Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1909-12-02
UP TO THE PEOPLE
SHOULD KEEP IN TOUCH WITH
THE WHITE HOUSE.
Also Well to See That Senators and
Representatives Express Wishes
of Their Constituents in the
Work of Congress.

Now that President Taft has com
pleted his extensive tour OF the coun'
try il is pertinent to inquire whether
he has accomplished any good puf
pose by nearly two months of travel
ing and speechmaking 1t IS certain
that he has been missed in Washing
ton, for it has been impossible for
him to keep a firm hold on national
affairs while submitting TO fatiguing
round Of receptions and banquets dur
ing his brief stays in the various cit
les which had the opportunity to eX-
tend their hospitality to him. Have
the results of the journey been OF
kind to make the journey worth
while?
Perhaps this question is unfair. The
people of the nation have been glad
to meet their president, to hear him
speak and to show him the prosperity
which blcsses their industries. The
social and patriotic features of the
many meetings which have been rem
dered notable by the presence of Mr..
Taft since he started out from Bev-
crly about the middle of September
cannot properly be overlooked. How
ever, Americans are at heart utilitarl-
ans. They are not entirely content
to hope merely that the president had
a good time and to say that for their
part they found their distinguished
visitor n first-rate fellow. They want
to know what benefit to the nation Is
to come from the presidents visit.
When Mr.. Taft takes up his work
at Washington again he will be sur
rounded as before by government Of
ficialS and members OF congress. AS
before, he will regard these persons
as qualified to speak for their respec-
tive sections of the country, Distant
cities and states through which he
passed rapidly as the center of a pro-
gressive outburst of cheers will be no
nearer Washington than they were
before. 1t is scarcely to be expected
that the 13,000-mile panorama will be
clearly before the president when he
sits at his desk, engaged in the rou-
tine work of his high office.
Win not the effect of the presi-
uGHI - JOuI Dc lidlHig It5iSlIiCu
upon the minds of the people them
selves rather than upon the mind of
Mr.. Taft? If so, it still should be of
value. The president by going among
the people has indicated his respect
for the opinions of the people. He
has tried to tell them where he stands
upon many important questions. In
l-s,, ~ 1rvn TNln
his auditors. However, he has been
frank The people should return the
compliment by being frank with the
president.
, Congress is soon to meet for the
long session. Mr.. Taft has made it
known that he is going to ask much
legislation from congress. The people
should take a hand in this matter.
Not only should they bring pressure
to bear upon their senators and rep
resentatives to require these men to
express the wishes of the people at
home in the work of congress. but
they should keep in touch with the
White House.
1t was because President Roosevelt
gained strength direct from the
people that he was able to bring
about much in the way of reform. II
remains for President Taft to make
more effective the desirable reforms
outlined by President Roosevelt Here
is task of extreme difficulty. He
should have the active assistance of
the people so far as his efforts meet
with their approval.