The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1909-12-17
LAFOLLETTE IS
SORE ON Taft
Wisconsin Senator Says Presi-
3 dent Has Sidestepped the
Roosevelt Policies.
HIS MESSAGE IS DISAPPOINTING
After Reviewing Executives Speech Of
Acceptance and Promises the
Senator Declares Taft is
Delaying the Game.

Madison, Wis, Dec. 17.-That Presi-
dent Tafts message to congress is
disappointing; that the Roose-
Welt policies are sidestepped and that
the hardness of the executive in pre-
senting issues of vital Importance
leaves congress and the public to in
fer, as they well may, after the expert
ence OF the special session, that he Is
awaiting the program of Aldrch and
Cannon" is the statement made by
Senator La Toilette today.
For the first time since the election
of President Taft. Senator La Toilette
has determined to let the public know
what he thinks of the Taft adminis-
tration. In no uncertain terms he an
nounces his views in this weeks issue
of La Follette's Weekly magazine and
the whole tenor of the article would
indicate that President Taft has for
saken the Roosevelt policies"
After reviewing President Taft's
speech of acceptance last March, ami
his many promises, Senator La Fol-
lette turns to a discussion OF the tariff
session and declares that the public
condemns the legislation"
ION Tuesday December I, President
Tafts message on general legislation
was presented to congress and the
country" says Senator La Toilette
1T is document of forty pages. The
message is silent, where 1t should have
spoken strongly
THE man so often quoted i'm Mr.
Taft's speech of acceptance and i'm his
addresses during the campaign Is
twice referred TO in this message.
once as my predecessor who directed
attention to the outrageous conditions
in the workhouse and jalr of the Dis
trict of Columbia, and again where
President Taft says that following the
course of my distinguished predeces-
sor. | earnestly recommend to congress
the consideration and passage of a ship
subsidy bill
I'VE regret to say that the message
is disappointing. 1t was to be expect
tive and judicial in its tone but the
country did not expect an extended
narrative of well known foreign rela-
tions and a recapitulation of depart
mental reports. 1t expected strong.
able. vitally interesting state papes
on the great national problems which
have come into the life of the present
generation.
THE president promises special
messages later in the session. when
he will discuss conservation of natural
resources. interstate commerce amend
ments, and the Sherman act. We be-
lieve IL a mistake to delay the pre-
sentation of these or any important
subjects. At the beginning of the ses-
sion congress is more receptive less
occupied and absorbed than at any
time later. 1t is at the beginning of
the session that any message gets
it's best hearing. The president will
not get the same attention from the
public later. and this is important for
il counts in the final result
"A vigorous message for tariff revi
sion. based upon the difference in the
cost of production, at the beginning of
the extra session would have been pro-
ductive of very different results. If
the president expects to advance the
Roosevelt policies. he will do well to
go about IL promptly. and not leave
congress and the public to infer. as
they well may. after the experience of
the extra session, that he is awaiting
the program of Aldrich and Cannon"