The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1909-11-17
The TOUR AND ITS RESULTS

I 1al LOure, Cne country Will ask lCSelI,
What will be the social or politica
results of the trip, if any? Some OF
the social consequences may be stated
already with good deal of confidence
The trip shows that the American PEG
pie like to see and greet their chief
magistrates. The warmth of theil
greeting is altogether independent Of
the politics of the recipient. That
part of the tour which led through
the South was especially pleasant.
The people like to hear the president
talk on the great issues which are be-
fore the country. On his tour Mr..
Taft dealt with national questions
with greater comprehensiveness and
freedom than did any former execu-
tive. With a fair degree of adequacy
the people can now foresee what Mr..
Taft will urge in his message to Con-
gress at the opening of the session
four weeks hence.
Tho direct political consequences of
the tour, if there are to be any. can
not be stated with any confidence.
Only few states voted this year,
and but two of them we're in the
South. AS compared with 1908. the
Republicans gained one state, Nebras-
ks. Last year MIR. Bryan carried it
Last week it was won by the Republic
cans for state officers. In the two
Southern states which have held cleo
tions there was no perceptible change.
The Democrats retained control of
Virginia. but their lead is smaller
than it was in any previous campaign
for governor in score of years. Not
since Malone, Riddleberger and the
Readjuster element in state politics
were overthrown was the contest for
governor so close as it was in the
election just held. The Democrats
carried Maryland for comptroller by
much longer lead than they had
IN 1908 for Bryan. But on the dis
franchising amendment to the state
constitution the Maryland Democrats
lost. This phase of the result in that
state will be particularly pleasing t,
Mr.. Taft, for he denounced the dis
frapchisement proposition in letters
written to the chairman of the Re
publican State Committee. He WOULD
like to break the solid South. but pro
badly he does not expect to do j
during his service. As he has SAT-
several times in the past half year
his desire is to induce the Southern
electorate to do some Independent
thinking and voting. and possibly tn
reduction of the Democratic plurailt,
for governor in Virginia and the de
feat. by fairly large maturity. o
the disfranchising amendment in Mary
land may be traced to his advice
or to his personal popularity.
| Possibly we shall have to wait til
1910 before we learn positively whett
er the party has been strengthened b
the tour. The president has th
geniality and the cameraderie whic
the American people like. He is Out
spoken, sincere, democratic. His tri
has put his party in good humor, ar
has. at the same time, set bis coul
trymen to thinking. The programm
which he will urge in his message wi
be as comprehensive and as importa,
as any which any president has pre-
scented in recent times. As he hi
outlined everything which he will sa
in his message. that document tn
time will contain no surprises. B
it will find the country ready f
everything which it says. Not all
the big scheme of legislation which
will present will get the sanction
Congress in the coming session NJ
> does he imagine that it will. In h
various addresses he has suggested
list of questions for enactment viii
would keep Congress busy for mo
than one session. Probably some
0 his recommendations will not get Co
. gress' favor at any time. No pres
dent has ever yet been able to put a
. of his programme into the statute
BY letting the country know befo
hand what he will recommend, he ha
{ given Congress and the people an j
centive to look at those issues frc
b all sides. All the committees in DO
e branches have been formed. Congre
r will be in good working order VIII
: it meets on the first Monday in D
It cembsr. Probably more real wo
9 will be transacted before the hold
' recess this time than the country b
e seen in recent years. The extra Sc
: sion took very large question out
< the way, and another big issue, til
T of currency reform. is likely to
J. over to the short session which begi
e thirteen months hence. Possibly
e may go over to the next Congress
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