Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-04
PRESIDENT TAFT PRAISED
0utspoken Stand for Roosevelt Pol
icies Creates Good Impression.
SPEECHES OUTLINE MESSAGE
Executive IL showing himself to he
Brave and Fearless Champion
of Rights of che
People.
From a staff Correspondentl

A"t III hNs hpttNltb THROUGHOUT
the country is outlining the contents OF his
message in a manner that is giving the
officeholders alternating spinal currents.
The presidents speech at Winona, Mimi,
in which he favored regularity in the
party and congratulated Representative
Tawney on the stand he took on the tariff
sent shivers down the backs Of the people
who hold office hereabouts. And they lis
tened to the reverberations with fear and
trembling for was it not a criticism OF the
insurgent cause.
Now comes the presidents speech at Seat
tie in favor of a subsidy for the merchant
marine and alread you can notice the Of
ficeholders with their ears to the ground
listening for the tumult which may result
from this position Of the president.
Among the higher officials and among
thinking men generally the president is be-
ing praised today for a bold and outspoken
stand in favor of the Roosevelt policies.
for Theodore Roosevelt was for a mer-
chant marine, for postal savings banks and
for reforms in the currency. Now comes
President Taft unfolding these policies, not
only f%avoring a subsidy for the merchant
marine, but urging postal savings banks
and a central bank which cannot help but
be vital topics for discussion in the coming
session of congress. One thing is certain
President Taft is showing himself to be a
brave and fearless champion of the peoples
rights and II the efficeholders will get over
their tremors everything, It is believed, will
be well.
Visit to Reclamation Projects.
F. II. Newell, director of the reclamation
service, has returned to his desk after a
months frin With tho sapat, o,r,,,y..o, -,
irrigation. Mr.. Newell does not seem at all
disturbed because Of his wordy warfare
with Secretary of the Interior Ballinger,
and when questioned for a statement of his
view of the outcome of the controversy,
merely smiled and said that he had nothing
to say whatever on that phase Of the con-
duct of his office. Mr.. Newell said the
senate under his guidance visited
the projects in Montana, Ore
gon, Idaho, Washington, Wyoming, South
Dakota and Nebraska, spending some thirty
days in visiting these various works. An
adjournment of the committee has been
taken until November l. when the trip will
be resumed, visiting the remaining projects
in Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California,
Arizona and New Mexico. The results Of
the inspection so far have been very ad-
vantageous to the work, as the senator's
have become personally acquainted more
than ever with opportunities and difficulties
and apparently appreciate more than ever
the nature Of the work and the organiza-
ton which is carrying it forward.
There was a general discussion of the
desirability of expediting construction which
is now being CARED on with an expenditure
of about 5000, 900 per annum, this being the
present income of the reclamation fund.
The. projects which have been undertaken
have been planned with a view to expend-
ing economically about this sum, although
a larger amount could be readily used to
hasten results.
Bond Issue Practicable.
1T is very gratifying to note" said Di-
rector Newell that President Taft is
sppreciating this matter and has announced
himself in favor of a bond issue of $40,
600, 600. This will enable us to prosecute
work, which would otherwise wait two
years or more, to be accomplished in one
year. The plans can readily be adjusted,
and the organization is able to carry for
ward the projects speedily. The senat
committee discussed this matter informally
and individually expressed the opinion that
it would be practicable and desirable to
per annum for a time, securing these not
by the general credit of the government,
but by the fund, the investment
Of which already amounts to over $50, 900, 600.
Western bankers express the belief that
bonds bearing a low rate of interest and
secured by the reclamation fund could read
lily be floated at par. As a business propo-
sition it is unquestionably sound. Every
dollar invested in irrigation work returns
ultimately a gross income to the country
Of 100 per cent. That is to say, every acre
of land reclaimed at a total cost of SAC
will yield each year at least $40 in crops
when handled intelligently. II money can
be borrowed at 8 or 4 per cent per annum
there should be no hesitation in thus expe.
diting the work. The interest charge read,
lily could be included in the cost of the
works, as this is repaid by the settlers in
ten annual instruments without profit OF
interest on the investment"
Salaries for Medicine Men.
The latest move toward the uplifting and
lettering the physical condition Of the In
dian has just been announced by Indian
Commissioner Valentine, the proposition
being to place the medicine man" of the
various Indian reservations on the goverH-
ment pay roll. Recently the most in
fluential medicine man" at the Tongue
River reservation, Montana, a character
SOhnlucItu as one OF the DfAlneSL INDIANS
Of the northwest, proposed that he act on
salary, in conjunction with the agency
physician, in a campaign against tuber-
culosis, a disease particularly rapid in its
, spread among Indian tribes when once
fairly lodged.
Indian agents have suggested that the
medicine man" be induced, II possible, to
assist the regular physicians, and that
they be allowed a small salary for this
service. The most ignorant element of the
tribes could then be reached in a salts
factory manner, since the people are ready
to follow the counsels OF their time-hon-
ored tribal doctors. Under the new plan,
the medicine man would simply transmit
the directions Of the regular agency doctor
, whose prescriptions have formerly been
: discredited and generally not taken at all.
Great benefit is expected II the tribal doc
tors can be counted upon 10 aid in this
work, especially II they WILL assist in
spreading proper IDEAS OF sanitation, which
some Indians are slow to accept when rec
commended by white doctors.
< Bryan Does Not Respond.
William Jennings Bryan, who in his last
. presidential campaign, received the officiaI