Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-04-13
ROOSEVELT VERSUS TAFT.
a Comparison Between Progressive
and Reaetionary.


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 ef-
fectvely against special privilege In any
form is to that extent progressive. Ev-
cry man who directly or Indirectly up
holds privilege and 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 a retactionary.
Every man is to that extent progress
sive IL he stands for any form or social
Justice, whether 1t Is securing proper pro-
lection for factory girls against dangerous
machinery or securing a proper Limitation
of hours of labor for women and children
in 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 and life for
wageworkers In great centers of industry
or for helping by the action both of the
national and state governments. so far az
conditions will permit, the men and wom-
en- who dwell in the open country to i'm
crease their efficiency both in production
on their farms and In business arrange
ments 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 excellent his intentions, who
opposes these movements or who IL In
high place takes no interest in them and
does not earnestly help them forward.
The Metropolitan Magazine in an edi-
fnria1 hos, thiu onp,po ricn, hatvvaau
President Taft and his predecessor:
The present incumbent of the Office is a
man of comfortable habits. He enjoys
good food and fast motorcars His recre-
alton is golf over the links of two of the
most exclusive country clubs In America.
If he were John D. 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 toilng
masses. If they get what the law allows
them he Is Well content to dismiss them
from his well balanced mind.
The other candidates are like Mr.. Taft
with the exception of Roosevelt He is
different, not because he does not like
the good things of this world he prob
dDlN lines them just as iuuSH as idit
Who doesn't? But he is not dependent
on them. And he has a burning sympa-
thy with the poor wretches who never can
enjoy them He Is rich man, compared
with the vast majority of his fellow coun-
trymen. but the comforts of life are not
enough for him. He was born with tae
divine discomfort 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 for days among the
miners OF Pennsylvania Probably he
would much rather be shooting lions or
leading a regiment in battle. But the In
justice of life so impresses itself upon
him that he cannot rest until he has at
least done his share TO improve things.
This comparison is a 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 fc- tae pres
idency in November - Kansas City
Star.