Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1916-01-21
Taft on the 1916 Campaign.

Peoria Journal: If Mr.. Taft truly
represents the Republican leadership
and his political intimacy with Root,
Barnes, Penrose, ct al would seem to
Indicate that he does-there will be few
concessions offered the Progressives to
induce their return to the party fold In
recent interview published in his
brothers. newspaper, the Cincinnati
Times-Star, Mr.. Taft declared:
"And some of the leading men of
congress, although not identified with
the Progressive detection, anxious to
remain in the good graces of both fac
tional elements, have been playing
game of good Lord and good devil'-a
game that can't be played successfully
at this or any other time. 1t is this
attitude on their part which has en-
couraged the Democratic Progressive
propaganda looking to the nomination
of Col. Roosevelt or to that of some
candidate of his choice and selection.
"But the Republican party will be
maintained as a Republican party. 1t
will not become Progressive party,
with the fads and isms contemplated by
the change. The returning Progress
i've will have standing in the Repub-
lican party; but that of the regular
Republicans;who did not stray cannot be
impaired. The Republican party is not
dependent on the Progressive leaders
for success in the next campaign. The
Progressive voters, who have come
back, attach no conditions to their
coming.
.'The leaders who are left without
support are using their genius for pub
licity to the greatest advantage, in or
der that they may create the impress
sion that they are really leading alarge
force which they will throw one way or
the other as the nomination of the Re-
publican party shall happen to please
or displease them; and the most radi-
cal mistake the Republican party can
make is to sacrifice its principles either
in its platform or in the character OF
it's nominee for the purpose of secur-
ing their support.
IF the Republican party will nomi-
nate regular Republican it can win;
and if it cannot with regular Repub-
lican, it ought not to win in any event.
The backbone of the Republican party
is the business men of the country, and
they want true note struck as to
business conservatism and medium
course prescribed in the matter of
peace and preparedness.
IF the plan should be to conciliate
the Progressive leaders, at whatever
cost, it will be at q cost merited by
such a course. Even though victory
could be secured by flabby compro-
mise, it would avail nothing, for the
party would divide again as it did be-
FORE"
It is apparent that Mr.. Taft is. "al-
luding at somebody in the foregoing.
The whole interview, which must have
been prepared with considerable DELHI
GRAFTON, shows that there is no posi-
bility of real agreement between the
Progressives and Republicans on the
matter of principles. The "isms" Of
the Progressives are plainly as dis
tasteful to Republicans of the Taft
stamp as the reactionary tendencies Of
the Republicans to Progressives OF
the Roosevelt stamp.
Mr.. Taft's statement exhibits one
admirable trait, which will commend
itself to fair-minded persons regardless
of party. He is not inclined to make
any sort of expediency compromise for
the mere sake of winning.