The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-11-25
WHAT KIND Of
president? ?
That's the Question Which
Washington Folk Are
Asking.
By Ernest G.. Walker.
(Mail Special to the Advertiser.)

+ WASHINGTON, November 9.-Hail
to the President elect! What kind of
a President will he be? Is he going
to rein Congress in, as his predecessor
has been doing? Is he going to incline
to the spectacular and the circus like
Who will his favorites be? Tempera-
mentally and Enthusiastically and in
score of other considerations, how
are we going to get along with him
and how shall we find him?
These are only a few of the inter
rogation marks that have been bearing
down upon Washington ever since the
| designation of William Fl. Taft for
President In passing it might be
worth noting that the newspapers have
dropped the "Big Bill, - and most of
the writers now speak of civilian
| Howard. - But these interrogatories.
which so much interest Washington, Of
fetal Washington if you please, like
wise interest the whole country. Mean
while Mr.. Taft is hitting the little ball
| terrific swats on the golf course at Hot
Springs, Va, and getting rested after
his strenuous stamping trip and prepar-
ing to spend a portion of the winter
in the mountains of North Carolina
1t is all very natural that a Pres
ident-elect should be much studied
and much observed man of all the in
telligent American people. He under
goes a very close scrutiny, to be sure,
as a presidential candidate. But peo-
pie look at him then from a more criti-
cal standpoint. Wise men are more
inclined to see what they can find in
him that is unfavorable. When he has
run the gauntlet and earned his title
to the White House, people begin to
study him from another angelic try
to find out how much there is in him
that is favorable All the divers inter
ests, financial commercial and indus
trial, begin to watch every word that
falls from his lips and to measure his
every action. It means much to them.
All the World Watching Him.
And therefore today Mr.. Taft is the
most observed man and is more in the
public eye probably than any other per
sonage in all the world. For Europe
and Asia and, possibly Africa to some
extent, are anxious to find out what
sort of mettle he has and how he is
going to comport himself in the White
It will be but brief period before he
is in front of the Capitol taking the |
oath of office and reading his inaugural
address, riding back up Pennsylvania |
Avenue to the White House, reviewing |
the inaugural parade, and settling down
at the big mahogany desk in the sun
ny corner room, which President Roos-
evelt will soon vacate and putting his
hand firmly on the helm of state.
Few men in this country were ever
favored so generously as Mr.. Taft has
been. The country does not seem to
yet how good fortune has
attended him ever since his college
days, keeping him in office all the time,
making him a presidential candidate,
without any seeking on his own part
and even against his inclinations, and
again making him successful runner
n race where, under normal condi-
ions, he would have been badly handi-
,apped. The new President is certain
y the child of good fortune.
There will be plenty of hurdles ahead
# him. He himself has said that he
called it. The country as whole
viii undoubtedly extend to him its
friendly regard as he struggles with
he questions of state and sets out up
N his career as the highest American
fficial. It is more than seven years
ince new President was in the White
House. The opportunity before such
one is the largest offered to any NOR
dl man. MT. 1dIB realizes lhdbt wv |
lie is proud of the office, little as he
ought it.
Friendly Washington Surroundings.
He will come into very friendly
tmosphere, as far as Washington IS
oncerned That should help him. Con-
ress, department officials, and even the
reat working clerical forces OF the
overnment all feel kindly toward the I
ew President He has an extended
cquaintance in Washington, knows
radically all the leading men and
lould be in a position to judge ade- ]
uately of the capacity of those around
i'm. When Roosevelt came into the
fhite House he was not as well equip
ed for the task, probably, as Mr.. TAFT,
IS successor, is. Roosevelt knew Wash 5
Igton, but not as Mr.. Taft knows 1t.
e had been Civil Service Commissioner
nd Assistant Secretary of the Navy, {
either of which is an Office of the first {
nportance nor likely to afford the in