The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-05-20
Government Business to Have
Precedence Over Political
During Administration
THE LID WILL Be kept ON ALL
MALEFACT0Rs Of GREAT WEALTH
Roosevelt Exposures Will BE Cured by
Means of Carefully Thought Out
Changes in the Present Laws and
the Enactment of New Ones.

the Enactment of New Ones.
Washington, May 20.-When the
chronicles of the Taft regime are be-
pressed with the necessity Of treat
ing the first year of his administra-
tion as a period of business recon-
struction. Mr.. Taft has now been in
the white house about ten weeks, and
1t has become apparent to all close
observers that his immediate ambi-
tion Is to contribute to the extent Of
his ability and the power of the fed
eral government to the restoration of
. industrial and commercial prosperity.
To his mind politics per Sc is of sec
ondary Importance, and this explains
in a large degree the deliberaton
which governs his course tn the dis
tribution of patronage. The Office
seekers can better afford to wait for
expected rewards than can the insti-
tuition of business for what properly
belongs to it.
Parceling out with discrimination
the desirable offices under the gov
ernment is task to which serious
reflection must be given, for the
proper distribution of patronage is
one of the elements which usually
enters into the availability of an cleo
tive official for denomination and re-
election.
Not Thinking of Second Term.
But Mr.. Taft has not yet begun to
think of second term. II prosperi-
ty is restored early in his administra-
ton, as the result of the policies he
and his party pursue, he will not have
to. His denomination. will come un-
asked. and without resort to means
and methods which frequently must
be employed to bring denominations
about. If the vast and complicated
machinery Of business and commerce
is working smoothly and busily-and
this condition may fairly be attribut-
ed to the Taft policies-the presi-
dent will not have to worry much
about second term, even though
now he subordinates patronage to the
exigencies of the business situation.
Theodore Roosevelt Jared loose
from their foundations most of the
great corporations of the country
which felt so secure in their power
as to ignore the law and treat with
arrogance the rights of others. In
SO doing violent disturbance in the
business world resulted. The wheels
of commerce and industry were
thrown out of gear, necessitating a
readjustment all along the line. To
effect this readjustment in such a
way as to derive the utmost benefit
from the object lessons furnished by
the execution of the Roosevelt poll
cies is Taft's aim and purpose.
Lid is Still On.
Lawbreaking corporations were
taught during the Roosevelt admins
trdtions that some of their methods
would no longer be tolerated. AL
though the "big stick" is not being
welded from day to day, let no man
think that Taft has any more, affec-
tion for "malefactors Of great wealth"
as Roosevelt called them, than his
predecessor had. They must toe the
mark during the new regime the
same as they did before. They will
be unable to lull this administration
into a state of somnipathy by bland
ishments such as frequently have
caused public officers to lapse into a
condition of lethargic Indifference to
their acts.
Roosevelt revealed evils and abuses
pract;ced by certain corporations, and
. did a good job. The gratitude of the
nation will be Taft's when it realizes
he has effectually applied preven-
tive to their recurrence. The Roose-
5.velt crusade disclosed glaring incon-
A gruities in the federal laws with cor
porations. Taft, with the aid of the
splendid group of lawyers, to whom
Ahe has given seats at his cabinet ta-
@ble, is working to bring consonance
&to these discordant and varying sta
Mtutes. 1t is a lawyers task, and we'll
worthy the composite attainments of
Athe president and his counselors. But
Hthe cabinet has been so constructed
Aas to give the president the benefit
Ypf minds trained not only to the law,
shut to the intricacies and perplexities
Kof business.
n Men Who Face Big Problems.
Thus is such men as Wickersham,
the attorney general, and his youth
tul though able assistants. Bowers
and Ellis; Dickinson, the secretary of
war; Knox. the secretary of state;
MacVeagh, the secretary of the treas
ury. and Nagel. the secretary Of COM
merce and labor. Taft has combina-
ton of men we'll adapted by expert
ence to work out what today is the
greatest problem of. his administra-
ton. These men are laboring pa
tiently and industriously. and with
4 put brass band accomplishments.
Their task is one which requires de-
hberate action. 1t involves material
interests of such magnitllde that it