The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-10-17
Holding to the Truth
of Things

ones reasoning faculties, reminds us
to suggest as one reason why we take
little stock in the Progressive Party
and much less in the Progressive
Party's candidate, that We have yet to
be convinced of the wisdom of denying
to President Taft a second term of Of
fee. If we could read the titles of
the Progressives clear it might be
that we should become the most en-
thusiastic of them all Until we have
the proof of things that seem to us
not what the Progressiyes would have
them seem, we must remain content
on the old band wagon of Rebuplican-
ism and watch the Progressive go
marching by.
Consider the so-caled steal at
Chicago. for instance. We are given
to understand by both sides to the
controversy that here was a convention
conducted precisely like all previous
Republican conventions; that there
we're some 252 contested seats; that
23s were Taft delegates, and IA RooSe-'
welt delegates; and that something Ike
1876 of these were dropped out of the
contest because the committee, TAFT
and Roosevelt men, voted unanimously
to drop them; and thus there were
left some u contested seats, and over
this number the so-called steal was
perpetrated From this point in our
array of facts on to the final allowing
of these delegates, it is almost impos-
sible for the average man, suppose lie
had all the time in the world and was
paid for his labors handsomely, to
form an intelligent opinion of the legal
and moral questions involved in the
final decisions as rendered.
The most of us who must look to
books and men for authoritative back
ing of our facts, find justification for
our belief in the one side or the OTHER
in the controversy Some of us have
implicit faith in Elihu Root, have be-
lieved in his great qualities while he
held the great portfolio of Secretary
of State, have admired him as he
fought for decency in politics on the
floor of the United States Senate.
This man, in his notification to
President Taft told him his
nomination was given him
without the slightest trace OF trickery
or deceit, and that no cleaner nomlna-
ton could ever come to any man. Is
the character of Mr.. Root to be assail-
ed and his words made as empty
sounds? We still have faith in such
a man, and believe that on such an
occasion he would adhere, as any real
" great lawyer will adhere, to the
truth of things as they are.
But. now, is it safe to take the word
of men who were present at the
Chicago convention, say, the members
of the Maine delegation? 1t is re-
ported by Harry Nj. Bigelow, of the
Portland Press, who was present at
the convention and who confesses
he. along with the others, was swept |
off his feet, that Mr.. Roosevelt put |
the slogan of STEAL" into the mouths |!
of the Maine delegation; that they |
knew nothing of the facts of the cases;
that he, Mr.. Bigelow, along with the |
others, caught up the cry, repeated 1t
again and again, it may be presumed |
and it was not until he had returned
home had read all the evidence he |
could find time to read, that he reach |
ed the calm conclusion that he had |
lost his head, along with the other
Maine men, not to find it again until
by his own fireside. If, them these
men were so swayed by slogans and
selfish personal ambition of single
man, how much credence can we place
in the testimony which these men so
willingly publish in our contempA' !
aries?
In the light of matters as they stand,
every reason of conscience and sound
common sense and decency and re-
spect toward a great national figure,
like the President of the United States.
impels us to hold fast to the truth of !
things as we see them, preferring to
cling to a certainty than to attempt
to fly on unsteady wings to others we
know but little Of The burden of
proof is upon the side of the agressors,
and the agressors are the loud-talking.
much gesturing gentlemen who make
up whatever there is of much trump
ed-up progressive movement.
SWING Toward Pres. Taft