The Washington times., 1909-11-14
HARMONY CAMPAIGN
LAUNCHED BY TAFT
President Working on Plan
for Peace in Repub-
lican Ranks.

President Taft is working on the plan
OF getting the warning Republican ele-
naents in Congress 10 come together on
the legislative program he will urge IN
his message this winter.
The President is a great believer on
harmonizing things. lie realizes the
fact that there is a wide split between
the insurgents and the standpatters III
the House and in the Senate.
He understands that this breach 1eop-
ariizes the prospects of any important
constructive legislation in this session
And he Is anxious to have his Adn}lnls-
tration signalized by constructive leg
islation, especially on railroad and cor
poration matters. and for that reason
is hoping to get the leaders Of the
clashlng factions TO agree TO unite on
the Administration program.
That this IS the object of the preltTn-
mary conferences with statesmen which
President Faft VIII have at an early
date is no secret. He is understood To
feel that TO turn over 10 congress lOt
of recommendation at the opening
OF the session, providing n0Lhlng mas
been done TO pacify the differing Gle
ments would be useless. But If he can
get Senator's and Representatives pinned
down 10 supporting his railroad and cor
poratlOn program. as well as the legls-
iaIiOn he wants in certain other d1TeC-
tions. the situation viii be made much
easier for him.
Taft's Task.
The President realizes that at the best
he cannot get the extremists on the
Republican side together. He VIII prob
ably not be able 10 hitch Senator La
Toilette and Senator Hale up together
and drive them IN double harness. But
he does hope to bring the great body of
Republican members in each branch Of
Congress into substantial accord on a
legislative program.
Opinion is divided whether the PTesl-
dent viii be able TO do what he hopes
10 do. Some phases Of the situation
make It seem likely that he viii be
able to do so. For instance, there is
a Congressional election ahead, and a
third OF the Senate is waiting on re-
election. Undoubtedly a program Of
harmonious accomplishment the coming
session would greatly strengthen the
Dosition of the Republican party and
would make II difficult for the Demo-
Gratis to make much of an inrOad upon
il next November.
Another phase Of the situation which
viii to some extent make for the carry
ing out Of the White House program is
that the speCter Of the denomination OF
Roosevelt is hanging heavily over the
heads Of the conservatives ia House
and Senate. They viii doubtless per-
ceive that the surest way to increase
the agitation for a third term for
Roosevelt is to try to block further
legislation touching railroads and cor
Taft advocates. The blocking OF legis-
lation on conservation IS another step
which viii stir the Roosevelt supporters
10 activity.
Breakers Ahead.
These and some other reasons exist
why the President may be able TO work
out his program OF harmonization. Or
the other hand. there are difficulties IL
the way and breakers ahead. One Of
these difficulties is the intense feeling
between the Cannon forces and insur-
gents in the House. The Speaker Is
bent on Furnishing his opponents, and
the insurgents are in no mood TO take
punishment tamely. They viii be in
railroad and corporation measures
which Uncle Joe" assents TO.
The Senate situation as between th'
insurgents and regulars, is about a
bad. Moreover, insurgents in botl
House and Senate are not fOrgeuul o.
the Presidents Endorsement Of Senator
Aldrich at Boston or Of the Winons
speech, in which the insurgents Wer'
practically read out OF the party. Wit
these things IN mind, Il will not be en-
Z them over 70 take up a harmony pro
gram.
Further than these things. the threat
ened row in the House over the Her
bert Parsons charges and In both houses
over the Ballinger-PinchOt controversy
are going 10 be in the way Of carrying
out the Presidents program Of legisia
ton. The long debates which will bs
preCipftated over the Efforts TO Cui
down appropriations VIII also stand Fl
the road Of legislation along genera
, lines.