The Washington herald., 1910-10-02
A Progressive President.

President Taft defines a progressive
Republican as lone who recognizes ex-
listing and concrete evils. AID who is in
favor of practical and definite steps TO
eradicate Them" and a party of true
progress, he says. is not a party of radi-
oalism or party of ultra conservatism.
Both definitions are correct
Although speaking as Republican,
progressive Republican, whose admins
tratlon. by means Of practical and def
mite steps, has done much In its eighteen
months to eradicate concrete evils-he
speaks also as a true, Independent Ameri-
can when he says that the present popu-
lar impulse. due so largely to the crusade
initiated by Mr.. Roosevelt. fought TO re-
joice every patriot with the hope that it
win be turned TO a useful and permanent
hetterment of our politics" Every patriot
to-day Is inspired with that high hope
but every one OF them. too. realizes. with
the President. that. after all. the duty
devolves upon the individual voter to see
to it that the country's righteous impulse
be turned to good account
He touches the very essence of repre-
sentative government in his utterances
when he gives approving recognition to
the movement TO eliminate the "mi9dle-
man in politics." party bosssm, and the
party maehine-a movement which can
only succeed through a system OF honest
primaries and direct nominations, with
attendant safeguards, such as the really
progressive States of the Union already
are putting into operation.
The President. by his acts, and further
by his latest speech. is proving more
genuine. practical civil service reformer
than any other Executive we have had
since Grover Cleveland. the last imme-
date predecessor at the White House
not excepted.
A suggestion In Clevelands day. such
as is now made. that all postmasters. col
lectors of revenue. collectors and sur
veyors Of customs, and appraisers "ougtt
ultimately 20 be in the classified service
would have been considered welI-nigh
revolutionary. but now will be hailed by
all right-thinking people with approval
as an honest. businesslike proposition.
Thus have We progressed.
AS TO improvement Of the civil service.
the President speaks with wisdom. The
governmental danger which he points out
of useful associations of classified en-
ployes being perverted into combinations
to control salaries and service is not
imaginary. but real. and calls even now
for restraint
The purely political phases Of Mr.. Tafrs
address before the League Of Republican
Clubs. of which, happily, there are few
do not concern US. In this connection. but
we do applaud, and applaud heartily, the
sane progressive sentiments which he
voices, and especially the optimistic note
which gives TO them the right American
ring. The country has indeed eradicated
many evils and. in marked degree, mini
mixed many more. Its politics. though
stiu corrupt. is freer from corruption
than ever befores and We can the better
make continued progress by looking at
things squarely and hopefully and going
ahead bravely and optimistically, as the
President is obviously doing
The New York speech is in keeping with
those delivered by Mr.. Taft at St Paul
and Cincinnati. and worthy contribu-
ton to present-day discussions. II is
especially reassuring by contrast with the
wild philosophy from other quarters that
has marked our entrance upon a strange
and abnormally mixed political campaign.