The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1912-04-11
ROOSEVELT VERSUS TAFT.
A Comparison Between a Progressive
and a Reactionary.

A Comparison Between Progressive
and Reactionary.
In his Louisville speech Mr. Roose-
welt suggested these standards for dis
tinguishing between the progressive
and the reactionary:
Every man who fights fearlessly and eff
fectively against special privilege in any
form is to that extent L progro SSve. Ev-
cry man who directly or Indirectly up
holds privilege end favors the special in
terestS, whether he acts from evil motives
or merely because he is puzzle headed or
dull Of mental vision or lacking in social
sympathy or whether he simply lacks in
terest In the subject. IS u rctactionary.
Every man is TO that extent 4 progress
sve if he stands for any form OF social
justice, whether 1T Is securing proper pro-
lection for factory girls against dangerous
machinery or securing a proper limitation
OF hours of,lahor for women and children
i'll industry, for securing proper living
conditions for those who dwell in the
thickly crowded regions of our great cities
for helping, SO far as legislators can help.
all the conditions OF work ard life for
wageworkers in great Centers OF industry
or for helping by the action both OF The
national and state governments, so far as
conditions VIII permit, the men and Wom-
On who dwell in the open country to in
crease their efficiency both in production
on their farms and in business arrange
mcnts for the marketing Of their produce
and also to increase the opportunities to
give the best possible expression to their
social life. The man is reactionary
whatever may be his profession and no
matter how eXcelfent his intentions, who
opposes these movements Or who if in
nigh place takes no interest in them and
does rot earnestly help them forward.
NJ ~
torial makes this comparison between
President Taft and his predecessor:
The present incumbent CT the office is q
man of comfortable habits. He enjoys
good food and fast motorcars. His rccrc-
alton is golf over the links Of two Of The
most exclusive country clubs in America
If lac 'r"e John y. Rockefeller Or the
Duke Of Westminster he could not be
further removed from the atmosphere Of
manual labor. One cannot conceive Mr.
Taft spending days among the miners of
PENNSYLVANIA Or the steel workers of
Pittsburgh. Nor can one picture him tax
ing any passionate interest in the toiling
masses. If they SCI what the law allows
them no is we'll content to dismiss them
from his we'll balanced mind.
The other candidates are like MI Taft
with the exception OF Roosevelt. He is
different, not because he does not like
ably likes them just as much as Taft
Who doesn't? But he is not dependent
on them. And he has a burning symDa-
thy with the poor W'retchcs who never can
ENJOY them He is Il rich man, compared
with the vast ma jurity Of his fellow coun-
trymen, but the comforts Of life are not
enough for him. He vas born with the
divine diScOntent. He cannot be easy in
wealth so long as the wealth OF the few
IS built upon the misery Of the many.
Roosevelt has been fov days among the
miners OF Pennsylvania. Probably he
would much rather be shooting lions or
leading regiment IN battle. But the in
justice Of life 50 impresscs itself upon
him that he cannot rest until he has at
least done his share to improve things.
This comparison is keen analysis Of
the reasons underlying the events Of
the last four years which must newt
ably eliminate IN making Mr.. Roose-
welt the peoples candidate for the prcs-
idcncy in November. - Kansas City
Star