Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-03-28
TAFT rs A VOTE GETTER
Nspidly Increasing Strength Of the
Prcsident--Democrnt Now
Fear Him.
wash. Cor. Boston Reoord.)

NWBSH SOT. DOStOu NcOOIu)
There was q time recently when the
democrats did not care whom the re-
publicans nominated for president. SO sure
were they that anyone the democrats
nominated would be able to come out
ahead at the next November election, but
not q few are now beginning to change
their minds, and the man they do not at
all wish nominated Is President Taft
Many Of them at first were disposed to
fall behind the progressive republican
who for professional reasons made
Taft cannot be elected q slogan, bu,
tho democrats are not saying that nov
and instead ono oan hear them declar-
ing that Theodore Roosevelt would be the
man hardest for the democrats to beat
and when the enemy talks It - always
well to bear in mind the saying. Beware
Of Greeks bearing gifts
the democrats are tremendously I'M
pressed with the return into popularity
Of President Taft. To Illustrate. a shrewd
political observer among them. a South
srn United States senator. said the other
day.
II want Wilson nominated and sup
pose he Will not be, because ] have never
SCckA tuc u0lIOCTdC nOHI1ndte0 WHOM
wanted named. want the democrats 10
win the presidency. and up to a little
while ago I thought we were going to
mMfy and actually wanted Taft NOM
mated. but here he has come along into
4 rehabilitation before the people that
has been nothing short Of a wonderful
political phenomenon. To PVT It IN tho
vsrnAcuiar: Tho way Taft has come back
IL extraordinary. And It has all happened
IN the last few weeks think that the
opposition and candidacy Of Roosevelt
has done him good. 1t has brought out
TAFT ~ . contrast
There ars signs. moreover. that we
are going TO have an immediate return
Of good times. And Taft and tho Re
publican party, II It dominates him. will
BE- n possession Of that asset. and .
big asset It Will he; and so the party will
stand - tho forerunner and owner Of
prosperity once more ard Taft Will stand
for peace. and stu further az one who
hAs been thoroughly tried out In the
presidency and can be relied upon, though
he makes mistakes now anc then. To sum
up. the cry Of Taft and prosperity will
swoGp the country. and arain we demo-
Gratis will go under and especially 70 II
We shall make such fools OF ourselves as
the Kansas democrats have started out
doing with their amazing radical proro-
sations. which confotind even mo radical
thse am. say just watch Taft and see
him grow into his own again. am thor
ouShly impressed and afraid"
Qrom the Montpelier Journal
In a recent conversation with the editor
OF this paper. a democrat who is In
touch with national politics and who
travels widely. said that he hoped Us n
partisan that Roosevelt, would be nom,-
mated by the republicans. A few months
ago. in his opinion. his party could have
elected almost any candidate. but now.
owing to the remarkable growth of the
Presidents popularity. 1t was becoming a
question OF whom they could find to beat
Taft. This opinion hardly corresponds
with that OF the Banner.
The tremendous enthusiasm for Taft
SHOWN during his recent visit to Massa-
chusetts and New Hampshire. the re-
markable growth Of Taft sentiment in
such States as Indiana. Iowa, (where
he Is likely to get n majority of the
delegation in spite of the favorite son
candidacy OF Senator Cummins) Kansas
Missouri Colorado, New Mexico and
other western States. shows the hopeless.
ness of the Roosevelt cause. The people
are turning to Taft because they apprc.
ciate his splendid record, because they
believe In the square u-ai and because
they are not ready to endorse DANGEROUS.
~ radical doctrines.
At first MI. Roosevelt under no cir
cumstances" would be "A candidate and
declared that his candidacy would be q
calamity Later he was In a mood ia
have the nomination forced upon him
by an overwhelming demand from the
convention. Then upon the petition of
the seven little governors he was willing
10 be receptive candidate, reluctantly
OF course. Now he is issuing angry in.
terWews, and taking the stump as a last
desperate attempt to stem the tide which
is running so strongly against him. In
dependent and fair minded newspa pers
declare that his candidacy has COLLAPSED.
very few weeks are likely to demon.
strate this fact beyond the question OF a
doubt.
There is growing belief that the
Roosevelt movement indirectly has been
OF great benefit TO Taft, that the Presi-
dents nomination is as certain as any
future political event well can be and
that his chances of election have i'm
proved wonderfully and are improving
every hour. Republicans are regain,ng
confidence and are recognizing that Taft
Is the man above all others who can be
elected this fall