Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-10-21

Idea About
Campaigns
THINKS PERSONALITIES AND
ABUSE SHOULD BE CUT OUT AND
THE ELECTION CONDUCTED IN
A DIGNIFIED MANNER.
UNITED PRESS LEASED wIRn.l


Beverly, Mass, Oct, 21.-President
Taft's views Of how presidential
campaign should be conducted were
given to the United Press today in an
exclusive interview. The presidents s
idea of the proper way to elect a chief
executive follow:
(By President William Howard Taft
Copyrighted 1912 by the United Press
Association.
"Mr. President" asked the United
Press correspondent, how do you per-
scnally believe presidential campaigns
should be conducted?'
President Taft answered:
"In such a way as to bring out as
many votes of the citizens as possible
The great danger to a republican gov
eminent, as | see it, is the lack Of in
terest in politics and failure to exer-
else suffrage by a large number Of
citizens. / regret to say ! believe
statistics show those who neglect this
important duty are generally intelli-
gent and capable Of discrimination in
voting that would make for the good
of the government Everything there
fore should be done to bring out this
vote in presidential campaigns
"The press, OF course, is the chief
instrument in keeping up the public
controversies Of the campaign; the
necessity for political activity and the
final act of suffrage, but other meth
ods of advertising are coming in use
The use of the bill board, electric signs
and advertising panels in street cars
are the logical outcome Of study Of
the science of advertising and pub
licity that so many industries have
had occasion to make. At times II
seems more or less easy to raise con-
siderable sums by popular subscrip-
ton, but in the past the subscriptions
have been comparatively few and by
persons of large financial means en-
gagged in enterprises which might have
such relations with the government as
to be affected favorably or unfayora-
bly, by governmental action. This has
given rise to question Of motives,
many Of which are unfounded, that are
likely to make the collection Of funds
most difficult"
what do you think" the president
was asked, "of the effect Of personal
tiles in a political campaign
President Taft answered:
81 doubt whether personalities have
anything like the effect which those
who use them think they have. Some
times there Is a real revelation Of the
character of a candidate and so clear
ly proven to his detrlment that he suf-
fers. Ordinarily the use Of epithets
and personal attacks on candidates
only anger their friends and crafty
their enemies, but do not affect indif-
ferent ones. These attacks lower the
tone Of discussion and divert the at
tention Of the public from the real
facts at issue For that reason the
fewer personalities injected into the
campaign, the better, as the public is
thcn more likely to reach a sound and
Just conclusion"
Asked If the people still expected
dignity in high office, the president
answered
Certainly. / am convinced that
even the humblest voter wishes high
officers Of a government to conduct
themselves with dignity and to refrain
from descending to personalities which
ordinarily we would not associate with
men in prominent and official posi-
tions. believe the people are sensl-