Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1909-07-29
TAFT AT THE HELM
REVEALS HIS BREADTH or
COMPREHENSION
Country Will Welcome His Entry Into
the Sphere of Practical Legisia-
tlon-Measures of Broad
Scope In Prospect.

Whatever may be the views enter.
tanned of the specific position of Pres.
1dent Taft on the subject of a cor
poration tax, and these views differ
without regard to party lines, his dis
position to take a hand in legislation
and to disclose his policies is viewed
with general interest and wide ap'
prOval. Mr.. Taft confessed during the
campaign to lack of technical knowl.
edge of the tariff, and he has con.
tented himself with adhering to his
original stand that the revision should
be mostly downward, and that 1t
should be productive of sufficient rev.
enues for the country. There are very
many persons who think that the re-
vision of the schedules might very
well be made with regard to revenues
and still show general grading down
OF the tariff in harmony with the
presidents position. He thus has the
hearty support of all who believe In
his campaign stand. That he should
go farther and advocate a tax ON cor.
pOratfOns is an exercise of his discre.
tion, the propriety of which Is beyond
question. Those who differ with him
upon this matter may yet be glad that
ne has shown the breadth of compre.
henS1On that his friends have always
Claimed In his behalf. He has shown
ability and disposition to analyze and
to estimate the effect of such a meas
ure, Whatever may be the merits OF
his hnal deductions.
Yet this Is only one of the measures
sacev11Uad scope in which the president
proposes to show his hand. He is
already preparing to make clear his
interest in broad Industrial legisla
ton. In due time he will express him.
self upon the subject near to his
predecessors heart--over-capitali
tion BY interstate corporations. This
Will be one of the policy-framing meas
ures OF Mr.. Taft, and will disclose his
grasp OF the public-relations of incor.
porated concerns doing an Interstate
trade. 1t is understood that he also
has had bills framed for the reorgani
zat1on OF the bureau of corporations.
the readjustment of its relations with
the Interstate Commerce commission
and the tying of both more closely tc
the department of Justice The inn
pOrtance of this tentative program
lies not SO much in the nature of the
measures as in the fact that Mr.. Taft
has not swerved from his devotion to
RoOsevelt's policies, and that he pro
poses to have his administration
count in the only sphere of domestic
forcefulness that the present state OF
the country makes inviting.
Those who have thought of the
president as clothed in an ineradic
able smile have failed to estimate the
elements OF unqualified force in his
makeup. The smile can be laid aside
and suavity can be. and is, displaced
upon occasion by severity of man
ner and tone that harmonizes with
the hxed convictions that call forth
the demeanor; for Mr.. Taft, while con
ciliatory, is as firm as adamant wher
he takes stand. The country will
have occasion to observe with a vast
deal of interest his career when he
shall actually begin to manipulate the
lever OF the nation.