The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-03-06

80
Mr.. Stimson, Il am now and always
nave been a progressive republican.
Il am for Mr.. Taft because / believe
he has faithfully carried out the pro-
gressive faith of the republican par
ty; that his administration stands for
orderly, permanent progress in our
national government; and that to re-
fuse him the nomination on the as
sertions that have been made against
him, would be a blow to that progress
and would put a premium upon hasty
and ~unfounded criticism.
Il entered public life under the in
SEPARATION of Theodore Roosevelt. / am
a firm believer in the great national
policies for which he has fought: and
now remain his sincere friend. But
| believe that those who are forcing
him, contrary to his original inten-
ton, into the arena against Mr.. Taft,
are Jeopardizing instead of helping the
real cause of progress in the nation.
The Introduction of such a contest
at this time, dragging in, as it neces-
sarily will, new and personal issues
which are quite foreign to the great
"a SD9AN pO4lC46S# IOE WHICH the re-
publican party stands, cannot fail to
weaken whichever candidate is event.
ually nominated in June. If, as a re-
suit, that candidate is defeated in No
Vember, the government may be
thrown into the hands of a truly re-
dictionary party for years to come"
Mr.. Stirnson said that President
Taft had devoted himself INCREASINGLY
to the carrying out. of constructive
work along progressive lines. The ad-
ministration was begun, he said, upon
a plan that had "the thorough .ap-
prevail and deliberate endorsement of
Mr.. Roosevelt" and to that plan
President Taft had adhered rigidly.
is it fair now to criticise him."
asked Mr.. Stimson, because, In faith
fully carrying out this pledge OF four
years ago. in performing this vitality
useful though f-nconspicuous work, he
has not dominated the public atten-
ton with dramatic display?e
President Taft pledged himself. said
Mr.. Stimson. to a progressive devel-
opment" of the work that President
Roosevelt had inaugurated, and the
completion and perfection OF the
machinery by which the moral stand
ards set by President Roosevelt may
be maintained"
TO this work Mr.. Taft has devoted
himself" said Mr.. Stimson. "EIe has
thus deliberately renowned more
striking methods Of reform, and set
himself to the undramatio and incon-
spicuous public service which leaves
but all thought Of a mans own ag-
grandizement.
He has repeatedly, for example.
urged upon congress to place upon the
classified civil service virtually all Of
the presidential ~ofices; a measure
which would at one blow strike ont
most of the enormous political power
OF the president.
The results of this deliberate self
abnegation r shown in the great leg
islative and constructive accomplish
ments Of his term. Mr.. Taft's stand
ards of administration, like those OF
Mr.. Roosevelt, have been constantly
toward purity and elevation in our
public service and our public life.
With great patience, with unswerv-
ing courage. with absolute disinter-
estedness, in these excitable times
when mems minds are full OF a readi-
ness for criticism and a desire for ex-
pertinent, he has carried on the bur-
den OF an administration and has car
ried it forward. 1t will. be a refiec-
ton upon our own power of fair
minded and candid judgment if we do
not recognize the merit as well as the
difficulty of that achievement now
Reform methods Of government adj
vocated by many Of the progressives.
and in part by Mr.. Roosevelt. were
severely criticised by MI. stimson.
He denounced the recall Of Judges as
destined to bring the courts down
into the welter Of politics" and said
that it was no test Of a republicans
progressiveness to require his support
to systems that had been successful in
certain states.