The Washington herald., 1908-07-26
POLITICAL COMMENT.

Standard OIL decision. Il seems 70 be
generally thought that fancied political
expediency has more to-do with his utter
snce than was. perhaps. quite fitting. For
instance. the New York Times, in the
course OF a long editorial on the subject
SAYS
Playing the game OF politics IN this
fashion IS open 10 two objections. Il IS
in no slight degree alarming 10 the coun-
try: II does not tend 10 arrest the return
Of confidence. Furthermore. it tends or
seeks 70 create IN the West and else
where impressions concerning Mr.. Taft
Which we believe to be ill-founded- That
he WIFI continue 70 apply and enforce all
sound and wholesome policies OF the pres
ent administration cannot be doubted
That he viii enforce them in Mr. ROose-
veit's way and with the destructive con
sequence It involves, We do not at all
believe"
The New York SJn regards the matter
even more intemperstely. saying:
The Presidents repeated declarations
that the Lands decision was reversed
merely on technicalities: that there IS ab-
soiutely no question OF the guilt OF the
defendants. and that acquittai would be
undoubtedly a miscarriage Of justice are
as fsgrantly erroneous as his statement
that the size OF the fine is the only ques-
tion involved.
Thus 1t appears that the President hEs
undertaken TO override and 20 denounce.
IN frenzied rhetoric for political purposes.
the decision OF the United States Court
OF Appeals without even understanding
the scope OF that decision or knowing
what the unanimous opinion delivered by
Judge CsrOsscup contained
The New York Evening Post thinks that
the Presidents statement IS the cry Of a
man who is hard bit and that he has
reason 10 feel sore Il says:
The Presidents cry Of anger over the
Standard OIL decision is proof that hs
has been hard hit He has reason 10
feel sore. for he has been exhibiting that
fine OF s2s.24o.000 es the most conspicuous
result OF his warfare on the wicked
trusts. The Republican platform enUmer-
ated among the great acc0np npIishme1ts' !
OF President Roosevelt the complete over
throw Of preferences. rebates. and DIS
ordinations. and the Republican cam
pslgn orators have been preparing 20 /
make mighty flourish over this notable {
instance. To have dampened so much |
good powder must be. n the ewes OF the I
we can easily understand his indlgna- /
ticn With the guilty judges Naturally 1
he has directed the Attorney General TO I
Immediately take steps for the retriaT |
Of the case
The New York Globe thinks the decision
shows how foolish It is to Indulge in BON !
bastic threats against the trusts. Il says: /
The net result of the proceedings IN |
Judge lands court Is n demonstration |
OF. the utter futility Of loud threats and 1
loose prosecutions against what are re- /
garded as evl trusts And IN this sort
OF warfare Mr.. BTyan's main claim 70 I
consideration Is that he viii 70 farther 1
even than Ny Roosevelt whom be ac-
cuses OF stealing his thunder. To AIr I
Roosevelt the reversal IS no doubt q Sc
we're blow. since he was obviously graft !
fed by the news % the great fine BY 4
what process OF logic does # appear that /
Mr. Bryan win gain credit thereby II (
a little OF this sort Of thing Is harmful 4
70 the cause Of equal rights for al men.
is Il not q Necessary conclusion that a 4
lot Of Il VIII be stiII more harmful To 4
beiieve that the West VIII now turn more 4
readily from q course which our courts
condemn Is 70 believe that the West has 4
lost the regard for law and order OF 4
which IL gave such substantial evidence /
twelve and eight years ago
The Nashville Tennessean comments /
thus on the statement by n E ingalls, /
that Re viii support NIr. Bryan this year:
Mr.. Ingalls, idea OF testing our pros
perity with the election OF Bryan Is a 4
safe one, of a somewhat eccentric rea-
son for supporting him As for his pre- 4
diction OF a sober and Conservative i
Bryan n the White House. It can be in 4
dorsed II AIr. Ingalls, means the sobriety
and conservatism OF broad-minded Wis I
dom and honest judgment. But there
Would be 10 retreat. no compromise as I
there would be no distatorship. no usur-
patton OF power. no class distinctions II I
the Bryan administration. Neither would
there be any Of the blow-hot. blow-cold .
methods OF the Roosevelt administra-'
ton
The New York World does not ike the
public submission Of Mr.. Taft to the
President. II says:
Mr.. Taft's public submission to Roose-
welt, as shown IN his visit &c Oyster
Bay. IS a melancholy declaration OF fnde-
peadence. The Journey is certain 70 hurt
Mr.. Taft with thousands Of intelligent.
independent citizens who are
disgUsted with the excesses Of Roosevelt
ism, and who regard the question Of mr. 4
Tafts moral courage and determination
to act upon his own conscience rather
than acceding to Mr.. ROosevelts wishes I
as the real test OF his fitness for the
Presidency. For a candidate OF William
4. Tafts character. ability. learning. and
experience this was a hu-
pilgrimage"
The Lincoln star. published in Mr.
S-yan's home town. but yet opposed 10
him. revives n a measure the row over
the Taft banner. saying;
We should be permitted one final
'cheep' on the subject OF the Taft ban
Her. It has been strung again, and Il
shows the face Of the nan who is going
to carry the State OF Nebraska. but that
at the time It first appeared. Had the
banner never made its appearance until
now. very little would have been said
about It. And the State committees Of
fcials will no doubt bear IN mind the
promise they made. that the banner IS TO
be taken down for notification day, Aug
ust r."
The Pittsburg Post thus answers the
question as TO why Oregon should be
as doubtful State;
Why should Oregon be doubtful Il
has learned the habit Of voting the views
Of It's people. They govern in that Com
They receive no edits from
autocrats. but they Instruct their public