The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-11-04
VOTE RIGHT!

/
of the most important that has been
held in these United States in many
years. This is admitted on all Sides
And for that reason each and every
voter has duty to perform that as
sumes solemn proportions 1t is not
too much to say that the progress OF
the nations civilization along safe ana
sane lines is at stake. So no oallot
should be lightly cast.
Surely in no campaign within easy
recollection have the personalities OIL
the various candidates figured so large
~ as in the one that closes ton-ghl'
IT would be scarcely correct to say that
they have entirely superseded the po-
Iitical issues of the hour as they have
been projected by the several potltlcal
parties. But in much of the active
carnpaigning that has been done. coth
on the stump and in the columns OF
the newspapers, the issues nave too
often been forgotten. Personal crl1-
cism of the candidates, much OF which
has savored of unca1led for abuse
seems to have been the order OF the
day.
And yet it is the political issues ana
the proposals for their settlement, that
his mind how he can best cast his
ballot for his own interests and those
of his neighbors. The real question OF
+he campaign is as to whether or not
+he government of the United States
shall he continued in an orderly fash-
ion along the lines of a constitutional
and commemorative form of govern
ment under which it was founded ana
bv which it has grown great and be-
come the envy of every other natlon /
on the face of the earth.
IT Is for this that the Republican /
marty und.- the leadership of Presl- |
dent Taft stands. So does the Demo-
cratic partv but to a more uncertain
axtent because it has never had mucn
of an opportunity to try cut It's plans
FOR the administration of the nation
affairs along constitutional lines ana
under the changed conditions that
modernity has brought about /
with the new party, the child OF
Theodore Roosevelt, that was crea-
ted for the purpose, among others
of giving him an opportunity to De
elected 70 the presidency for tnlro
+arr, the case is different 1t con-
tends for radical departures on the
svs+en of government. To say that
thew would bring about the right KIND
of progress in this country is mere
gress-work. They are untried. There
is.no telling what results they mlght
achieve And on the other hand the
axis+irq system of government has
nroven itself to be sufficiently elastic
r. meet and solve many most mo-
r,aD+o,ls problems There can be lit
flo Doubt that it will just as readily
lend itself to the proper solution OF all
existing problems that have pressed
their way to the fore
Aud another thing. Many OF the
nIaus that Theodore Roosevelt anu MS
friends have promulgated for the bet
of social and economic condl-
tions are purely matters of state con-
troll and endeavor. And they nave
nresan+ed the unusual spectacle OF
campaigning for national honors on is
snes that are properly of the state
This Is the real issue of the cam
noign Tariff legislation, trust con-
troll or regulation, ct cetera, are actual
lv nothing more than subsidiary Incl
dents. all essentially important out
mailing into insignif1cance when COM
nared with the question as to Whether
or not the basic principle of our sys-
tom of government shall be changed.
It's for the voters to decide TINS
question. They certainly have the in
teIligence to do so, and will II they
discharge their full duty in the prem
ises without permitting themselves TO
be swayed by personal prejud1ces ana
the passions of the hour And what
ever is their verdict there should De
no whining in the immediate or distant
future over any milk that may nave
been spilled.