The Washington times., 1912-10-14

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Mr.. Business Man, must line up either for
good business or against it: There is no middle
course. You cannot go on any longer balancing
pne problem against the other, or balancing preju
dices against duty, and you have a very distinct
duty to perform in this election.
For the most part, you of the business world
are for Taft and the Republican party. For the
most part, you of the business world are against
Wilson and the Democratic party You for
Taft and the Republican party because of your
conviction that the Republican party stands for
better business, safer business, and greater bust
ness confidence than the Democratic party. This
is no new idea, no mere fancy with you. It has
history to back it up experience to back it up and
30 you are justified in your attitude in this re-
spect. '-'.
You want to see the Republican economic
policies triumph in this election, and you want to
see the Republican party triumph in this election.
But you cannot have both. You can have the tri-
umph of Republican policies, but you cannot have
the triumph of the Republican party. 1t isn't
possible this year. The question for you to de-
eide is this:
Shall these policies be maintained through
Roosevelt or shall the election 60 to Wilson, with
the destruction of these policiesi
Your decision does not concern only you and
your immediate interests. It concerns the inter
ests and welfare and happiness of hundred
million human souls. It is serious problem,
which you cannot treat lightly if your citizenship
means anything to you. I wish 1 could impress
you with the measure of its seriousness.
The continuance in force of the economic
policies of the Republican party, under which we
have grown to be great nation, means too much
to be balanced against your likes or dislikes for
any particular candidate-means too much, far
and away too much, to justify you, Mr.. Business
Man. in contemplating their destruction that you
may have your own way in this election, that you
may vote for the man and for the party that suit
your own particular preference, without regard
to the effect the country and the effect on all
our people.
You must not forget that this is a bread and
butter issue with the men less favorably situated
in life than you are You must not fool yourself
into the belief, or let any one else fool you into
the belief, that Taft can be elected. His election
is out of the question.
If Mr.. Taft had the great substratum of pop
ular following that Mr.. Roosevelt has, you could
elect him. There can be no doubt of this. But
he hasn't it. He has a top-heavy following a
business and professional mems following. The
foundation of the party has slid out from under it.
1t stands today on stills.
If Mr.. Taft had had this popular following,
there never would have been contesting candi-
date in the field for the Republican nomination.
1t is because he did not have it, and because with
out it it was clear that he could not be elected,
that some of who wanted to see the economic
policies of the Republican party maintained
sought to put in nomination who could be
elected.
This is the plain, straight fact about Mr..
Roosevelt IS coming out a candidate. Any other
version of the matter is without substance or
foundation. Make no mistake about this
Mr. Roosevelt has this foundatonal following
in greater measure than any other man in this
country has it or has ever had it. Whether his
following this year, independent of you of the
business world, those of you who are opposed to
him, is sufficient to elect him, is not yet certain
This vote cannot so easily be measured as the vote
of the business world But the popular sentiment
for him, and indeed the intense belief in him and
enthusiasm for him, are so great that it may be
that in spite of all opposition they will sweep him
into power With your votes lined up for him, his
election would be a certainty; without your votes
it is not certainty.
1 want to emphasize the fact to my friends Of
IL Al. n