The Washington times., 1912-10-14


dant prosperity, and Of course know you would
like to see this country move forward in govern
mental efficiency rather than 60 backward. But
the question is this:
Do you want these more than you want your /
own wayi
With some of you business men with whom
have talked, and with whose views am familiar,
protection to our American industries and inteli-
gent political progress little, in your present
frame Of mind, as compared with going through
to the end on the Taft trail. Is this the best ex
ample Of citizenship, Mr.. Business Mani
can understand how disturbing it is for man
to vote against his party. But in this independ
ence of action lies progress. There can be no po-
litical progress without it. Isn't the wise and pa
triotic thing in this case to make sure of prosper
ity though the victory come through Roosevelt
instead of Taft
If this victory could come through Taft. you
would not be in the political dilemma you are III
today. Inasmuch as it cannot come through Taft,
and inasmuch as the only way it come is
through Roosevelt you have no option in the mat
ter 1t is either Roosevelt with good business and
governmental progress, or Wilson with bad bus-
and governmental shilly-shallying.
Every day hear business men talking as they
talked nine months ago, with seemingly little ap.
probation of what has happened in nine months
in this national political contest
1t was all right nine months ago to discuss
with regard to their nomination, the merits of in
dividual candidates and our preferences for or
prejudices against them. It was all right then to
urge that Mr.. Roosevelt was dangerous to bust
ness interests that he was ambitious; that he was
without sufficient regard for conventionalty in
government, and for our Constitution in particu
IL lo@o Io ~
to Mr.. Taft
1t was all right then to urge that Mr.. Taft was
entitled to second term; that he had given good
administration; that he had shown a full and be.
coming gratitude to the man who made him Pres.
dent of the United States 1t was all right, say,
to insist on these views nine months ago, if you
honestly believed them, but they not the issue
of today. To bark back to them now and hang
the decision of your vote on them doesn't show
clear or sincere reasoning 1t shows either illog
ica thinking or purpose to deceive yourself, it
not to deceive others.
In these nine months we have lived half CEN
tury, politically considered. Then there were two
big political parties in the field today there
three. Then the fight in the Republican party
was between two members of that party, Mr.. Taft
and Mr.. Roosevelt.
That fight is now dead issue. 1t is history.
It has no more to do with the real fight of the
present campaign than if it had come off a quar-
ter of century ago. The fight now, for you who
believe in Republican economic policies, is against
Wilson and the Democratic party. The fight now
is for good business and for policies that will
mean good business. The fight now is against the
destruction of these policies.
The great stubborn fact that you must reckon
with is that Taft cannot, under any circumstances,
be elected. There isn't an intelligent man any
where who doesn't realize that this is so. Every
man who can see straight and hear straight, every
man who isn't befogged in prejudice, knows that
it is so.
Notwithstanding this fact, the Republican
campaign managers, in their public utterances,
are brazenly giving the lie to their own convic-
tons in their claims, now franticaly spread broad
cast that Taft can and will be elected
If it were matter of running for the presi-
dency of a social club, other place of no
consequence to the hundred millions of our peo-
pie, something of no consequence to the business
interests of the country, it would be one thing,
but when false statements like these put out
to deceive voters, merely that the Republican
organization may be kept intact, it is criminally
dishonest
Your concern, Mr.. Business Man. has to do
mainl:- with good business and general prosperity.
To sacrifice these to prejudice for a beaten lead
and broken party is to prostitute the respon-
sibilty of citizenship and disregard the interests