The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-07
KANSAS CONNENT
THE WEST AND TAFT.

4
Samuel G. Blythe, one of the most
olstinguished and keenest Washing
ton correspondents, has just con-
cluoed tour of the United States
1or the saturday Evening Post He
travelled in all of the states visited
ny PRESIDENT Taft on his recent
TIP ana stopped at most of the cities
Wnere the president spent any con-
lsloerapie amount of time He talked
with people he saw in these cities
and on the trains and he returned to
washington with the conviction that
the attitude of the west toward Taft
rs TO De summed uD in the phrase.
Hes a Hne, jolly fellow. but
Mr; Blythe's views are interesting
IN view Of certain declarations by
men OF more or less reputation as
pohtlcai observers, to the effect that
Kansas, for example, is against Taft.
MT Blythe, who is not Kansan. and
VINO mas no insurgent AK to grind.
ooesh ma Kansas SO. He finds this
state as he finds certain other states
kindly disposed toward the new presi-
dent; not enthusiastic, not loud
moutned and blatant, as about Roose-
veIt; put more than hopeful that the
next SIX months will show the stuff
the people believe is in Taft Well
Pleased with the presidents renewed
pledges, the west is not waiting for
performance and if the performance
Is IN accord with the pledges, the
i
Iaft with enthusiasm. That is Mr.
6lythe's idea, as gathered by his ex-
tensive tour and it is worthy of
credence. as the report of an ex-
peTlen Geo and painstaking reporter.
In but one thing does Mr.. Blythe
ran to show his usual discernment-
his contrast between the old en-
tnus1asm for Roosevelt and the atti-
Iuoe or reserve and waiting toward
Taft. Mr.. Blythe and other OBJ
servers hat h.
welt enthusiasm was not of sudden
olrth There was two years, almost
three years period of incubation of
the Roosevelt enthusiasm before it
, nnfSt IRON its shell and it was not
until after considerable period of
performance that it became the lusty
olro we are accustomed to think of
now when we recall it. Taft has been
less than year in Office and he has
one stupendous piece of legislation to
his creditor dfscredit. if YOU choose
to consider it that way-and by the
close of the long session of con-
gress, the people should be able to
nave as good an idea of the Taft per-
his policies and if the performance
pieases as well as the policies, the
west Will be even more enthusiastic
cally for him than it was for Roose-
velt, Tor the Taft personality is more
Unable than Roosevelt's and the
west already wants to be for the
president good and hard.-Hutchinson
News.
WASTE DESTROYS FORESTS.
In waste alone we reject more than
tWo-thfrds of the lumber thai might
be taken from the standing trees. At
least half Of this waste is unnecessary.
In the first place. we waste the for
ests by refusing to take advantage of
Its full capacity for growth. Protected
and properly managed, our forests will
produce fa1 more wood than they do at
present. But while it is wastefuI to
cripple the forest by a violent iuna her
Ing which destroys young growth-the
promise of the future forest-it is dou-
bly, wasteful to look up the forest and
let the ripe timber die and decay. for
In the former case the forest at least
contributes temporary supply of wood
whereas in the latter case it contri-
butes 10 wood at all.
1t is not use which destroys the for
ests, but waste. Not use as such, but
destructive use, combined with mex
cusable neglect. is causing the forests
to dwindle under our progressive de-
mands upon them. The problem,
therefore, is not to be solved by dis
use, but by wise use and protection.
These together will SO stimulate forest
growth that the needed wood may be
harvested without depicting the stock
on hand, and will keep intact the
protective cover at the stream sources.
Garden City Telegram.