Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1909-12-03
he preceding one. There is mol histori.

cal fact better fixed in the minds of the
people than that President Taft was
elected on platform to carry out the
Roosevelt policies. That the people of
the country and the press are jealousy
and critically watchful that the con-
tract shall be lived up to is known by
everyone interested in public affairs.
There is no evidence that there is any
real disagreement between the Elk
President in Africa and the President
in America. There is, of course, a
great deal of talk by men and writing
| by Journalists, famous or notorious as
the case may be, but there has not yet
come to surface evidence of divergence
in policy or in aim. The Pinchot- Bal
llnger episode is, of course, CONSPICUOUS
but there is reason to believe that Pres
Ident Taft is sincerely determined to
push the policy of forest preservation
and to secure for the benefit of the
whole people the unappropriated min
eral and water resources of the country.
1t is not unnatural that he should de-
sire as far as possible to stand by his
recently chosen Cabinet officer while
he is under fire or until the charges
against him are proved. If they shall
be proved the President will, doubtless,
be given an opportunity to accept his
resignation. journalism in America
is nothing if not sensational. Sensa-
tionalism is its distinguishing charac-
teristic over the journalism of the older
countries and it is not unnatural that
Mr.. Watterson, of the Louisville Cou-
rier-Journal, returning from tour in
Europe, should on landing predict and
wager that Taft and Roosevelt will be
at dagger's point by the time of Mr.
Roosevelt's return in February. Pos
sibly the Kentucky editor may win his
wager. Stranger things have happen
ed in the happiest of political families
but, at present, the political pond is
calmer than it looks.
The sugar frauds prosecutions which
are being vigorously pushed by the
present administration are really moth
ing now. 1t may be said that they
were begun in 1904, for at that time
Richard Parr received an appointment
by the then President Roosevelt on the
recommendation of Mr.. Loeb then the
Presidents secretary and he was sent
to New York and installed in the Gus
tom House for the express purpose of
detecting the sugar weighing frauds
which he, Parr, five years ago suspect
ed. There has since been change of
administration but the sugar weighing
frauds have been under constant sur
veillance and suspicion and the recent
exposures are nothing more than the
elimination of the Investigations long
silently pursued.
I he United States Government
through the Department of Justice is
carefully watching the development of
the Western Union Telegraph Compa-
ny and the American Telephone trust
combination and the country will,
doubtless, hear further during the COM
ing Congressional session of the plans
of the government for controlling not
only the railroads of the country but
also OF the telegraphic and telephone
wires. They are all interstate common
carriers, whether of freight or of intel
ligence, and it is quite as necessary that
the nation control these for the uni
versal benefit of all the people as that
it should control and direct the mails.
There is no socialism in this. 1t is
simply broad nationalism such as is
practiced advantageously both for the
State and for the people in the more ex-
perienced and settled governments of
the old world. The people of America
are entitled to what the people of other
countries enjoy-the ability to send
messages at minimum expense and
the bringing of the power of communi-
cation throughout the country within
he economical reach of every citizen.
The telegraph service is closely similar
20 the mail service and it ought to be
10 more diffiult to send telegram
han letter. 1t is probable that at an
'arly day correspondence may be posi-
lie by wireless messages; in such case,
congress ought to prohibit it, except
IS controlled and regulated by the gov
rnmeut.
The fight between the insurgent SEN
tors and those who support Aldrich
nd Cannon is already begun. 1t could .
ot wait for the assembling of Con-
ress. Speaker Cannon is defending
imself like veteran of the 10th .
sgion, but it is remarked that he is on
ne defensive and there is significant
pology in this attitude. The trip of
lr. Aldrich through the West as
Missionary to teach and to learn, it is
aid, had other object than a proposed ;
entral bank bill in view. tits claim |
by the insurgent Senators that his
.al object was to ingratiate and :;
rengthen himself with the adherents !
those who opposed his tariff policy a
4 the floor of the Senate. 1t is possi- (
lie that four or five Senators from the !
asst may control the legislation of the
'untry for few months longer but 4
lie West is felt more and more in the 4
alls of congress and it's assertion can :
ot be kept down forever.
V1rginian Denies Report.
A special from Richmond Saturday
ated that the G. & o. would purchase