The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-03-21

would have expected Roosevelt to
find the right one for his successor.
No man in the whole world knows
the foreign relations of the United
states better than does William H..
Taft. and no other man has such IN
innate knowledge of questions in
volved in our colonial relations and
, the situation in the far east. AS a
iurist William II. Taft stood among
the highest of his profession; as war
secretary he has brought the army
out of the rut of bureaucracy. He has
started dirt TO flying in Panama: he
has quieted Cuba and the Philip
pines; he has visited China and Japan
and Russia on diplomatic missions
and is the only departmental head
who has been to the Philippines.
If elected president, he would have
to waste no time acQuainting himself
with conditions. The usual break in
the continuity of policies experienced
every four or eight years would be
obviated. Taft would step into the
white house. knowing men and events
and conditions, with the tools and the
men at hand and organized to pursue
the course for which he has declared
himself. He would be the first presi-
dent of the United States who has
special preparation for the task as
signed him He has been around the
world twice on official missions. be-
sides being tried in judicial, executive
and colonial positions. There is not
a department OF government with
which he is not personally acquainted.
His courage and honesty are in ev-
cry way the equal of his tact. Other
possible candidates for president
avoided activity to prevent mistakes,
but Taft undertook the most delicate
enterprises with the full knowledge
that a mistake would cost HIM politl-
cal preferment.. Already spoken OF as
Roosevet's probable successor, he
went to his home state two years ago
and denounced corruption in his own
party. Even when seeking the in
dorsement of his bwn state. he re-
fused to commit his friends to a
coalition with J. BSForaker, who con-
trolled all the state and federal pat
ronage, and he allowed the people in
primary to decide his fate. His conf
|dence was supreme, but well founded,
for not a county failed him. With
the same complacent smile, with
which he satisfactorily settled the
friar land troubles in the Philippines.
the first of that wonderful series OF
diplomatic achievements that have
marked his cabinet career, Mr.. Taft
said. 81 am not fighting Senator For
aker. II the people of Ohio want him
and not me, or want us both. or want
me and not him, il is for them TO say
| have friends, who oppose MIR. For
aker. and friends who desire him for
senator. have no mind to interfere
with their rights as citizens"
The initiation of these policies Of
state require just such man as
Roosevelt. abnormal" Joe Cannon
calls him, and maybe Uncle Joe is
right in a better sense than he In
tended. But Taft, while as efficient.
bearing assurity as certain of carry
ing on the work. with force and ca
pacity and honor in as high degree,
is a man OF different temperament.
Impetuosity will not be needed hence
forth. The impulse has been applied.
steady perseverance is now in order,
but the administration Of Taft Will be
none the less brilliant, if not so
startlingly varied as that of Roose-
welt.