The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-11-27
WHAT KIND OF
PRESIDENT?
BY Ernest G. walker.
mail Special to the Advertiser.)

to rein Congress in, as his predecessor
has been doingi Is he going to incline
20 the spectacular and the circuslike 7
Who will his favorites bet Tempera-
mentally and Enthusiastically and in
score of other considerations, how
are we going to get along with him
and how shall we find hint
These are only few of the inter.
rogation marks that have been bearing
down upon Washington ever since the
designation of William II. 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 stumping trip and prepar-
ing to spend a portion of the winter
in the mountains of North Carolina
It is all very natural that Pres
ident.elect should be much studied
and much observed man of all the in
telligent American people. He under
goes very close scrutiny, to be sure,
as 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 angle-to 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
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
House. The sands are running rapidly.
1t 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
comprehend yet how good fortune has
attended him ever since his college
days, keeping him in office all the time,
without any seeking on his own part
and even against his inclnations, and
again making him successful runner
IN a race. where, under normal condi-
lions, he would have been badly handi-
capped. The new President is certain
ly the child of good fortune.
Thara will ha ,,lnpt,, hnrJloe ohoo1
Of him. He himself has said that he
realized it. The country as a whole
will undoubtedly extend to him its
friendly regard as he struggles with
the questions of state, and sets out up
ON his career as the highest American
official. 1t is more than seven years
since a new President was in the White
House. The opportunity before such
a one is the largest offered to any NOR
tai man. Mr.. Taft realizes that, too.
He is proud of the office, little as he
sought it.
Friendly Washington Surroundings.
He will come into a very friendly
atmosphere, as far as Washington is
concerned. That should help him. Con-
gress, department officials, and even the
great working clerical forces of the
government all feel kindly toward the
new President. He has an extended
acquaintance in Washington, knows
practically all the leading men and
should be in position to judge ade-
quately of the capacity of those around
him. When Roosevelt came into the
White House he was not as well equip
ped for the task, probably, as Mr.. Taft,
his successor, is. Roosevelt knew Wash
ington, but not as Mr.. Taft knows it.
He had been Civil Service Commissioner
and Assistant Secretary of the Navy,
neither of which is an office of the first
Importance nor likely to afford the in
epmbent thereof the broad view of i'm.
portant affairs that Secretary of War
and the administrator of big enter