The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-08-20
THE WEEKLY JOURNAL,
MIR. T4FT,S DEBUT.

NIX. Tab1'S DEBOY.
Secretary of War Taft made his bow
TO the American voters last evening as
an avowed candidate for the presi-
dency in an address delivered before
the members of the Columbus, Ohio,
Buckeye Republican Club. It will
be found in full in another part of
this issue If the Journal and Courier
1t is long, longer than we wish it was,
but as it is the first chapter in the
political career of a man of remark
able personality and talents, as it re-
lates to his possible elevation to the
highest Office within the gift Of the
American people, it should not only be
given the widest circulation conceiva-
BILE but 1t should be read carefully "
every citizen with ballot to cast.
AS was foreshadowed in an inter
view with that gentleman, Secretary
Taft takes his stand boldly by the side
Of the administration he has so brill
liantly served and enthusiastically as
sumes his share of the burden of re-
sponsibility.. If nominated for the
presidency and elected there will be
under him no change in the general
attitude of the federal administration
towards violators of the law Mr..
Taft leaves no doubt of this. But it is
more than we should say is justified
to assert that because Secretary Taft
adopts as his own the policies of
President Roosevelt he will initiate
his methods. Convictions are one
thing which men may enjoy in COM
mon. 1t is very rarely that two men
with the same ideas employ the same
methods of expression to impress their
views upon their audience, Tempera-
ment steps In and demands its recog-
milton. President Roosevelt was I'M
questionably sincere when at the bier
of his predecessor he pledged himself
voluntarily to carry out the policies Of
his slain chieftain. 1t was inevitable,
however, that he should the moment
there rested upon his shoulders the re-
sponsibility for the character of the
government given follow his own tenn
$3.50 x,,a1,4 cnora4o~., Fro 81 ;e ,,oo,,oo
tionably sincere when he pledges him
self If elected to the policies of Presi-
dent Roosevelt, but nothing is so sure
that in office with the responsibility
for the character Of the government
resting on his shoulders he will yield
to his temperament and sit at the head
Of the table, using the methods of ex-
pressing the policy which are natural
ly his and not anothers. The policy
may be similar but tie big stick may
be lacking, to use an illustration.
We reach this conclusion not alone
because we know the man personally
but because his address forces us to it.
It possesses ali Of the determ-
ination and spirit of President
Reoseveit's addresses without
the persistent dwelling upon
the l1omiletical arts. Taft is more the
speaker than the preacher; Roosevelt
more the preacher than the speaker. 1t
is important to remember this when
one reads Mr.. Taft's treatment of the
problem which the railroads have Gre
ated by their misconduct end misinter-
probation of their chartered rights and
privileges. We doubt If a single one of
them fails to understand that under
President Taft it would enjoy no great
er immunity from prosecution in event
of continued lawlessness than under
President Roosevelt, and yet all that
Mr.. Taft insists upon is first the en-
actment of laws which shall safeguard
the welfare of the public, and second
their impartial enforcement. He argues
with the railroads and points Out
wherein their point of view is at wal
with the only point of view a govern
n1ent of the people can hold. The fail
ure of fines to make the railroads quit
violating the law leads him to conclude
that Imprisonment for the offenders
might have the desired effect, while Of
fering complete immunity to every rail.
road conducting its business according
to the requirements of the government
Nor does Mr.. Taft in this historic ad.
dress regard Mr.. Bryan as too small
for his aim. AS If the campaign was
already on he takes Mr.. Bryan's views
and contentious up for consideration
and disposes Of them. In fact il one
wishes to understand why the railroads
have been brought under new restraint
and why additional legislation is need.
ed from the point Of view of the party
in power one will learn by reading pa.
GENTLY this dispassionate review of the