The Washington herald., 1909-03-29
TAFT TO USE TACT
TO GAIN HIS ENDS
Chief Executives Tempera.
ment Bars big Stick"
NEW WHITE HOUSE DEAL
Washington correspondence in New
York sun Tells of "A Change in
Policy-CORgress Quarrel 10 BE
Avoided by the President-Wants
10 Win by Peaceful Means.

ence from Washington, The sun to-day
says
Mr. Taft has been in the White House
twenty-four days, and in that time has
I pinched himself frequently 10 make sure
/ that II was really so, and not a dream.
No man probably ever came into the
Presidency with a higher regard for the
| responsibilities and the dignity Of that
great Office.
/ II he forgets sometimes that be Is
President, Mr.. Taft. in the three weeks
and three days he has sat at Theodore
ROoseYelt's desk. has found plenty Of op-
portunity 70 consider Presidential posi-
bilities with due regard TO his conception
Of his own ability to execute them.
From the moment Of his election. per
haps before, MIR. Taft knew that MS con-
duct Of the Presidential Office would be
different from Mr.. Roosevelts- The dif-
( ference was due 10 temperament Mr.
Taft made no secret of this 90 his prede-
cessor. who understood and acquiesced
Mr.. Taft hopes 20 accomplish things by
ways and means entirely at variance with
the ways and means pursued by Mr.
Roosevelt
There would be no warrant for saving
that he disapproves Of Mr.. ROosevelt's 8
methods. He has said nothing 70 indicate
anything OF the sort Without regard 10
whether Mr. Taft IS IN or Out Of SYM
pathy with his predecessors methods OF
obtaining the adoption OF his policies Il
Is wen understood among Mr.. Tits
friends that he feels. that any efICrt on
his part 10 follow Atr. Roosevelt's plan
Of getting action would not be successful
Mr.. Roosevelts plan was his own. In
his dealings with Congress Mr.. Taft Will
csnfne himself 70 methods by which he
expects 20 accomplish his desires as
quickly and as effectively as Il he
welded the big stick
Importance Exaggerated.
In the trief time he has been Presi-
dent Mr Taft has found that a s.gnih-
canoe has been attached 90 some OF his
statements entirely disproportionate 20
the Importance they occupied in his own
mind. Casual remarks in answer 70 ques-
tens as to what he thought Of this or
that have been construed as indicating
the adoption Of important policies, where
as Mr. Tan had formed no decided opin-
ions on the matters and had merely
given offhand views. He has found thai
the Importance attached 10 serious state
ments made by him as Secretary OF Var
was as nothing compared with the I'M
portance attached 70 remarks OF a
trivial character uttered by him since he
entered the White House.
For that reason he, this early. has
come 70 realize the necessity OF care IN
what he says. and Il Is likely that i'm
pOrtant announcements from the Presi-
dent wiz hereafter get 70 the public IN
complete and formal shape.
When Mr.. Roosevelt wanted 20 build a
fire under Congress IN order 10 compel
the national legislature 20 DO his will.
II was customary for him 20 call IN
group OF Washington correspondents. ex-
plain the situation, and have the news
go 20 the country that the President
believed that those who were opposing
him we're actuated by motives At vari-
ance with the good OF the people.
He would follow up a campaign thus
started by speeches. announcements,
letters. and messages 10 Congress. When
particular CongT Tessmen showed oppOsi-
ton 10 his themes, Mr.. Roosevelt would
see 70 II that reports were printed Ia
newspapers in Congressional districts
that they were fighting the President In
his battles for the people. Sometimes
he would denounce individual Congress
men by name
No Effort Spared.
Of course. Mr.. Roosevelt spared no et-
fort TO deal directly with Congressmen.
He would talk with them by the score.
never hesitatlng 70 send for them when
ever he desired TO exert powers Of per-
sonaI persuasion
According to people who believe that
~1- r-1F
Of operation. the new President viii not
use the big stick" through the press or
by other indirect procedure 10 persuade
Congress to do his viii. but In addition
10 making known his deeds through the
medium Of Congressional messages. VIII
follow the direct method Of personal ap-
peal 10 an argument with individual Sen
ators and Representatives. believing that
when his cause is Just and reasonable this
course VIII prevail
Congress has already come 10 under
stand that Mr.. Taft does not want 20
start Off his administration by getting
into q row with the Senate and the
House.
Following so closely after the bitter
feeling that prevailed under the big
white dome in the closing DAYS Of Mr..
RooseveIt's administration over Mr.
ROosevelt's uncOmplimeutary references
10 Congress in connection with the limita-
ton placed on the work OF Secret Service
agents. Mr. Taft's understood willingness
10 bring about team play between the
Capitol and the White House IN the in
terest OF the national welfare has created
a disposition among the legislators to
meet the President half way. and there
is a very hopeful feeling that the policies
that Mr. Taft has in mind VIII be enacted
into law without any marked friction.
An Embarrassing Place.
A. the outset Of his administration. Mr..
Taft was confronted by an embarrassing
situation. Appeals were made to him
by Republican insurgents OF the House
to Join then IN their fight to obtain n
modification of the rules OF procedure in
that body Men close 10 Mr.. Taft point
out that for him TO have taken this
course would have meant a dismantling
of the machinery placed at his disposal
to carry out the viii OF the people as
expressed by their votes last November
In other words he would have made
enemies OF nearly two hundred regular
Republicans Of the House. and depended
for a sCccessful administration on coali-
ton. uncertain OF unity, comprising a
handful OF Republicans and all the Dem
ocratic Representatives. none Of the lat
ter class pledged 20 support him in any
thing.
Mr. Taft declined to take the plunge
Those who commend his course say that
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