Taranaki Herald THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1908. UNITED STATES PRESIDENCY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13801, 5 November 1908, Page 4

Taranaki Herald THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1908. UNITED STATES PRESIDENCY.

The expectations of an unusually close contest for the Presidency of the United States have not been realised, for Mr. Taft has apparently defeated Mr. Bryan by a very large majority at a poll which was exceptionally heavy. The successful candidate is a follower of President, Boose velt, for in accepting nomination to the office he stated that the chief hope of Republican, success must rest on the confidence of the people in the sincerity of * the party's declaration in its platform that it intended to continue President' Roosevelt's policy. No question has perhaps during the last year or two excited more attention in the United States than that of controlling the great financial j trusts. The time has come when it is necessary for the people of the United States to decide whether they shall control those trusts or whether the trusts shall control and exploit them. Among the numerous planks in the platforms of the opposing candidates none excited more interest than the proposals for dealing with this matter. Mr. Taft warned the country that the Democratic proposals were too severe, that in their dealing with the trusts they would destroy rather than regulate business. Mr. Bryan, on the other hand, appealed to the people to exert the power which is really theirs if they choose to exercise it. There is not a doubt that in the past the wealthy corporations have freely used their funds for political purposes, that in some instances they have bought Congressmen body and soul. Mr. Taft's programme included measures for preventing this species of corruption ; he proposed, in a word, to continue Mr. Roosevelt's policy in that connection. Mr. Bryan advocated more vigorous dealing with the trusts, but the electors have apparently taken alarm and believed Mr. Taft's assertion that trade would be destroyed. Among the incidents of the campaign was the sensational production by Mr. Hearst of letters incriminating prominent politicians, showing

that they had questionable dealings with the Standard Oil Trust This \veapon, however, wrought mischief on both sides, but the majority of the people evidently believe iv the honesty of Mr. Koosevelt, Mr. Taft, and Mr. Hug-lies, their principal leaders, and rely upon them to take proper measures to control the trusts in future. The election of Mr. Taft to the Presidency is sufficient proof of this. No imputation is cast upon Mr. Bryan, but the people, while believing in the honesty of his intentions, apparently fear the effect of his attack on capital if he were placed in a position from which he could carry out his attack with effectiveness. They have declared fo sound stable government a-.d against political fireworks, and that declaration will pc generally welcomed in other countries which • have dealings, commercial and I political, with the United States.