Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1909-09-30
new CIRCUIT Rider
PRESIDENT TAFT'S SWING over
The COUNTRY DISCUSSED.
Chief Magistrate Is Akwardiy PLACED
when Tariff Discussion Comes Up
bv AidriCh.payne Bill. Value OF
Such q Flying Trip of no Real
Value to Country.

The circuit-rider was central
figure of the days of primitive Metho-
dism. Going on horseback from set
tlement to settlement, he ministered
to the spiritual needs of rugged but
sterling people. The mutual conf
dence of pastor and flock was con-
firmed by long acquaintance. 1t was
a relation founded on sound under
standing and community OF interest.
Our opening simile is suggested by
the fact of the presidents itinerary.
We fear it is also partly deduced
from force of contrast. The visits OF
the old-time circuit-rider had
genuine and very deep significance,
both to himself and the communities
along his route. Can the same be
said of Mr.. Tafts 13,00O-mile swing
around-the-circle?" We do not think
so. Let not the spirit in which we
makes this remark be misapprehend-
ed. Our negation is reluctant rather
than otherwise. We would be glad
to find reason to believe that the peo-
ple of the United tSates are likely
to get substantial returns from the
presidents tour. But the more we
examine the conditions and the prob
abilities of this mammoth railroad
iaunt, the more we are inclined TO
relegate it to the category of events
which are brilliant and pleasing on
the surface, which derive a certain
Importance from the distinction OF
the chief parsonage concerned, which
are attractive because of blazOnry,
blare and parade, which include the
charm of social amenities, but are
fruitless of real results.
Let us first look at the tour in its
political bearings 1t was announced
from the outset that Mr.. Taft was
going to discuss the Aldrich-Payne
tariff. That statement, dry and nak-
ed as it is. is quite enough to set in
a painful light the pitiability of the
Presidents dilemma. What does Mr..
Taft intend to say about the tariff?
Better ask, What can he say?" Turn
to view any facet of the subject he
will. he must find himself narrowed
down to a kind of triangle alterna-
tive. He must either defend, explain
or apologize. Defense is impossible.
Explanation is superfluous Apology
is confession. 1t is humilating
choice for Mr.. Taft. Whatever he
says he will find himself framing a
tacit indictment against his party.
We believe no man realizes this
better than William Howard Taft,
His experience, both as a lawyer and
Judge, must have taught him the diff
ference between a defensible and an
indefensible cause. He has had
plenty of time for lucubration. The
notifications of the special session
of congress, its gross betrayal of the
Republican pledges, the weak presi-
Dental compromise with the stand
patters at the end, have been follow
ed by weeks of reflection on the presi-
dents part. Mr.. Taft is man of
far from romantic temperment-he
is characterized by a certain good
natured impassibility. But if he
were to tell all he has thought, dur
ing these times when he has been
hugging the tariff to his pillow, it
would be found that the subject has
been little better than nightmare.
1t is a Procrustean couch-that ham,
mock in which Mr.. Taft has been re-
clining in the intervals of his va
cation golf-playing.
The first of the speeches mapped
out for the presidents itinerary, was
delivered in Boston. If it was in
tended to strike keynote, it was a
failure. Naturally, inevitably, a
declaration was expected on the tar
if question. Mr.. Taft kept as far as
possible from that ticklish subject
He informed his hearers that he must
save something for other audiences
an excuse we would call childish il
saying so did not imply a certain
dsrespect to the President which we
are far from intending. So let us cal
it an instance of Mr.. Taft's consti-
tutional weakness-the tendency tC
temporize. He deferred the hateful
theme for another occasion. But il