Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-11-07

WILSON'S over the developments concern
Ing the campaign funds of 1904. Mr.. Taft,
secretary Of war In President Rooseveit's
cabinet, was sent to Ohio to attack Sena-
tor Joseph Benson Foraker. Mr.. Taft's
speech at Akron resulted In the over
throw OF the republican organization in
Hamilton county and in tho defeat Of
Gov Myron T. Herrick for reelection.
In almost every State the Roosevelt ad-
ministration precipitated war on old time
republican leaders. His objective SEEM
cd to be against every republican leader
In the country who In any way had been
associated with Marcus Alonzo Hanna
and Hannas friends. He had quarreiled
with Hanna shortly before the presiden-
tial election OF 1904. believing that Hanna
was candidate for the nomination that
year From that hour he resolutely and
unflinchingly and persistently fought the
old republican leaders who had been pow
erful factors In the Harrison and McKin-
ley days.
In 1908 Roosevelt decreed the nomina-
ton of Taft The party at that time was
torn by factional feuds and personal
rivalr1es. OF a character that had not
been observed since the days OF Garfield
and Conkling. But Taft was easily elect
ed for the sole and simple reason that
many democrats would not accept WILL
liam j. Bryan. who had been nominated
for the third time. The most expert polit-
ical students and publicists have de-
clared that had Bryan in 1907 accepted
those words OF william Mckinley at
Buffalo In the late summer OF 1902 he
would, by calling for tariff revision. with
little improbability have come very close
to defeating TAFT. Roosevelt's electoral
vote in 1904 was '36. and Parker's no:
while Taft's In 1903 was 33l and Bryan's
lS2 Yet Roosevelt's popular plurality in
1904 was 2544,343, and Taft's in 1905.
.269.s
President Taft Immediately after his
Inauguration called an extra ordinary ses-
sion OF Congress, which passed the
, Payne-Aldrich tariff bill. Without dis
cussing the merits Of that bill II Is only
necessary to say that the progressives
have attributed the republican over
throw Of 1910. by which democratic gov
crnors were elected In New York. Maine.
Massachusetts, Connecticut Indiana and
Ohio. and the House Of Representatives
for the first time in 16 years beca me
democratic. to the features OF the Payne
Aldrich tariff The regular republicans.
replying to that charge. however, have
recalled that so long as Roosevelt refused
TO interfere with the Dingley tariff law
the republicans remained in power In the
nation and In the States mentioned. with
the exception Of Ohio. which had elected
Harmon governor In 1903.
The troubles OF President Tafts admin
istration have been many They have
been recounted so frequently and so re-
| Gently that II Is not necessary to reiterate
them now. The break between himself
and Roosevelt and the causes were ex-
haustively recorded In the Sun on March
Il last. Ex-President Roosevelts battle
for supremacy In New York State in 1910
and it's result are also too we'll known to
call for extended comment. His demand
that he be nominated for president at
Chicago in June last and his defeat. and
lis leadership Of the Progressive National
party, with himself as Its candidate for
president. has been perhaps the browning
disaster to the Republican National par
ty. The structures OF the Taft adminis-
tration on the railroads Of the country.
accompanied by the fact that these re-
lressions have led almost to an entire
estoppe OF railroad development. and the
drastic legislation against business enter
priscs In nearly all the States have con-
trbuted to countless and :olcanic crit
icisms OF the Republican party by It's
most influential members and by the men
who have been instrumental for many
years In sustaining Its political fortunes.
All these features and many more in
the Judgment of those who are competent
to speak and who have spoken with en-
phass within the last few days, spell
nothing but disaster for the Republican
party in the nation and in a vast majority
of the States on Tuesday. These utter
ances have been accompanied By salient
remarks to the effect that the Democratic
National party Is not competent to win
= victory by itself for the reason that