Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-18
PROFESSOR TAFT
FOR PRESIDENT2
He Isn't Candidate Yet, But There's
Talk Of Getting Him Back Into
Politics-It Is Hinted That Mr..
Wilson Has Cause to Worry.
BY J. C. HEMPHILL

| M ILL Mr. Taft be the candidate of the
| w Republican party for President next
| year2 Not II Colonel Roosevelt can help III;
but there is no doubt that the regulars are
warming up to the professor and that there
is serious talk among serious-minded men OF
bringing him back into politics Mr. Taft is
in no sense behind the movement. He has
had enough. He is quite happy in his pres
ent employments. and is content to rest his
reputation for eminent public service faith
fully performed upon the record He needs
| no "vindlcation" this being the keynote Of
! the campaign upon which the promoters, 1t
is said, intend to work out their plans; and
| there will have to be some better plea than
this to obtain his consent, He Is not can
| didate. He has no wish to get back on the
| firing line. He will talk about men In the
| Republican ranks who have been suggested
as available candidates, Hughes and Burton
and Herrlck and whitman and Borah, for
all Of whom he has respect, and express his
views freely as to their respective strength
and qualifications; but he is absorbed in his
present work, and will say frankly that he ia
not hunting for trouble. There Is no doubt,
however, that there are several million Re-
publican voters who are sorry that they did
not vote for him in 1912, and the farther
they go the sorrier they get.
The Democratic candidate next year will
be woodrow Wilson. There is no other DEM
ocrat in sight and the crowd who likes a fight
would rejoice to see Wilson and Taft pltted
against each other on "a free field and no
favors." Mr.. Roosevelt defeated Mr.. Taft in
1912. II he would 20 to South America or
Mexico now and stay there until after the
campaign and election next year he might
make himself available for 1920; but nobody
believes that he could mako IL this time
Taft's Record Of Accomplishment
Mr. Taft need not worry. In his retire.
ment from public office he has impressed the
whole country by his manly conduct. AS
said in an article contributed to, HarperS
Weekly when the fight was on in the Repub-
lican party three years ago. Strength,
courage, decency respect for law and order,
sanity, have been the distinguishing marks
of his great administration. He has vio-
lated no personal condolences. he has sought
no unfair advantages he has not trimmed
his sails to catch any shifty wind that has
blown he has kept his head in all the storm
OF lies that has beaten about him, serene in
the consciousness of having done his best"
People are beginning to talk about what
Taft did when he was President, and in view
of the movement to bring him back into ac-
tive politics it will be interesting to note a
few of the things accomplished when he was
in the White House:
The conviction of the Sugar Trust.
The dissolution of the Standard OIL and
Tobacco Trusts.
The Indictment of the Whisky, Lumber and
Beef Trusts.
The building of the Panama Canal.
The reorganization of the business of the
country at the custom houses and the
covery of millions of dollars of unpaid duties
mi, Itch ATi,
for the protection of those engaged in peril
GUS work.
The adoption by the railroads of safety ap-
pliances for the benefit of the men engaged
in this dangerous calling.
The establishment of the postal savings
banks
The removal of the Census Bureau from
politics.
The wise conservation OF our national re-
sources.
The extension OF the civi service of the
Government.
The creation of the Court of Commerce for
the more speedy and just settlement OF ques-
tions between the shippers and the trans
portation lines.
The opening of China to tho employment
OF American capital on equal terms with the
rest of the world.
The taking of judicial appointments out of
politics.
The passage of the reciprocity treaty with
Canada.
The avoidance of entangling alliances with
any of the nations.
The establishment of commercial relations
with the South and Central American coun-
tries.
The list of Mr.. Taft's achievements could |
be extended greatly; but these items will
show that he was faithful to his trust, and |
all that he did was done with the idea ever |
uppermost in his thoughts that he was |
President of the whole country and not the |
leader OF any political party. It is a great |
record and 1t is not to be wondered at that |
there should be desire on the part OF many |
of the thoughtful men OF his party for his |
return to the White House.
If 1t could be so arranged that the next
race for President should be made between |
Mr., Wilson and Mr.. Taft without interfer-
ence from other good men who think they |
could "do tho Job" better than either of |
them and a series OF Joint debates could be |
scheduled for the campaign. the people would |
ali get the worth of their money. That would |
be a sporting event" worth while, indeed |
Both are good speakers-Mr. Taft once said: |
"I think Mr. Wilson Is the best speaker I |
have ever heard; but that was before he |
was candidate for President, and Mr. VIII |
son would probably say that Mr.. Taft Is a |
mighty hne fellow Neither thinks, possibly, |
that the other could be slectsdl but tSat |
would only add to the interest Of a straight
out night between them.
If Hughes Should Run
A wise political worker from New York
40 hua HA klrh