The Washington herald., 1907-08-20
DEFENDS POLICIES OF THE ROOSEVELT ADMINISTRATION

the Republican party was crystallizing
to such a point that IN short time We
might expect 10 have action upon the
subject. What has happened IN the last
year has only served 20 coahrm the View
/ tfien expressed. and II now seems 20
me that even most OF the extremists IN
the matter OF the tariff are OF opinion
that IL would be not only unw!se. but
unsafe, for the party 70 fail in It's next
national platform to pledge itself 70 a
revision Of the tariff as soon after the
next Presidential election as possible.
/ Those of us who favor Immediate
revision can well afford 20 wait uB-
/ ell after the next Presidential cleo
/ sion In order fO secure substantial
acquieseenee by all Republicans.
Certainly "a delay OF action for
eighteen months ought 40 furnish "a
reason for no prOtectiOnist tn fR(
Vfte the certain business disasassN
/ thHt democratic revision ON free
/ trade lines wOaId involve. More
than this, full time should be given
/ for the operation OF new tariff
! upon the business OF the country
before the people express their
opinion of it.
! The passage Of a bin by the next Con-
gress would mean the consideration by
/ Congress Of the tariff in the midst OF
/ Presidential campaign, with all the op7
portUnity for Misrepresentation OF its ef-
feet which its practical operation for +
/ year or more would refute Furthermore,
with a Presidential election four years
| removed, we can count on a revision less
affected by political considerations than
/ il made in the heat Of a national cam
paign.
Other Subjects Omitted.
There are other subjects should Ike
TO discuss-Porto Rico. Cuba, the Philip
pines, Santo Domingo. the navy. the
army and our foreign policy, the race
question, and the war amendments. and
the order Of the President dismissing lie
men Ct the Twenty-ffth Infantry
The attitude Of the President and the
War Department and the reasons for the
action taken IN respect to the Twenty
/ fifth Infantry were sufficiently set forth
in the communications by the President
and by me, sent TO Congress with the
evidence then taken. Since that time.
! the Senate Committee on Military AZ
/ fairs has taken $500 printed pages Of
evidence in the same matter, ana the
/ hearing Is not concluded. Until the hear
! ing 10 closed. and the committee makes
/ its report. It would be premature for me,
/ in view Of my official relation to the mat
/ ter. TO express an opinion as u the effect
Of the Senate evidence on the issue which
/ the President decided The other topics
must Tgss over for lssk 81 time.
| cannot close without comment on the
position Of advantage ior the coming
| campaign which President Roosevelt. BY
the intense earnestness, vigor, courage,
and success with which he has pressed
the reforms that rightly bear his name.
has secured TO the Republican party. A
/ trimming, do-nothing, coIorless policy in
/ face Of the proof Of business. railway. and
! corporate abuses would certainly have
driven the party from power, however
/ little responsibility for them could be
justly charged to il. II was not political
advantage which the President sought In
these reforms. but the real betterment OF
/ conditions which he has effected. Still
In belief of the people IN his sincerity. his
/ courage. All his amazing quality fer do
/ ing things on their behalf has won for
! him a hold on the American public at
which even his bitterest opponents mar
vel. and which finds few. II any. paral-
lels in the political history OF this coun-
try. Fortunate party with such leader.