The morning journal-courier., 1908-12-12


 THE TAFT METHOD.
 President Taft continues to reveal himself to the citizens of the republic as his personal friends knew and said he would when the proper time came. He has shown himself 10 he glad of the advice and counsel of all. on the one hand, and, on the other hand, to he ready to work out problems as they arise in his own way. This has al- ready had such stimulating effect upon the country at large that the fourth of March will find hearty welcome awaiting t The undivided re- sponsiblity Of the next federal admin duration Will fan and rest upon tho shoulders of President Taft
 Nothing could he more characters- tie than President-elect Taft's man ner of indicating his attitude towards the proposed revision of the tariff. We do not understand that he considers himself an expert upon the tariff It is likely that he would feel terrified if he were suddenly charged with the task of revising the schedules But for the time being he is dealing with pledge which he considers was solemnfy given the American electorate during the re- cent election, and which stated that if retained in power the republican party would make an "honest and thorough revision of the tariff" at an extra ses- sion, which he as the candidate of the republican party in turn promised to call the moment he had the authority serious business with Candidate Taft and 1t Is equally serious business with him now that he has been elected to office on that and other issues His "forgettery' is working badly
 We all know from the newspapers that Mir Taft learned of the reported opposition of Speaker Cannon to tar fir revision with uneasintys, which soon developed into determination to as- certain to what an extent the stories were true. He did not do as many an- otbar ,,,ouId hovo dopa enpd ap o,,,is sary to find out and possibly evolve a compromise He patiently bided his time and then arranged 10 meet Speak CT Cannon in Washington No one knows definitely what passed between them but 1t Is fair to assume that the ruler of the house of representatives was told, in smiling language, that the constitution imposed upon the Presi- dent the task of reviewing legislation, and that he was ready to exercise that power if 1t should transpire that the legislative end of the government had enacted a fake or unsatisfactory bill. He said probably the same thing to the republican members of the ways and means committee and yesterday he said to the country among other things: T have every reason to he confident that they are keenly alive to the obli- gaton which is on them as representa- tves elected to represent the repubi- can party to prepare an honest and thorough revision of the present tariff. "
 This has not been the usual course followed by political parties with refer ence to campaign pledges The rulc has been to promise any old thing tc the voters and do the expedient thina when the houses of legislation meet We have had some taste of this in Con. necticut. The country is now to see another rule followed, which, in its ap- pllcation, will make performance coin eide with promise. We have never re. covered from the conviction forced upon Us by the statement of Genera Hancock, when he was a candidate for the presidency, to the effect that "thc tariff is local issue statement by the way which cost him millions oi votes, but even the truth of 1t should not deter congress from doing It's best in undertaking to smooth out tariff schedules, which are necessarily out of harmony with that principle of faii play which is guaranteed by the con stitution
 It is not an idle campaign charge that large interests have been favored by congress when the schedules havt been prepared, It is the truth, but f, what an extent it is the truth Is for q conscientious committee of iuquIrers tc ascertain and correct II is q dinlcu task, for the country in sense, has adjusted itself to a hap-hazard manner of euacting tariff legislation, but i might prove a more difficult task in th'