed to the use OF PERSONAL
ties IN a campaign was the empnatic
statement OF President Taft In an eA-
elusive interview granted the thi'ea
Prsss today. In view OF the interest
aroused throughout the country Dy
z the charges made by certain pupne
man that personalities were respons-
HE for the shooting Of Colonel hoose-
van the president was asked LOT NE
vlaw He made II very plain that ne
bsheyes personalities absolutely oul
az place: that they do not cnange
single vote, but that they serVe '"
y hecloud the real issues.
The president endorsed the mooren
methods OF getting the issues pelo,o
tne public through extensive adVerus
ing hut admitted they were most eA
nsnsiye. He made 1t plain too, tnat
The questioning of the motives Oh
= bly, contributors has made the raislns
or funds for the present Gay nsn'
real problem. -
In conclusion the president made
plea of dignity in ONCE SEEKING
aeclaring there was no question tnI
,,eople OF the United States were as
Jealous OF the dignity of their higher
officials today as they ever were In
= he country's history.
"Mr. President" he was asked
"nov do you personally believe presi-
dcntial campaigns should be con-
ductcdY
presidential campaigns should Dc
oanducted." he answered, I'm such
way. as to bring out the votes OF a.
r,any citizens as possible. The great
DANGER to Republican government, as
J I aaa n "A the lack OF interest that
is taken In politics. and In the exer-
else of suffrage by q very large NUM-
Der OF our citizens.
ct regret to say that I believe star
tistics would show that those VINO
neglect this very important DUTY are
generally intelligent wel[to-do. anu
capable Of exercising the sNrt OF ois,
elimination In their vote that would
; make for good government EVERY
thing, therefore, should be done 70
bring about this vote, In the presiaent
isl campaign. presume that ralles,
rocessions-torch light or otnerWiso
and other manifestations or party
zeal which attract public attention are
absolutely necessary TO arouse the at
tcntion ano the interest OF the voter
The press, of course, Is the chief IN
| strument for keeping before the pup
lie the controversies Of the campaign
and the necessity for political activ-
ity, and the final act of suffrage, but
other methods OF advertising are COM
ing into yogue-the use OF the Dill
board and the electric signs, and the
advertising panels of the street cars
il a logical outcome of the study OF
science Of advertising and publicity
THAT SO many Industrial concerns had
occasions to make.
The great difficulty In such sam
paigns Is the expense. campaign
conducted in forty-eight states neces.
sarily involves the expenditures OF
vast amounts OF money. The travel
ing expenses Of speakers are to be
paid. the advertising, whether It is by
\ mail, through the newspapers, by bill
boards or otherwise, 10 certain TO
amount to large figures, while the
renting of halls, the transportation or
speakers, the construction OF plat
toIms, and the uniforming and equip
ing OF clubs all involve expense OF
money.
cat times, II seems more or less easy
To raise considerable sums by popu-
lar subscriptions, but in times past
the subscriptions have been compare
lively few, persons OF large financial
means and engaged In enterprises
which might have relations to the gov
ernmental action. were the only con-
tiibutors. This has given rise. when
the contributions became known, TO
n ,uestions OF motives, many OF them
iufounded, that are likely to make
tho collection OF funds of this kind ex-
ceedlngly difficult.
THE question Is not one easily
solved. In Oregon and some states,
II has been attempted to pay the ex-
|, ncnses OF the campaigns OF all parties
by furnishing n public record OF the
arguments In favor OF each candidate,
aud It's Calculations among the peoDle
at public expense. but I should think
this a very unsatisfactory way OF ar
auing a question Of some intricacy,
and that Il might limit the knowledge
VI people In respect to the controvers-
les upon which they are expected TO
vote"
what do you thIak, Mr.. president,
Is the effect OF personalities in the
Il very much doubt, continued the
president, whether, personalities have
anything like the effect In campaign
that those who use them think they
90
Some times there Is real reve-
,atIon as TO the character OF a candi-
|, date so clearly proven To his detriment
that ne suffers, but ordinarily the use
cf epithets and the personal attacks
upon candidates only anger their
friends. crafty their enemies. and do
not affect those who are Indifferent
one way OF another. IL lowers the
tone OF the discussion and diverts
public attention from the real facts at
y Issue.
For that reason. the fewer person
a,ities In campaign. the more likely
tne public In 10 reach thorough foot
hold of this question"
ia the people still to look for dig
nifty In high ofiice9"
- They certainly do. 7 st1 convinced
that the hun.olest voter among the
ptople would wish the high officiers OF
~. .o-arnty,onf "a ronduct themaoIves