Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-04-18
ROOSEVELT VERSUS TAFT.
A Comparison Between a Progressive
and a Reactionary.


and a Reactionary.
In his Louisville speech Mr.. Roose-
Welt suggested these standards FOR dls-
tinguishing between the progressive
and the reactionary:
Every man who fights fearlessly and er-
fectively against special privilege IN any
form is to that extent a progressive. NV
ery man who directly or indirectly up
holds privilege and favors the special IN
terests. whether he acts from evil motives
or merely because he Is puzzle headed or
dull of mental vision or lacking III sociai
sympathy or whether he simply lacks IN
terest In the subject, Is retactionary.
Every man is to that extent progress.
Awe IL he stands for any form of social
Justice whether It Is securing proper pro-
lection for factory girls against danserous
machinery or securing proper iiihltal'oh
NJ hours OF labor for women and child en-
in industry, for securing proper hV.hh
conditions for those who dwell In inc
ttickly crowded regions Of our great cities.
FOR be,p,ng. so far as legislators can help.
all the conditions of work and HE Tor
wapeworkers In great centers Of industry
or for help:n, by the action both or the
national and state governments. so TAR az
conditions will permit. the men ana "om-
en- who dwell In the open country 10 IN
crease their efficiency both In production
On their farms and In business arrange
ments for the marketing Of their produce
ard also to increase the opportunities 10
give the best possible expression to their
social life The man Is reactionary,
whatever may be his profession and no
matter how excellent his intentions, VINO
opnoses these movements or who II In
hieh place takes no interest In them ana
does not earnestly help them forward
The Metropolitan Magazine IN an edl-
torial makes this comparison pei weeh
President Taft and his predecessor
The present incumbent OF the Office is a
man OF comfortable habits lie enjoys
good food and fast motorcars His recre-
alton is golf over the links OF two OF the
most exclusive country clubs In America.
II he were John D. Rockefeller or ina
Duke OF Westminster he could not ne
further removed from the atmosphere or
manual labor One cannot conceive ME-
Taft spending days among the miners OF
Pennsylvania or the steel workers OK
pittsburgh. Nor can one picture him taxi
ing any passionate interest In the toiling
masses II they get what the law allows
them he Is well content to dismiss them
from his we'll balanced mind,
The other candidates are like Mr. Tart
with the exception OF Roosevelt lie IL
different, not because ne uoes NOT hNo
the good things Of this world he prob
ably likes them just as much as TART.
Who doesn't? But he Is not dependent
on them And he has burning sympa-
thy with the poor vretches who never can
enjoy them. He Is Il rich man. compared
with the vast majority of his fellow c"un-
trymen. but the comforts Of life are not
enough for him. He was born with the
divine discomfort. lie cannot be easy In
wealth 10 long as the wealth OF the few
IL built upon the misery OF tie MANY.
Roosevelt has been for days among the
miners OF Pennsylvania. Probably he
would much rather be shooting hons or
leading a regiment in battle. But the In
justice OF life imp"esses itself upon
him that he cannot rest until he has at
least done his share to improve things
This comparison Is keen analysis OF
the reasons underlying the events OF
the last four years which must newt
ably eliminate In making Mr.. ltoose-
welt the peoples candidate Tor the pres
idency In November. - Kanias C.:y
Star