The Detroit times., 1909-04-24
SENATOR A[OR|CH
: BLUFFEO TAFT
President Quits Fight For Income
Tax When Rhode Islander Threat.
ened 10 Cut Down Army.

patch to the New York American. Mr.
Lewis says:
Mr.. Aldrioh has blurred Nj. Tan
backed him OF tho field. beaten hin
without a blow. II would have beer
better FOR Mr.. Tart II he hadn't said
Income tax" at all. He has lost
step and standing In capitol estimR
ton. He started out TO have nm In
come tex. and Mr. Aldrich-ln tho
language Of the east s.de--"made hon
quit"
This has hurt Mr., Tart. A new
Mr.. TAFT has lost his. and suffers, and
viii continue to suffer accordingly
Also his surrender will not save him
trouble. Folk who IT. their umidities
would never have dreamed Of giving
the White House battle will not
hesitate. should occasion arise. to lock
horns with II now.
How did Mr.. Aldvich compel the
surrender or Mr.. Taft? BY threaten
ing to cut down the army and knife
The naval bill. A private soldie costs
American mankind about $1,000 &.
year over all. When Mr.. Taft talked
OF deficits" and shortages" In con-
nection with Mr.. Aldrich's tariff bill
and urged an income tax as the logi-
cal remedy, Mr.. Aidrich pointed out
that by looping. say. 10000 men from.
the army and falling TO build Dread
noughts at $10.000.000 uer Dread
nought, these holes In the nations
finances indicated by Mr.. Taft might
easily be filed up.
"Meekly Laid Down Arms
Mr. Taft doesn't want the army
cut down, doesn't want the build
ing OF battleships to pause. Where
fore. rather than risk these battle
ships and a possible reduction OF the
army In war with the Rhode
Islander. Mr.. Taft most meekly laid
down his arms. ! I'm thus full In
this matter. because II Is always
worth while 10 know what has hap
pened Also how il happened and
Why. Ignorance may be bliss, but
is isn't profitable, especially when
ones White House IS the subject OF
that ignorance.
AS saving the hurt vanity OF Mr..
Taft at being forced from his In
come tax position. Mr. A!drich
agreed that should his bill prove in
adequate and q strurtage ocour-as
IL will--he himself will move for an
income tax Statesmen smile when
they hear OF this. They know Mr..
Aldrich Likewise. they are begin
min sto know Mr.. Taft. Shortage or
no shortage. near or far. Mr.. Aldrich
will never be for an income tax. Nor
will Mr.. Taft again.
1t is plat tnhat Mr.. Taft has re-
solved TO be president on lines OF
least resistance He will not fight.
whatsoever the stake. whomsoever
the enemy. There are two kinds OF
men who want to be president. With
one the presidency itself is the OBJ
ject. Given the presidency they have
succeeded The journey over. they
have arrived.
Taft's Presidential Class.
With the others. the presidency is
not the object but n method. They
want TO do something for the public.
They are for protection" or free
trade. for silver or against it, and go
seeking the presidency as a method
OF accomplishment Mr.. Roosevelt was
OF the latter Obviously Mr.. Taft must
be classed as the former.
While folk who would look 10 the
White House for IN income tax will
be wasting their FIRE. the chances OF
passing such measure have not
wholly disappeared. Mr.. Cumnins Of
fered his income tax bill in the SEN
ate, excepting the first $1,000 Of \
mans income. Mr.. Cummins would
impose a tax OF from 2 per cent to
per cent an every dollar above.
Since Mr.. Taft at an Aldrich scowi
went scuttling into the underbrush I
DO not think an income tax can pass
Neither for that matter does Mr..
Cummins in offering Ills measure. He
but aims at record wherewith to
save himself at home. Having intro
duced the bill he can return TO his
Hawkeye constituency. and, pointing
TO the White House. say: II did the
best could"
The one best hope of income tax
rests with the Democrats. II they
can so maneuver that the senate Is
forced to vote on the measure IA ma
reluctant In spots
will be secured Also the house would
be driven TO its adoption by the popu-
lar vote.
AS for Mr.. Taft, we're the bill be-
fore him, he would--as against
background OF public demand--never
ar cam OF a veto. There will be few
n any, vetoes during the coming four
wears