The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-11-12
AS BRYAN SEES
POLITICAL FUTURE
President Taft Accomplished Great
Benefit to the County by Breaking
Old Republican Party.
(By William ]. Bryan)

10y hliliduA
The election is over and we turn
from the discussion of principles, pol
icies and candidates to consideration
of the results. The past is gone, never
to return; what of the future?
The three men who occupied the
center of the stage have changed posi-
tions. The presidnt retires from the
Office with a few electoral votes-so
few that they only emphasize his de-
feat The only consolation that Mr..
Taft can draw from the result is that,
by sacrificing himself, he saved the
country from a third term-at least
he made certain the defeat of Colonel
Roosevelt
Taft Did One Good Thing.
History will deal with him more
kindly than the orators of the third
party have. Even the criticism of the
democrats will be softened by an ap-
probation of his personal qualities and
Of the great service that he has rem
dered the country By dividing the re
publican party 1t was not his inten-
tion, of course, to divide his party,
but id was the natural result of his
administration and the nation is the
beneficiary.
He did some good things, but they
we're overshadowed by his sins of COM
mission and omission. Circumstances
were against him and he was out of
joint with the times. He was reo0m-
mended four years ago as an impos-
sible charaeter-a progressive in the
west, and "standpatter" in the east
BE could not have fulfilled adj the ex-
pectations that were excited and by
attempting for while to follGw a mid
die course, he alienated both sides SO
that when he finally cast in his lot
with the "standRatters" he aroused no
enthusiasm even among his followers.
Then, too. his popular vote, and
hence his electoral vote. was lesseDed
by the fact that many who would have
voted for him had he had ary chance,
voted for Wilson in order. to insure the
defeat of Roosevelt. Mr.. Dooley hit
off the situation early in the campaign
by saying that Mr. Taft had a great
many friends who would vote for him
if they did not have to vote for the
democratic candidate.
Progressives Will Absorb Old Party.
The republican party is so weaken
ed by its overwhelming defeat that at
will find it difficult to recover. The
chances are that the progressives win
return and take charge Of the party,
and adopt in the next campaign plat
form which will be a compromise be-
tween the two extremes, but so far as
can be seen now Dir. Taft has rounded
out his political career. AS an ex-
president, and as a man of character,
he will carry to his retirement the es-
TEEN and good win OF the people, and
will be useful in international politics.
"a growing field Of honor and digni6
Colonel Roosevelt has suffered a re-
buke that will be keenly felt by him
and his friends The difference be-
tween his vote eight years ago and his
vote now will be noted in history, and
unless the situatio mis- changed by fu-
ture events, the descent from his great.
popularity to his present position will
remain melancholy one.
The careful student, however, will
be compelled to credit him with hav-
ing performed an extraordinary feat in
organizing so large a force in so short
a time. There is an inertia in every
party that tends to hold the members
in line, no matter what the party may
do. To have taken more than half of
the voting strength away from the old
organization is an unparalleled ac-
Movement in the formation of new
party. and it is the more remarkable
when it is remembered that the third
party candidate was handicapped by