The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-04-05
TAFT POLICIES AND CONDUCT
SHOCK TO ROOSEVELT


appointed Charles Nagel, attorney for
the WatersPierce (Standard) OH Co.
al head OF the department In which Is
located the bureau OF corporations.
For the other. members OF his cab
met Taft has selected men entirely
satisfactory TO the influences which
controlled the appointments already
named. With these appointments safe,
the vested privilege was Indifferent,
The machinery OF government which
handles prosecutions Is the thing that
counted most. MI " 'I
OF this. Walist. influence is once
more In control.
4. II. Hartman indorses Taft He
has stated publicly that he hopes for
eight years of the present administra-
ton.
So does Nelson w. Aldrich.
So does Joseph @. Cannon.
So do Bellamy and Maria Storer--
SO do b. r. Tiliman, Joseph Bailey.
Senator Penrose and many otner-
II Is interesting 10 note that the
line OF approval and Endorsement Is
not a party line. No more than was
the line with respect to Roosevelt
The former president numbered his
best friends among the Democrats as
we'll as Republicans. He had as bitter
foes among Republicans as Demo
Gratis.
II was, and is. not the party
line. but the line which has OF late
cut both the Republican and Demo
cratic party line in two. The line
which separates the believers OF gov
ernment for the people from those
who believe in 4 government for the
dollar.
II Is the same line that was drawn
in the house the other day when good
Republicans refused 10 vote for Can
non and dyed-in-the-wool Democrats
came To his aid.
Roosevelt Disappointed.
| am very sure that former Presi-
dent Roosevelt carried sad heart
away from Washington. lie had SUI
fered from the deepest wound known
TO man--that inflicted Dy the ingrati.
tude of trusted friend. Taft had
been his friend, and he had trusted
him.
But the former president was game.
He kept up a cheerful front, even to
the last He did not allow the mat
ances of friendliness were continued
tc the end.
The friends Of Taft will Geek In vain,
however. for any spoken or written
word which puts the Endorsement Of
Roosevelt on the actions OF the pres
ent occupant of the White House be-
tween Nov. and April 5. 1909.
In q paragraph. this Is the charge
against the Taft administration: Since
election day, In every way Except
words), by every essential act, TAFT
seems to have made a studied effort
To repudiate the things for which his
prede cessor stood.
Owing all to Roosevelt, Taft, safely
elected to the presidency, offered moth.
Ing Of recognition. Pledged to Roose-
velts policies, he neither asked nor
took Roosevelt's advice. In filling
places and laying the foundations for
his administration. he counseied with
the people who had been Roosevelt 3
bitterest enemies. He withdrew him.
self, even geographically, from the
man to whom he owed his office, and
the White House knew no more Of
the Taft councils at Hot Springs and
Atlanta, Ga, than II would have known
| IL Bryan had been the successful can
0idate.
A chasm which Is wide and deer
has opened between Taft and former
President Roosevelt. And every day
will make the truth of this statement
more plain. President TAFT and former
Pre- sident Roosevelt have said their
political farewells. Taft has chosen
the "reactronary" road; Roosevelt will
always be progressive"
There is not a well-informed CORE.
spondent in the capital vino does not
know Vle things here set down. Some
know more about the inside OF condi
tions than do others. But the facts
are in the air--on the street, at the
club, banded in the gossip Of the
press gallery, talked even on the White
House Office steps.
when will it break?" one man asks
another.
"Oh, don't know" the other an.
swers. IL hate to be the first. have
been holding cff-to give him every
chance to make good It's not a pleas
ant story. But this won't last forever,
It's bound TO come; and probably be.
fore very long"
Cannon's Friend Behind Story.
Now comes a story OF Il coalition
OF the big magazines and weeklies,
hich are said to be getting ready to
"muck-rake" the Taft administration,
and 10 raise the devil generally for the
next four years. This story is handed
out by one OF Cannon's friends, and
seems to be an effort to discount what
ordinary political shrewdness must In
dicate is inevitable and In the not dis
tant future.
Yes the storm is bound to break.
The friends of Roosevelt have chung
tenaciously to the hope that they might
yet remain the friends of Taft They
have held their judgment in allowance.
They have refrained from criticism.
They have thought up explanations
anG apologies on their own account.
They have even gone In person and
voiced their fears and criticisms az
the White House. But 10 no purpose.
Taft has made Il clear that his al
liances are not with Roosevelts
friends.
Taft and Roosevelt's enemies hold
the fort