The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1912-05-16

President Taft's position on the
Canadian reciprocity bill Our
chief obstacle in an effort to defeat
the bill was the influence of Colonel
Roosevelt and his followers for its
enactment
Roosevelt on Reciprocity.
The following extract from a
speech which Colonel Roosevelt de-
livered before the Republican club of
New York abundantly proves this.
Il want to say how glad l
am at the way in which the mem
bers of the club here tonight re-
sponded to the two appeals made
to them to uphold the hands of
President Taft, both in his effort
to secure reciprocity with
Canada and in his effort
the Panama canal And in ad-
ditiOn to what has been said
about reciprocity with Canada,
would like to make this point: 1t
in our foreign policy to establish
the closest and most friendly re-
lations of equal respect and ad-
vantage with our great neighbor
on the north. And | hail the reci-
prOcity arrangement because il
represents an effort to bring
about closer, more intimate,
more friendly relationship of
mutual advantage on equal terms
between Canada and the United
States"
1t matters very little that in re-
cent speeches Colonel Roosevelt has
said that upon deliberation he was
convinced that the reciprocity bill
was bad and would have worked to
the injury of the farmers, for such
statements are SO gauZy as to deceive
no one. 1t is simply another evidence
of his insatiate desire to win the nom
nation by any means at his com
mand, even by a complete reversal of
his former position.
This third term candidate made
several speeches in New Hampshire
during our primary campaign, but he
did not discuss national issues nor
state anything that he would do if
elected president to remedy the imag
mary evils that he ranted so much
about. Neither has he in any of his
speeches discussed that prominent
Republican policy, the tariff His
addresses in New Hampshire were
neither dignified nor argumentative
At Concord, where he made the prin-
cipal address, he used the pronoun
81" 185 times, not counting indiscrim-
mate use of me" and my" At
Nashua, he said;
''If Legislature is in the way,
I'll move it out OF the way"
''If a boss is in the way, I'll
move him out of the way"
Does this sound like a campaign
for the people or for Theodore Roose
welt?
His utterances were of this nature
throughout, neither appealing to in
telligence nor reason
About Progressives.
No word in the English language
has been more misused than the word
progressive" as it has been specially
appropriated by elements in both the
leading political parties that are seek
ing to win popular favor by sug-
gesting that they stand for some
wonderful transcendental sort of
progress that will wipe out all trou-
bfes. trials and tribulations, make
everybody happy and prosperous, and,
in short, make of this earth bloom
ing paradise. Progress down here
below never yet was accomplished
and never will be accomplished ex-
cept through the leadership of men
of well-balanced judgment and dis
eliminating common sense.
The active leaders in Colonel
Roosevelt's campaign are a few very
wealthy men who have been inter
fered with in amassing fortunes by
President Taft's enforcement of an
thrust legislation; few sore office
holders who lost their positions after
the retirement of the former presi-
dent, and quite a large number of
minor Office holders throughout the
country who were aided by Colonel
Roosevelt in securing their places
and who desire his nomination and
election that he may be in position
to still further aid them in their am
bitions. These furnish the basis of
his noisy campaign in a false attempt
to convince the people that it is their
campaign, and that they ought to rule.
Compassion, Now Condemnation.
Regard for the success of the Re-
publican party by which he has been
signally honored and for the contin-
uation of it's policies which have so
largely contributed to the prosperity
of the people, has failed to appear in
the numerous addresses he has made
At the beginning of this campaign
the earlier admirers of Colonel Roose'
velt, not realizing the conditions that
actuated his change of decision in re-
gard to the presidency and the source
of his financial backing were inclined
to regard the change with compass.
sion, and only regretted his poor judg.
ment, but now that the facts are
known and. his campaign has been
conducted with such bitterness mani.
tested towards President Taft, their
compassion has been changed to con.
demnation.
President William Howard Taft has
conducted the affairs of the high of
flee which he has occupied for three
years with great ability and rare dis
cernment for the interests of the peo.
pie. In the management of our diplo