The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-05-06
MIR. TAFT ON THIRD TERMS.

Mr.. Taft has, Of course, every personal in
terest in preventing the nomination of Mr.
Roosevelt at the Chicago convention He wishes,
naturally, endorsement by his party of his
administration He feels certainly. a great re-
sentiment against the friend who has suddenly
'econie his btterest enemy In the furthera nee
OF this personal interest, he has done and said
tic foolish things that a man does and SAYS IN
anger Fie IS probably sorry row for haviux
engaged In mud-snging with a master of the
art as the American people arc mortified that
nc should have done so. But Il will not do to
consider that Mr.. Taft for one burst of temper.
his lost the judicial quality which d,st!n-
guishes him. or that he does not retain the
po0er Of speaking conclusions born of long and
t-rave reflection. lie is President. and ..yCe9t
fe~ ifs, few days in which nc banded persoueli-
ties with Roosevelt, he has never forgotten the
fact. When he speaks OF Mr. Roosevelt Ills
passionAtely as a condition and not as a pee
s"nal enemy his words. therefore, are entitled
70 the greatest consideration. In Maryland Mr..
Tcft MADE on Saturday this measured and De-
lberate statement;
MT. Roosevelt says he should be elected -
cause he says he is a necessity--that the Ameri-
can people think there s no one else tyl0 can
DO the 3ob. The Job is apparently. from what
In says, to bring about 81 coalition Of social
justice. lie does not say how he is going to
t'ine it about ana as 1t seems to change grad
noi'y ur present conditions. it would take
n long time to effect such tremendous reforms
we must. therefore. look forward to his view
that a lifetime may he necessary. With his
power OF inducing the people to support him,
with the opportunity that a President has and
as active as he is In politics to perpetuate his
power. he becomes a real menace And with his
little regard for constitutional restrictions his
Iltte regard Tor due process of law, I cannot hut
think that there is great crisis in the country
history involved In the question whether he
shall he the nominee Of the Republican party
aud be elected to the presidency.
The danger Of the third term has. in great
rert been voiced by men OF an oratoriral turn.
The comparisons OF Roosevelt with Caesar an /
Borap; rte have been more obvious than reason
ed, That they have q real significance Mr.. Taft
plainly sh"~sin words ef sttrpiic,t ard direct
ness. the President does nor wave the menace
OF third term as political red flag. lie
| merely shows its inevitable danger ana its II.
most ta~eeona consequence. Pause';, think 81
the magnitude OF the task which the former
President has set himself together with tho os-
sertjon that he alone il capatle Of its persor-
| H4sf,cei- Think ut the time that must elapse
before public sentiment in fifty States can be
brought TO the point Of not only consenting to
tho revision of their constitutions but to
the remodeling of the Constitution Of the United
States Think also, OF the power of the Pres.
Gent to force his mountaineering power which
Roosevelt exerted for Taft and which he is now
bitterly attacking Taft for using, Think how
UGH this power would be increased with eyerv
cncroachment state authority in favor of
the Federal government--the doctrine of the
strong arm at Washington which il tho very
livor of the Roosevelt policy, Consider these
thiZgs. what they mean In work and the years
It would take to do the work and then con-
slider that Mr.. Roosevelt himself declares him
self dedicated TO their accomplishment! Once
IN the saddle THE Man Who Woud BE King"
would be in the nature Of an arliction In per-
petuity-