The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-11-01

sabInet as the only one OF the Roose-
yelt advisers. He pressed the postal
bank with rare ability upon the az
tention OF congress. 1t was one of
the distinct Roosevelt policies which
by tNctic consent were left 10 the
succeeding administration.
To Offset the Bryan bank guarantee
plan the postal savings bank was
given undue prominence. Ii was made
an important feature of the Chicago
platform. and in a way ranked next
In importance TO The pledge for tariff
revision. During the campaign 1t
was repeatedly pointed out 10 the
people that the postal savings bank
furnished the means of having de-
,posits in small amounts guaranteed
by the United States government It,
self The Republicans rallied around
the postal bank just as the Democrats
did about the guarantee OF deposits.
Even the Republicans in Minnesota.
Kansas. and other states who had
been tainted with the Bryan theory.
made much of the postal bank as n
means oil letting themselves down
easily. The result was that next TO
tariff revision the postal savings bank
became tho most concrete pledge
made by the Republicans and by Mr..
Taft TO the people in the campaign
OF 1908.
Now the postal bank Is once more
becoming a political and not an
economic. issue. Senator Aldrlch.
Speaker Cannon. and others have de-
clared against it, President Taft IA
vors the postal bank for Itself. be-
cause ii was a Roosevelt policy. and
because 1t became such a distinct
pledge in the campaign which elected
him.
A large percentage of the bankers
OF the country seem to be lining up
against what they consider the inva-
sion by the government of a purely
legitimate field OF private enterprise.
The establishment of such a system.
while It does not directly concern tho
plans for currency reform, is so vast
ly important that Senator Aldrlch and
the members OF the monetary commits
sion have a good deal of reason on
their side when they Insist that the
postal bank shall be treated as par.
OF the general financial plan, and
that nothing shall be done about it
until the commission reports along
about Jan. l. 1911
Country congressman from the mid
die west do not relish this program
OF delay: They say the time has
passed for an academic discussion of
the advantages or disadvantages OF
the postal bank. They insist thai II
has become as fixed feature of the
party policy Gs the tariff itself These
men have been talking with the farm
ers during the summer and have be-
come much impressed with the gravity
OF the situation. They argue this
way;
In the first place. the party stood
for tariff revision. President Taft in
his campaign constantly referred 10
that revision as one generally DOWN
ward. Congress disappointed the peo-
pie grievously President Taft In
jected into the law about all there
was of good in H. For that reason
the people feel inclined to forgive
him for not taking a hand earlier in
the game.
Now they are watching the postal
bank II nothing is done at the an
preaching session, these country con-
gressmen say. there will be blood on
the rural moon. Currency reform was
not feature OF the Republican plat
form OF 1908. Postal banking was.
So the farmers argue that a party
pledge should be redeemed by Itself
Independent of It's supposed relation
to some financial policy about which
the people are far from agreed anG
concerning which even the banks
find 1t difficult TO get together.
President Taft and the party lead
ers are therefore confronted with the
problem as to whether they can face
the congressional elections of 1910
with a partially redeemed promise on
the tariff and delayed redemption On
postal banks. or whether they Will
pass the postal bank bill on the score
OF political eXigency regardless of the
increasing scientific objections-of the
bankers not only in the large citias
but even in the small towns as well.
II would be pity TO decide such
a vast subject on a political basis, and
yet when congress meets Ia December
there will be found a large contingent
OF Republicans from the middle west
who will insist that the prompt pas
, sage Of a postal bank bill is the
only thing which will take out of the
mouths of the people the bad taste
left by the tariff fizzle
Otherwise, they say, they viii tell
President Taft to be prepared for Z
Democratic house Of representatives
which Will pass q postal bill and Q
bank deposit bill on top OF It, and
compel the Republican senate and
! president 10 choose between them.