Campaign Slogans of 1912 Taft,Roosevelt,Bryan.

Essay by mationiggaHigh School, 11th gradeA+, September 2003

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Presidential Election of 1912

The election of 1912 followed a "great victory" for Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1908) and a "drastic failure" for William Howard Taft (1908-1912), as seen through the eyes of the public. Both presidents represented the Republican Party, but before the elections of 1912 Roosevelt separated, along with his progressive Republicans and insurgents, and formed a new political party - The Progressive Party. Taft remained a Republican and his party mainly consisted of conservatives and "Old Guards", as well as some less radical supporters of the Square Deal. During the same period, the Democratic convention nominated Woodrow Wilson, with the help of William Jennings Bryan, who belonged to the progressive wing. All candidates focused on the issues of regulating business, interstate commerce, and political reform. Wilson would go on to attack matters concerning the protective tariff, and the flaws in our nation's banking system. Although Taft was not as active in ensuing the campaign, because of realization that he already lost public support, many of his ideas still remained in tact.

William Howard Taft was a man our nation could trust. During his presidency in 1908, he had promised to address issues largely ignored by Roosevelt, and address them he did. The public may not have seen the actions he took as positive reforms, but when studied, it is almost too evident his presidency has lead to greater good than Roosevelt's. He had prosecuted twice as many antitrust cases than Roosevelt. He had established the Tariff Board to investigate tariff rates, and began to shape this nation's federal budget. Having served as a judge, whose greatest ambition was to sit on the Supreme Court, Taft can only be labeled a highly intelligent man who abides by the law, and so produces only in good for the Union. If elected,