The Washington times., 1912-04-03
THE TIME TO KEEP COOL.

The pre-convention campaign, on both sides Of
the party line, is entering, rather early the period
of extreme and heated statement. Already there
has been put aAoat a vast amount Of stuff, by all
Sides which is notoriously untrue and unfair. 1t
isn't going to help anybody, it renders judgment the
more difficult, it befogs issues and, what is worse
than all these things, it dsgusts the intelligent public
with the whole political business. This is a good
year for campaign managers to begin recognizing
that the od-stye apdash mud-slingng sort of cam
paigning is not going to succeed
For example, the ant-Wson alliance has issued
series of charges that Wilson has tremendously
bloated campaign fund, contributed by Wall Street.
On the other side, the Wilson people have committed
themselves to charges that vast quantities of money
are being poured out from unhoy sources to defeat
the New Jersey man.
The Taft people charge that Roosevelt is backed
by unlimited funds and the Roosevelt people allege
that Taft has inexhaustble supplies of the needful.
What the probable facts?
First, it is common knowledge among political
people; knowledge that passes among men Of all
factions and interests, and is accepted: that Wilson
and Roosevelt are the two candidates whom the big
money people particularly not for. Neither Of
them has much money, nor has had it at any time,
nor could get it if it were needed.
Second, TO the Taft funds. -Four years ago
| tremendous amounts were spent to nominate Mr..
Taft. it known of all politicians that such
money ever spent to secure nomination as was
used that year in behalf Of Taft. The lavishness
indeed in large part wasteful; but the money was
contributed, and used.
This year, so far as outward evidences 60, the
Taft movement is just as we'll funded if not better
1t is common belief and understanding that Charles
P. Taft will not be required to spend much in
behalf of his brother this year as four years ago
because there are more contributors now than then
but the evidences of financial ease and unconcern
about the Taft headquarters and in connection with
its operations such to justify the firm belief
that the Taft managers could spend more money than
all the other candidates, Republican and Democratic
alike, and not touch the bottom Of the treasure chest
1t is doubtful if any one of the Democratic candi-
dates has been financed up to the point of unconcern
about money affairs. There has been reckless talk
all round; but the best judgment that can be formed
from evidence that may be studied and observed is
that there is more money at Taft headquarters or
available there, than among all the other booms
taken together; and that, in addition to this financial
plethora, the Taft organization has the tremendous
power of the Federal political machine power
which, it is conceded must produce for the President
half the necessary number of votes to nominate him
| if he is to be nominated.
These are fair conclusions from facts that public
men, in touch with the campaign, know to be approx
mately accurate. Candidates who have moderate
means are charging each other with financial ALI
ances until they are dstracting attention from the
one real offender in this regard. 1t is bad business
and bad politics.