The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-10-15

as matter of fact already proceeding.
The President expected as much, prob
ably hoped for comment and. criticism,
because in that way public sentiment
is quickened and chrystalized. By the
time he swings around into Dixie land,
he may be able to ascertain with some
precision just what character and de-
gree of support his various propositions
for solving legislative and executive
problems will have. 1t viii be to his
advantage to have this information.
1t will guide him in the winter S efforts.
It is plain now, when the President
has been so short a time away, that
the criticism of his series of speeches
will not be altogether friendly or favor
able. This does not signify, however,
that conclusions of presidential unpOp-
ularity should be jumped at or that
the administration is skirting danger
GUS shoals. 1t is fairer to infer that
Mr.. Taft is passing through the critical
period, which every new President has
to face He is a different man than
President Roosevelt The latter has
a personality that greatly entertained
the multitudes. They became tremend-
ousIy infatuated with him dolized him
favorite In that regard President
Roosevelt was an exceedingly difficult
man to follow in the White House.
The country must have year or
two always to get acquainted with
{ - al
acquainted with him as a presidential
candidate, much as there is printed
about a presidential candidate in the
newspapers and magazines and much
as he appears in public places. The
process is a slow one for the people.
1t was slow in the case of Roosevelt.
When Mckinley died he was a much
beloved man among Americans and had
been for long time. But Mckinley
had been President two or three years
before the masses began to show strong
affection for him.
On the lonely eminenee of the presi-
dency Mr.. Taft has to work out his own
popularity, as Mckinley and Roose
welt had to do. Of course. he may not
win great popularity, but there is no
reason vet for such an inference be-
cause of his two weeks of iourneying
in the West. The people will get some
thing of a measure of him, which they
had not previously, by the time he re-
turns to Washington. He has had a big
tussle over one great issue-the tariff.
He has set the wheels to turning in the
executive departments and inaugurated
there the ideas of administration which
he favors. This winter. from the very
moment he gets back into the White
House again, there will be more large
tasks, which were imposed as a result
of the last national campaign. The
President s success during the season
will afford a wider range of vision and
make practicable conclusion regarding
the popular verdict.
His course during the last two weeks
has brought the regulars into closer
sympathy with him. The word coming
to Washington from many sources is
all one way in this respect In what
has been done, the President has no
criticism for the leaders upon whom he
relied to have his plans executed albeit
they may not always have accomplished
as much as he wanted. The President
has emphasized again and again that
old principle of popular government
have been in approval of Speaker Cam
non, upon whom and upon Senator Aid |
rich many attacks are being made dur
ing the autumn.
In the way of presidential detraction. |
from Republican quarters. the insur-
gents are making all the noise They
are in the territory which the Presi- |
dent has Just crossed. Predictions are
thick from y,1pV pf +bpir 7-iov no bo
insurgents will give the White House
wide berth this winter and let the
President go it alone Those predic- |
tons may come true. During the sum-
mer they were not numerous among the |
White House callers. for they were
not in accord with the President 5 plans
for conducting his administration. He
was not unfriendly to them. as he took T!
occasion frequently to demonstrate. He
simply chose to conduct political af- |
fairs through regular rather than in |
surgent channels.
The insurgent talk of the hour pro |
ceeds to the limit of advancing candi- /
dates for the presidency in 1912. which
should not be taken too seriously. It
Is almost three years before another
Republican will be nominated for the
presidency. \ few DAYS after congress
had adjourned last August. Senator
Cummins. returning West. intimated TO
some friends in Chicago that he might
be in the race next time. The in
surgents are likely to continue their
agitation about winning western states
for some other candidate than Presi-
dent Taft and vet. by the time the
convention assemblies. it may he hardly
remembered that anv one else than
Taft was in the field
There viii be a less remote political
influence. growing ont Of the Presi-
dent : refusal 70 recognize the inzurg-
ents further than II express gratifca-
ton. as he did in one of his western
/ speeches. that thew are staying in the
party. That viii be upon the elections
Of next year TnSurgent oficeholders.
coming up for another term. must face
the obstacle with voters Of not being
in accord with the head IF the party.