The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-04-02


OF course the Taft method has it's
drawbacks. 1t means more hard work,
more hours Of work, for the president.
1t means that scores of men who call at
the White House do not see the preSi-
dent at all. But those who do get in,
go away with a warmer regard for the
man at the helm. They believe that
the president has taken their stories to
heart, and feel that he has, in a meas
ure, assumed part of their burdens.
Even if he has not been able to grant
their requests, he has, at any rate,
assured them of his friendliness. In
this Mr. Taft resembles the late Presi-
dent Mckinley. He has, also, many of
McKinley's mannerisms, and, like the
martyred executive, will undoubtedly
go down in history as a "Placator"-
a president who smoothed things with
oil rather than the ak.
President Taft has announced that
he will abandon the referee" system
in the south. He will allow the con-
gressmen and the senators some say
so in the selection of federal officials,
even though, they be made upon the
recommendation of small coterie of
southern republicans many of whom
We're not in good odor with the best
people of Dixie and whose selections
were often obnoxious to southern SEN
timent
Neither will President Tafc make so
many personal appointments as his
predecessor 1t has been the custom
for more years than the oldest politi-
aio L
Of the United States occasionally to
send a nomination to the senate and
request that it be confirmed on per
sonal grounds" Until Mr.. Roosevelt's
hand grasped the, tiller, these personal
appointments were few and far be-
tween, for few executives ever abused
the privilege. But he handed in so
many of this kind that senators and
congressman made -crious complaint.
Every rough rider that wanted job,
every cowboy that had ever rounded
up cattle with the president in the
Bad Lands, every odd character that
the president had even hunted with,
camped with, or ridden with was pro-
vided with place. If any were miss
ed it is because they did not apply for
job.
In the matter of messages to con-
gress, no two men could be more wide
ly different. Roosevelt wrote them,
apparently, morning, noon and night.
They ran perfect stream of words
from the White House to Capitol hill.
and were upon every subject under
the sun. Matrimony, art, war, science,
simplified spelling, In-God-We-Tr Trust
on the coins. the raising of babies and
the raising of diversified trouble, were
all meat 70 the something doing
every-minute president, and he kept
the world busy thinking and talking
about him for seven and half years.
Presidential messages were the longest
on record as we'll as the most numerous
under the Roosevelt regime, and If
present indications may be taken as a
promise for the future, those Of the
present administration will be the
shortest and most seldom The only
one that has been sent to congress by
Taft, thus far, was that sent to the
opening of the present extraordinary
session of congress. 1t contained just
$40 words.
Roosevelt "butted" into every line of
endeavor: Taft is not inclined to worry
with problems that do not concern him
o. his work.
Roosevelt gloried in fierce physical
exercise, whether with the boxing
gloves, single sticks, horses, or tennis !
racquets; Taft rides a little to keep
down his flesh and plays an occasional
game of golf to make his blood flow
freely.
Roosevelt selected certain admins !
tration newspapers in which he put out
"feelers" to test the pulse of the coun-
try; Taft treats all newspaper men |!
alike and does not "play favorites."
Roosevelt preached against ''racoV