The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1908-02-14
A TRIBUTE TO TAFT.

A recent number of the Outlook, a
high grade weekly periodical, pays a
tribute to the secretary of war which
will be read by the entire country and
which must command respect. The
Outlook stands always for high ideals
in political as in other life, so that it's
tribute must carry weight. This COM
pliment to Taft is but one Of many
that are coming to him from the coun-
try over. In part the Outlook said:
Mr.. Taft's public views are known
by his public acts; and though his
speeches have been frank, his actions
have often spoken louder than words.
Ever since his appointment as civil
governor of the Philippines by Presi-
dent Mckinley in 1901, he has been
an active member of the administra.
ton. He is therefore justly held re-
sponsible for its policies and justly
shares the creditor discredit-which
is given to them. AS governor of the
Philippines he pacified the islands. Or
ganized civil government and sue
cessfully transferred the archipelago
from purely military rule to a quasi
self-government. He conducted the
negotiations with the Roman Catholic
church and solved the complicated
friar problem with results apparently
equally satisfactory to the friars, the
church and the people. Transferred
TO the war department, he still main.
tanned his interest in his wards and
continued his care of them, while ex-
tending his activities into new fields.
Under his administration the contro-
versies arising out of the attempt to
employ private competing contractors
at Panama were solved by the simple
expedient of putting the work under
the immediate direction of army en-
gineers. His visit to Cuba quelled an
incipient revolution and has left the
island in at least temporary peace and
the enjoyment of a before unknown
prosperity. Rumors Of war with
Japan, which were disquieting the ma
ton, ceased almost Immediately after
his visit to Japan, and presently came
the report that the Japanese govern
ment was taking action to check the
migration of Japanese coolies to our
shores. Rumors of an impending rev.
olution in the Philippines following
upon the election of a radical assembly
came from we'll informed correspon-
dents in the islands. His visit was
made the occasion of a remarkable
ovation, and was followed by conserv-
alive and quieting action by the as
sembly-the appropriation of a million
dollars to public education and the
appointment of diplomatic natives to
represent Philippine interests in
America. One of the chief legal advis-
ers of the president, he is known to
have approved both the constitution
atty and the wisdom of the law giving
the interstate commerce commission
to regulate railway rates,
but is also believed to have counseled |
providing in the law for an appeal
from its decisions to the courts.
Threatened with the opposition of
labor because of injunction
orders issued when he was on the |
bench, he has replied with a condem-
nation of violence as vigorous as any
ever uttered by his chief, and has af-
firmed, on the one hand, that the
power to issue injunctions should be
and, on the other, that
certain specified limitations should be
put upon that power. the better to
the rights of citizens from
the possible despotic exercise of ju-