The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-11-16
Probably Started to Force Taft
to Give More Consideration
to Politicians
FAFTS SPEECHES DURING TOUR
sURPASS PREDECESSORS PLANS
Regulations and Control Of Corpora.
tions as Proposed by Taft More
Drastic Than Roosevelt Proposed
May BE Cause Of Anti.Taft Talk

washington, NOV. lb.-S1nce the
president started on his notable jour-
ney In September, the suggestion has
been heard repeatedly that Theodore
Roosevelt might be a candidate for the
Republican presidential nomination in
1912. In some quarters the prediction
has even been ventured that he was
actually planning to secure the NOM
ination, and singular to relate it has
been made by men of more than ordi-
nary perspcacity and experience.
Everybody who mingles with politi-
clans. off1ceholders, financiers, and
other classes has been hearing such
talk for the last two months. Some
OF 1t has got into the newspapers, as
was to be expected, but for the most
part the ideas and observations on
the subject have consisted of gossip
between individuals. Unquestionably
the president himself has heard some
Of it, but he doubtless believes he
can well afford to consider It in the
light of vagaries of excitable or pref
1diced or disappointed men.
1t may be recorded as fact that
sven among great financiers of New
York the return of Mr.. Roosevelt to
the white house has been and is being
discussed. The writer has heard 1t
himself, and he has heard it from the
lips of men in no way identified with
The moneyed interests of the metrop-
olis. 1t would seem that certain
leaders in financial circles who favor
ed the election of Mr.. Taft as against
that of Mr. Bryan last year are pur-
2osely endeavoring to create the i'm
preston that they and some of their
:sllied interests. have become unfriend-
ty to Mr.. Taft and, much as they rem,
robated, Mr.. Roosevelt when he was
In Office, they appear Ito be .i1timat-
Ing that they world prefer him In the
white house again to seeing Mr.. Taft
succeed himself.
Suggestions are Paradoxical
To any one who has not forgotten
the many uncomplimentary things
which were said about President
Roosevelt "below the dead line" In
New York-that is, in the financial
district commonly called Wall street
1T Is paradoxical to hear such sug-
gestions Of friendship for Mr.. Taft and
the former excoriation of his prede-
cessor. Consequently the man with
an introspective wonders why men
who dfsepprove of the so-called Roose-
velt method of running the govern
nlent and accomplishing much-to-be-
desired reforms are thinking of talk
Ing obliquely of Mr. Taft at this time;
also whether they are sincere in their
0racular utterances that Mr.. Taft
might be-succeeded by Mr.. Roosevelt
IN 1913.
Is it possible, one is justified in
asking, whether Mr.. Taft has done or
proposed to do anything that is dis
pleasing to these particular interests?
Possibly the explanation of their at
itude may be found in the answer to
that question. At any rate, it is
natter Of common knowledge that Mr..
Taft has formulated definite policy
with respect to the control of corpo-
ratfOns, and this embraces not only
railroads, but all ether forms of cor
2orate wealth. The speeches he made
Turing his tour through the west show
:onclusively that he is determined to
work out the corporation policy initia-
ed by President Roosevelt.
Gone Beyond Roosevelt.
In truth, he has elaborated it, and
gone beyond what his predecessor
himself had advocated. An illustra-
sion of the amplification of this policy
Is to be found in the enactment by
congress of the corporation law i'm
posing tax on corporations upon the
recommendation of Mr.. Taft.
To an unprejudiced observer It
might seem that certain manipulators
Of wealth. or captains Of industry. or,
Is Mr.. Roosevelt used to call them,
'malefactors of great wealth" may be
trying to frighten Mr.. Taft into an
abandonment Of some of his policies,
Or at least portion of his scheme for
the closer regulation of corporations.
Or. 1t might appear that they desire,
by playing upon his supposed anxiety
to be reelected, to lead or force him
into advocating certain legislation
which would be directly, instead of in
directly, beneficial TO them! for exam
pie, the establishment of central bank
Of issue, such as has been tentatively
suggested by Senator Aldrich, of
Rhode Island. in his speeches to the
bankers and commercial bodies in the
middle west during the last few days.
In his addresses to the commercial
bodies of Boston, on the eve of his
departure for the west in September,
the president ventured the statement
that central bank might prove to be
the solution Of the monetary puzzle
which now confronts the government.
But he did not commit himself to the
principle, and possibly he may be
Weaned away from It entirely by the