Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-09-18
Especial Washington Correspondence OF
The Argus.)

The ArguS.)
The political world of Washington is
wondering how Mr.. Bryan found out
the weak point of Secretary Taft and
with unerring Judgment put his finger
upon it.
In his speech at Oklahoma City some
days ago Mr.. Bryan described Secre-
tary Taft in two words, as the great
postponer." Mr.. Bryan pointed out
that Taft was for revision of the tariff
at some future date; that he was for
IN income tax at some future date; for
an inheritance tax, but later; he was
for the independence of the Filipinos
Mt some future date and that he stood
for statehood for Oklahoma and the
Indian Territory, but always at some
future date.
l have been interested to hear GER
tain things concerning Taft from peo-
pie here in Washington, most of whom
are Republicans, but all of whom ap-
plaud the Bryan description of lis
character. Men who have business
with the war department have found
out that this good natured, genial, jolly,
fat secretary of war never determines
anything for himself. Always 1t is to
be done tomorrow; as the MeXicans
say, "Manana." 1t is so in trivial
things and in great issues.
Taft's Passion For Postpcnement.
Some time ago it was rumored in
Pittsburg that the war department had
under consideration the elevation of
the bridges across the Allegheny riv
err between Pittsburg and Allegheny.
These bridges We're private bridges on
which 4 toll was charged. They in
terfered with navigation. The war de-
partment, as everybody knows, has en-
tire authority over the navigable riv-
ers. Attorneys for and against the
various interests involved came to
Washington. They met Mr. Taft. AL
ways diplomatic, always pleasant, in
variably courteous, he said, Il haven't
been able to take the matter up yet,
but / shall SOON" One of these attor
neys told me today that he had been
engaged ON the case, spending half of
his time in Washington and the other
half in Pittsburg, for something more
than two years. He still hopes that
the matter will be taken up soon.
When Mr.. Bryan described Mr.. Taft
as the great pestponer" he no doubt
spoke only Of the secretary's position
on public questions. But here in
Washington even Mr.. Tafts friends
admit that if he can possibly postpone
decision on anything, even upon a
matter which comes to his desk ap-
proved by all the subordinates in his
department, he will put it off as long
as may be.
A striking illustration of this tend
ency was furnished when he went to
Panama on a warship-of course no
member of this administration ever
travels except on warship, and the
president must have from three to five
battleships to escort him. There was
a little labor trouble at Panama.
Some 600 men were discontinued with
their work. If there had been 600 men
anywhere else Discontinued, say on
the Erie canal work or on 4 railroad.
some responsible officer would have
jumped on q train, taken a berth in
sleeping car, found out what the trou-
bic was and either settled it or fought
it out. Not - Taft. With dignity and
unlimited funds for expenses he goes
to Panama and investigates. When he
returned to Washington the newspa-
per correspondents asked him what he
was going to do. II shall report my
opinions and put it up to the presi-
dent"
AS matter of fact Secretary Taft
is the absolutely authoritative head
OF the Panama canal work. There is
no more reason why he should submit
the determination of a labor issue
there to the president than that he
should make. his. political. beliefs and