The Washington herald., 1909-03-02
observation-disclosures.

IN various newspapers throughout the
country yesterday appeared the following
news item:
Washington. Feb She President and Ms.
Roosevelt set ASIDE the tradition against the Chisf
Executive ard his wife visiting az the foreign en-
bassies and legations bg taxing luncheon to-day az
the Austrian Embassy with TIE Anbssszdor and
Baroness Esnzelznulle-, who vii leave Wsshngsoa
to-moruw TO sal f0r thsir ovu country On Thurs
day"
We venture the assertion that there is,
in reality. no stronger prop beneath the
splendid popularity OF the President than
that which he's grown out Of his cheerful
willingness TO break precedents whenever
and wherever the situation seemed TO in
dicate the wholesomeness OF the same
When Mr.. Roosevelt was elected TO the
Presidency, the very act itself broke
several precedsnts IN respect 10 former
Vice Presidents. and so forth: and the
fact that this breaking was OF the
peoples own doing would seemingly have
furnished him abundant warrant to con-
clude that the average American citizen
is not az all averse TO having the exist
ing and ancient order Of things upset on
occasions II any good can be made to
come out Of the upsetting.
Quite a hullabsloo was evident in some
quarters when the President announced
his intention to visit Panama some two
years or more ago. II was pointed out
that no President previously had LEFT the
United States 10 wabble along without
his actual presence-not even for so
much as a day. This argument did not
impress Mr.. Roosevelt especially. despite
its venerable age and traditional aspect;
so he went to Panama. found out for
himself how the land lay, and not only
reported exhaustfvely his conclusions 10
Congress- but provided himself with data
Of his own personal gathering to guide
him in ais course OF action in the future
Considering the great authority and re-
sponsibility delegated 70 the President by
Congress in connection with the Panama
Canal, this should impress the ordinary
hard-headed business maa as a pretty
level-headed thing 20 have done. we think
AT least. no dire consequences can be
said to have followed the shattering OF
the precedent herein cited. in so far as
the breaking. Per Sc, was concerned
And this Panama trip and the rela-
lively much less momentous occurrence
primarily noted are but two Of the many
things Mr. Roosevelt has sensIbly ven
tred 10 DO. notwithstanding hoary and
moss-eovered customs 10 the contrary. II
Mr. Roosevelt has been one thing more
than another during his occupancy OF
the White House, he has been a President
Of the Now. and not OF the Yesterday OF
the Afterwhile. he is reputed q prece-
dent-breaker-really and truly-a man Of
constant surprises and wonderful re-
sourcefulness- And We heartily believe
his willingness to slash his way along al
times. apparently, II not actually. regard
less OF associate or outside suggestion.
distinterested or otherwise. Is the one
lining that counts more heavily. perhaps.
than anything else in his career as il
affects his standing before the country
to-day.
Evidently. the people Ike precedent
breaking Of the Rooseveltian persuasion.
and they probably ike il because they
fancy IL gets results. And a well-ap-
proved precedent-breaker Is likely to be
rated a very acceptable precedent-maker
IN the long run. too.