The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-09-01

He is in favor of fair dealing, equality
of opportunity, and a grateful appreci
alton on the Part of all who enjoy the
benefits OF citizenship in this, oar
magnificent country. He is honest and
frank, because he does not know how
to be anything else. His candor shines
out OF him, and no one who ever came
in contact with him could be tor a
moment unconvinced that his ideals
are honor, honesty, Justice. courage,
industry, and force, and that he is
faithful to those ideals.
No man ever sat in the presidential
chair more anxious to avoid war or
conflict with foreign nations than is
he. His impulsiveness of manner and
his quickness of thought and speech
coexist with real conservatism of
action that makes 1t as certain as il
was under Mr.. Mckinley that no
policy will be followed needessly ex.
posing the business. interests of the
country to the peril of war All, but
it is said, wait until he has q free
hand after the election, then you will
see him in his true light. 1t is diff
cult to answer such gratuitous sug
gestior, founded as it must be on the
assumption that man like Theodore
Roosevelt, whose candor and honesty
are. so patent that he almost THINKS
aloud, has been playing part for
three years and is only awaiting the
success at election to throw off the
mask. 1t is too ridiculous for discus
sion.
1t is charged that President Roose
welt influences legislation. That it is
unconstitutional for the President to
confer with the members of the House
and Senate and seek to influence them
with respect to legislation is new
doctrine in this Republic. The Cor
stitution gives the President express
power and right b. communicate with
Congress in the matters of legislation
and he is made co-ordinating factor
in the legislative branch of the gov
eminent. Is it possible that he may
not, IN conversation, repeat to mem
bers of each House the recommended
tions of his written message? Or
that, in view of their joint RESPONSE.
bility for legislation, that he may not
advise with them at any time, and
convince them, if he may, OF the WIS
dom or unwisdom of proposed legisla-
ton? Criticism founded on such a
proposition is evidence of the weak
ness of the position of our adver-
aries. All the Presidents have been
most active in their conferences with
members of the legislative branch to
influence, assist, and guide Congress
in the laws to be passed.
Mr.. Taft further explained the nee
esslty and enforced the constitutional
right, and duty of the President to
confer with members of the legislative
branch of the government. With equal
force and conclusiveness he dissipated
every charge and criticism of the
enemy in respect of President Roose-
welt. OF certain class Of critics and
fault-tinders, the professional mug
wump, the secretary said;
"This professional mugw imp is
more partisan than party man in
treating with great severity the man
who makes government near to the
mugwump ideal, but which, of
course, falls stor of it, Then the
mugwump turns and supports the
party which has no ideal at all He
holds the Repu blican party to much
higher standard in conduct than the
Democratic party, and if the Kepub-
lican party fails to meet all his views.
he turns with the delight apparently
OF revenge, to establish in power the
Democratic party, which differs with
him in every practical principle of
government. He condemns Mr.. Roose-
Welt for conferring on political and
official matters with Senator Platt of
New York, and the late Senator Quay
of Pennsy lvania, and turns to Judge
Parker, whose whole candidacy is the
creation of Mr. Hill, Mr.. Sheehsn,
Mr.. Taggart and Mr.. McOarren, and
whose political association include
such reformers as Mr.. Danforth, Mr..
Murphy and Mr.. Dewey"
A certain pension order, for which
the Democrats denounoe the President,
Mr.. Taft took clearly out of the list of
censurable matters by plain state
ment of the facts and the law in the
case in question. President Roose-
velt's course in the Panama revolution
was eulogized-a course not to pursue
which would have been a criminal
neglect of sworn duty. The Presi-
dents well known interposition to
end the coal miners strike i'll 1902
was explained, not as an assumption
of constitutional or legal powers, but
as an interpretation, as private cit
izen having the prestige Of high au-
thority, to end oalamitous state of
affairs. There was no constitutional
inhibition against his action. Nothing
has more commended himself to the
people of the United States.
Will Judge Parker say that he was
not right in what he did? Would
Judge Parker have done the same
thing? / think not. / think not be-
cause | think he has shown himself so
timid in meeting issues that we may