Taft Not To Stump For Votes This Fall.

New York Times 100 years ago today, July 14, 1912:
President's Brother, and Friends Advise Him to Make a "Front Porch" Campaign.
DECLINES MANY INVITATIONS
Leaders Think the Dignity of the Office Better Upheld by a Stay-at-Home Policy
Special to The New York Times.    WASHINGTON, July 13. — President Taft has had enough of campaigning, he caused it to be known to-day at the White House that he would not go over the country fighting for votes. Much as the President loves the Executive pleasure of traveling, he had all he wanted in the pre-convention joust, he will try this time a porch campaign, with some intervals on the golf links. The announcement came in a reply to the managers of the Minnesota State Fair, who invited him to come up there so the people could gratify a yearning to see him, and hear the sound of his arguments on the issues of the day, and incidentally the gate receipts might feel the influence of the political curiosities of the season.
    "The people of Minnesota are eager to see you," appealed the managers of the fair, "and personally listen to your views on the great issues in this campaign." But the President shook his head, and remained insensible to their entreaty. He has had enough.
    An invitation to attend the meeting of the General Society of Mayflower descendants at Plymouth, Mass., on Sept. 6 was also declined to-day by President Taft.
    In view of his activity in the pre-convention fight, when he visited Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Now Jersey, and made speeches in scores of cities, politicians had been led to believe that he would extend his itinerary in the fight preceding the election in November.
    Even following his announcement today, there are many G.O.P. leaders in Washington who believe he will change his mind before many weeks and decide to make a personal appeal to voters in many States. It is recalled that last year denials were repeatedly made that Mr. Taft would make the trip to the Coast up to the eve of his departure. Sach a course may be followed this year. One of the explanations for the President's decision not to make political speeches is that his brother, Charles P. Taft, who is now with him at the outset of his campaign, believes that the people are averse to the spectacle of a President going out on the hustings, and that Mr. Taft can get more votes by preserving the dignity of his great office and leaving it to Mr. Wilson, the Democratic candidate, and Col. Roosevelt, as the nominee of a third party, to take upon themselves the stress of gratifying those of the people who want speeches from the candidates.
    The President has many advisers who have told him that he cannot afford to lower himself to the dirty level of the prize-ring arena that Roosevelt makes for himself, and that the moment he begins to make political speeches Roosevelt will reply to him day by day in his characteristic methods of appeal to the mob, a game in which the President does not care to take part.