Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-06-25
Y1e E rre1.1an.
TAFT'S NOMINATION.

It became evident. on the second
day of the national convention at
Chicago that President Taft was to
be re-nominated. The manner in
which the various contests were be-
ing disposed of foreshadowed this
result and nobody was surprised
late Saturday night when the news
came that the president had secur-
ed SCI votes, FL more than major
ity, and was nominated on the first
ballot. All overtures looking to-
ward the selection of a nominee 9TH
er than Taft or Roosevelt were I'M
needed by the majority and hence
1t was impossible to give life and vi
tally to such a movement. Thus
the hope of a reunited party was
ruthlessly dashed to pieces.
A large majority of the instruct
ed Roosevelt delegates met in Chi
cago soon after the nomination of
Taft and put in nomination Roose-
welt. Roosevelt says he will accept
the responsibility if it should ap-
pear to be the sense of the people
that such a movement is necessary
to Wrest the government from the
hands of those who would prostitute
it for their own ACKNOWLEDGMENT. 1t
is the contention of Roosevelt and
his followers that the presidents IT,
tie to the nomination is tainted.
That the theft of delegates from
such states as Washington, Califor-
MIA, Texas and Arizona made his
nomination possible With this con-
tention the Freeman Tribune is in
clined to agree, though it is free to
admit that the mass of evidence pre-
sented to the national committee
has not yet been fully analysed and
that so far as the individual voter
is concerned he is not yet in pos
session of sufficient knowledge of
the various contests to justify oppo-
sition to the president upon the
grounds that his nomination is frau
dulent. If, however, after careful
~ studying the situation and after
becoming familiar with the facts it
appears that Mr.. Taft's nomination
was secured by fraud, no republic
can who loves his country and his
party is in honor bound to endorse
the results Of the convention and
the only honorable course open to
such a voter is to follow his con-
science, wherever it may lead him.
1t is not question of the
strength of the movement headed
by Roosevelt. Whether or not he
can win a single vote in the cleo
toral college is a problem not worth
considering. The thing to be de-
termined is: Is the situation such
that republicans who are interest
ed only in the rule of the people
and the interests of the people are
justified in supporting candidacy
that is foisted upon the party
through fraud? Upon the solution
of this problem in the mind of the
voter will hinge the strength of the
new movement If the American
people become convinced that Taft's
nomination was not fairly secured
he will be overwhelmingly defeat
ed, as he should be, but should it
appear that a reasonable doubt ex-
lists as to the merits of the claim
OF fraud, the average republican
will give the president the benefit
Of the doubt and his election will
be reasonably certain.
1t Is yet too early to even guess
at the strength of Roosevelt as a
vote getter in the role he now as
sumes. Personally he is the strong
est man in the nation today, but no
man is strong enough to win an
election to the presidency unless the
people believe in the principles he
represents and in his courage and
fidelity, as well as the palpable JUS
tice of his cause.