The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-06-15

was not SatlSned 10 ADOPT 0lQ-tlme
methods, but only the most daring
ones. With shrill sopranic shrek
he announced his defiance of the boss
es and followed it with his direct ap-
peal to the masses of his party.
Feeling absolutely secure of their
ability to line up big majority by the
snap methods which marked the early
stages of the campaign, Taft's friends
kept right on as they had originally
started, and not until Illinois, Pennsyl-
vania, Massachusetts, Maryland, Ne
braska, Oregon, California and few
others had acted did they really come
to a realization of impending defeat
in convention. The dignified occupant
of the White House got himself new
set of tactics. He began to use ugly
words and bring bitter charges He
extracted the language OF his public
speeches from the cutters and went
campaigning without any regard for
decencies of expression which would
seem to attach to the occupant of his
his place and has followed 1t up with
the most desperate demands upon the
road roller that ever a political boss
in the country's history has fallen
back upon In one respect he has
shown strength. Few believed that
in the face of the overthrow of so
many of his National committeeman,
so violent protests from his party's
members, a majority could be found
to line up for the execution of his
plans. Such men as Penrose and
Crane and Rosewater, something like
a dozen in all, have stood loyalty by
him though in direct opposition to the
plainly expressed demands of their
respective states. The pre-judged ev-
cry contest and determined in the big
ones" favor without a hitch.
1t remains to be seen whether the
delegated themselves will approve the
committees acts. Mr.. Roosevelt, de-
nouncing the same as wholesale theft
and constituencies brigandage is go
ing in person-thus violating another
time honored usage-to Chicago and
make his final effort There is not
much difference in the arithmetical
strength of the two main contestants
The Roosevelt manager insists that
Mr.. Roosevelt has the advantage de
spite the action of the committee and
the Taft manager insists with equal
emphasis that such is not the case
Mr.. La Toilette and Mr.. Cummins
hold some half hundred delegates In
leash and they assume to be the real
masters of the situation. The fact
most assuring to the Roosevelt people
is that even the Republican party has
tired of the insolence of the steam
roller as a deciding or serious factor
in making political nominations.
A most serious blunder Of the Taft
people, inspired and endorsed by the
President himself, and which is sure
to lesson popular respect for his
character, was the ruthless taking
over by some sort of night-conceiveC
legerdomain of the delegates at large
in Ohio, to which by all the rules o.
the Square deal" which Mr. Taft 81
often and lugubrously invoked in his
speeches in Massachusetts, Maryland
and Ohio, Mr.. Roosevelt was entitled
The Republican voters in Ohio spoke
in very plain language their wishes
These Mr.. Taft CONTEMPORARY ant
by the strong arm pushed aside. HI
wanted them, needed them and uset
might dishonorably gained to secure
them.
Say what we please of Roosevelt
dislike him very much as many dc
question the fairness of his methods
the accuracy of his statements ant
the wisdom of his policies, you can
not, nevertheless, in view Of recen
happenings, figure Mr.. Taft as meas
uring up to any higher standard thai
his rival. His record as Presiden
connects him creditably with no set
worthy policies and Identifies him wit
no interests or political associate
which will give him any strength be
fore the voters at large in the Noyen
Der contest.
Mr.. Roosevelt has all the advantag
] of the argument before the Chicag
convention. He has fought in tn
open and has played with no marke
cards. Every delegate in his list