Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-06-04

Taft forces at Chicago In the effort to
override the expressed wish of the rank
and file of the party, and to give the
nomination to the candidate whom the
party has explicitly and beyond all ques-
ton repudiated
Mr.. Barnes in the telegram above quot
ed states that the doctrines which 1 have
advocated are subversive of my form of
government. The doctrines that l have
advocated are, first, the right of the
people to rule; and. second, their duty
so to rule as to bring about not merely
political, but also social and Industrial
justice. These doctrines are sabversive
only of the form of government for
which Mr.. Barnes stands: that is, of
government by the bosses for the special
interests. Mr.. Barnes has always been
frank. He thoroughly, dstrusts the peo-
pie and says so. Hel disbelieves in de-
mocracy. In his preaching and in his
practices he embodies boss rule in its
most offensive form. The kind of repre-
sentative government he believes In is
that in which the representatives shall
represent not the people, but Mr.. Barnes
and the other bosses. Mr.. Taft's nomi-
nation at Chicago can only be brought
about by multiplying the will of the peo-
pie and by fraudulently seating a suffi-
Gent number of boss-picked and boss
controlled delegates in the place of those
who have been legally elected by the
people themselves. Among all the bosses
of the United States, among all the men
who represent the combination of privi-
lege in business and privilege in politics.
there is probably no other man more
at91idanfiv NJ To ba on.
trusted with the carrying out of such Il
program.
The program cannot possibly succeed
if the convention is left to itself. Wher-
ever it has been possible to choose Taft
delegates in defiance of the popular will
this has been done, at this moment such
is afforded by Ohio. At this moment the
Taft managers in Ohio are straining ev-
cry nerve and using every means TO up
set the peoples verdict and give the del
egates-at-large of Ohio to the man who
Ohio by an Overwhelming majority de-
elared ought not to have them.
But in spite of all these efforts the con.
vention if left to itself viii be heavily
against Mr.. Taft His whole chance of
winning depends not upon the vote of the
nation, but upon his hopes and plans for
securing improper action by the nation-
al committee. The national committee
consists of men chosen four years ago
In theory their functions are merely to
decide honestly and fairly election cases
affecting the prima faeie rights of del
egates to seats and to proffer for tent
porary chairman some man who will be
acceptable to the convention. Mr.. Barnes
telegram quoted above shows that in
reality the purpose of certain among
them is to Illustrate the will of the peo-
pie and to secure such organization of
the convention as viii make the win OF
the bosses paramount over the will of
the people. l do not believe that the
national committee as a whole Will fol-
low the lead of Mr.. Barnes and his allies
in this matter.
| believe there are In the national COM
mittee enough men who. although they
have in good faith supported Mr.. Taft,
will decline to permit themselves to be
made tools for the Accomplishment of his
nomination by unworthy methods. No
man should be chosen as temporary
chairman who is put forward by Mr..
Barnes and those men who represent the
principles and practices of Mr.. Barnes,
for any such man could not but be held
responsible for the reaetionary Bourbon
ism of the Rochester platform and for
the views expressed in Mr.. Barnes tele-
gram quoted above Under these cir
cumstanees Mr. Roots own personality
is not the issue. His victory would be
the victory of Mr.. Barnes; his defeat,
the defeat of Mr. Barnes.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.