The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-03-26
NOT MEANT FOR
A COMP |MENT
President Really DESTROYS of Getting
the Ponderous Taft Out of
the Cabinet.
HENCE THE ERMINE OFFER
SMALL TALK OF THE NATIONAL
CAPITAL
THE ERMINE OFFER
Especial to The He I'D

tSpeClal 10 Inc he. 4Q.J
Washington, March Pa 'hough the
social season" in Washingt : is semi
comatose because of Lent, the legisla-
tive season up on Capitol hill is In full
swing with all eyes centered on the SEN
ate in it's consideration Of certain meas
ures which the house Of representa-
tives, under the business-like 'eader-
ship of Mr.. Cannon, has got off of the
calendar. The speaker is a czar with
out doubt, and has been able to keep
the things moving that he wanted to
have moved and TO keep in the back
ground the measures which he thought
should not see the light.
But it is in the senate, which has been
the cynosure Of all eyes because of the
rate legislation. Mr.. Tillman is ma
king an excellent showing and the ia
nous pitehfork is being used to make
hay while the sun shines.
Taft chagrlned.
Mr.. Taft has made his decision about
what he wants 10 do as to the presi-
dents tender OF a supreme court posi-
ton to him. There is some mighty
deep politics I'm all this and those be-
hand the scenes see several interpre-
tations
Secretary Taft has shown unmistak-
dUA6 GIdSIll anu disappointment d.
what he considers his shelving by the
president, and fears that his promotion
TO a judge5hip now would be in the ma
ture of a humiliating retirement, and
would be so construed by him even if
he were rendered the post of chief JUS
tice.
Roosevelt Disappointed.
1t is pointed out by the president
supporters that Mr. Roosevelt is very
much disappointed by the fate of the
Philippine tariff bill, killed in commit
tee, and by the failure to make prog
ress at Panama. In a measure, both OF
these projects were in the hands of Mr..
Taft; and the junket of last year, which
now seems TO have had its principal
usefulness as a matrimonial bureau,
was intended to pave the way for Il
measure that would go through with
flying Colors. But the tariff bill failed
for two reasons, neither of which may
be directly or even seriously charged
TO Secretary Taft. In the first place,
there was too much stand pat ele-
ment in the party to permit of even a
slight entering wedge into the tar f
wall. but more especially the pres
dents own personality and his use of
what were considered cOeFcive meas
ures were responsible for the defeat,
because his entire attitude was one that
begat enthusiasm. There were sacri-
fees due for some of the many pet
measures Of Mr.. Roosevelt which he
was going to make" congress pass,
and the Philippine tariff was one of
those selected for the slaughter
Wallace Affair Reacted.
As for the failure to make progress
in Panama. the delay should not in
justice be laid at Taft's door. The Wit
operative and uncalled for Seeding
which Secretary Taft Iathered upon En-
gineer wallace will always stand as a
blot on his official career, particularly
in the light of subsequent Developments
which have borne out Wallace's side
of the question, which could not be
called a controversy because Mr.. Wal
lace would not be drawn into one. Sut
that TRADE was not characteristic Of
Mr.. Taft and rather seemed to reflect
the attitude of one above him. More
over Mr.. Cromwell and Mr.. Shontz were
not selected by Secretary Taft on the
administration of canal matters and
these two men have been responsible
for the larger share of the criticism
which has come to the administration
because of canal mismanagement and
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Not Compliment.
In view of MIR. Taft's ideas or TIE
subject which ne expressed TO President
Roosevelt, it is futile for the latter s
friends TO hold that the offer of Justice
Browns position was meant solely as a
compliment; and in declining the offer
Mr.. Taft expresses the idea that re-
tirement from active administrative
work is reDugnant to him at this time
One of the most beautiful. unselfiSh
and yet pathetic scenes, was that ore
at the White House when men promi-
nent enough TO be urged as pTesiden-
tiaI possibilities, like Mr. Fairbanks,
Secretary Shaw and Secre--ry Root,
urged Mr.. Taft TO accept the offer of a
place on the supreme court. ~ thf sc
DAYS of greed and inordinate ambition
It is reassuring TO see public llan lock-
ing out for the welfare of their cor
tempOTaTieS.
Ponies Soon Start.
Washington society is looking fer
ward to i respite from Lenten quiaJ Ude
which the spring meet of the Washing
ton JOCKEY club on Monday week at
Bennings will bring TO their jaded spir-
its. Year by year and meet by meet
the sport of KINGS becomes more pOpu-
lar at the rational capital and from d