The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-09-28

sist that in sending Secretary Taft to
Cuba as an envoy of peace the presi-
dent has again demonstrated his par
TALLY and that his main purpose was
to keep Mr.. Taft in the limelight.
If it be true that Mr.. R~OOsevelt's
figured hat the Cuban mission might
help Taft's presidential chances. it is
only another evidence of his good po-
litical judgment. The selection has
been a popular one and from all quar-
tiers come expressions Of confidence in
Mr.. Taft'S fair Intentions and great
ability. Certainly no other president
ever gave an aspiring cabinet minister
so many opportunities TO demonstrate
his capacity for large affairs. and the
resentment on the part of Shaw and
Fairbanks boomers is not without a
color of justification. The only thing
lacking TO complete their case against
the president is evidence that in doing
the things he has done Mr.. Roosevelt
has been Influenced by any secret wish
that Taft might be mis- successor. The
official attitude, of course is that the
president must use the best instru-
ments at hand. and that as Taft is best
he has been used.
The growth Of Mr.. Taft in popular
esteem and confidence is one of the
remarkable things in this remarkable
pOllJlcdI era No man VI II III
ton has forged SO rapidly to the front
not even Theodore Roosevelt nor Will
liam Jennings Bryan. Ten years &
Mr.. Bryan was a candidate for the
presidency. and Mr.. Roosevelt was
widely known as a reformer OF the
aggressive type. Judge Taft had scarcely
been heard of outside the judicial
circuit over which he presided in
southern Ohio. The country first be
came familiar with his name when
President Mckinley sent him 70 the
Philippines. and since then his record
has been one Of successful achieve
ment. He has been called pom TO do
things big and difficult and has done
them well. If he has blundered any
where, the bIunder has yet to be
brought home to- him.
The foregoing may cause the writer
to be set down as a partisan OF Tafts
and no disclaimer is made. There are
all shades and degrees Of p~artisanship:
and. besides. a denial would do no
good. II the charge he made that the
writer is a Taft admirer, q plea OF
guilty is entered. A man h does his
work unassumingly, and does II well.
always is fit for admiration
The announcement by Lucius n
L.ittauer that he would not accept re-
nomination as representative in con-
gress from the 32nd Ne" york dis-
trict, is accepted as closing a public
career once promising. but which went
aground. Mr.. Littauer Is a glove man
u~facturer. an able man and a per
sonal and political friend OF President
Roosevelt's. II the house he was q
membe Of the great committee on
appropriations. and there appeared TO
be before him yea Of distinction and
usefulness.
Then came the spasm OF reform.
with its accompanying probing Into
, the departments and espe-
cially into government contracts n
Of the things disclosed was the fact
that Mr.. tai while a member
Of was selling gloves to the
| army There was a scandal. OF course
followed by an investigation. and Mr.
Littauer was given q v~indicauon- This
closed the matter officially. but the
scandal would not down When the
chairmanship Of the appropriations
committee vacant. through the
| elevation to the senate Of Mr. Hemen-
way. the selection Of Mr. Littauer
/ would have been the natural thing for
! Sneaker Cannon 70 have done But
! Mr.. Cannon went outside the commit
tee and conferred the Craftsmanship on
, Mr.. Tawney Of Minnesota Everybody