The Green Forest tribune., 1910-03-11


 approval of everything that MT. Will liam Howard Taft has done since he entered the White House. Then there are the Republicans who are progress sive without being markedly so, who say that MT. Roosevelt will give ex- pressions of approval to some of Mr. Taft's acts and of disapproval to some of his other acts. Then there are the old line Republicans who believe that MT. Roosevelt will hold his peace
 Then come the Democrats. who look at the thing from a political rather than from a personal point of view, and who say that MT. Roosevelt, being a good politician and knowing the value of making the party record appear as good as it can be made. will indorse the Taft administration and will simply bend his own writing energies to aid the energies of the president in getting the party to go ahead faster than it has along the line of progression.
 Hopes of the Democrats.
 The Democrats say, however, that the extreme conservatives in the Re- publican party who have control of the house and senate will refuse to go ahead on the new paths of prog ress any faster than they have been going in the past. and that as re- suit the combined editorial efforts of MT, Roosevelt and the administration efforts of MT. Taft, will avail nothing to get the party to move fast enough to satisfy the people-ergo the next national administration is bound to be Democratic.
 Theodore Roosevelt is recognized as being the man who was practically re- sponsible for making William H. Taft candidate for the nomination for the presidency. It is no secret, and MT. Taft does not deny it himself, that he did not care to enter the campaign for the nomination. His chief ambition was to have a seat on the bench of the supreme court of the United States. If he had not been urged to enter the field as candidate for the presidency he probably would be on the supreme bench today. He yield ed unquestionably to the persuasions of his friend, who then was president and became an active candidate.
 RooseveIt's Probable Action.
 Now, when it is considered that for years Theodore Roosevelt leaned on bis secretary of war, Mir. Taft, as he leaned on no other member of his cabinet, and it is remembered how he constantly alluded to the great work which his war secretary was doing, it can be readily understood why it is that the coloneps friends do not think that he will become hastily an ad- verse critic of the man in whom for so long a time he had placed his con- fidence. It may be that Col. Roose- velt is disappointed because his party already has not carried out every pledge that was made in the national platform. It may possibly be that he is disappointed in President Taft, but even if this is so his friends in Wash ington say he is going to keep his own counsel for long time yet to come.
 investigations Interest.
 The interest in Washington actu- ally seems to be sharper today in the investigations under con gressional supervision which are go- l ing on, than in any legislation which is pending before the lawmakers The Democrats say that the Republi- cans are busy Investigating them selves, but nonpartisan fairness would make it appear that the Democrats are right only in part.
 Here is list of the investigation and inquiries. for inquiry is better word to apply in some cases, which are now under way or in present pros pect:
 Relating to the official conduct of Richard A. Ballinger, secretary of the interior, and Clifford Pinchot, former United States forester.
 As to the cost of living.
 An inquiry into the business meth ods of the various departments of the government with the view of discover ing, if possible, why it costs so much to run the federal machine.
 All inquiry into the monetary sys- tems of other countries preliminary to the introduction of legislation es- tablishing a sound currency system in the United States.
 An investigation with reference to immigration.
 A study of waterways at home and abroad.
 An inquiry to determine whether the maximum rates of the new tariff law shall be applied to any nation.
 Are Somewhat Costly.
 Some of the members of congress have said that the expenses of the several committees and commissions will amount to pretty close to mil lion and a half dollars. A study of the paragraphs setting forth the in vestigations which are being conduct | ed will show that the Democratic statement that the Republicans are Investigating themselves has perhaps bearing in real truth on only the in vestigation into the conduct of Secre~ tary of the Interior Ballinger and former United States Forester Pi1 chot
 Of course congress, which votes the appropriations, is necessarily to be held responsible for the increased ex- penditures which there may be in the departments of the government, be- cause no branch of the service can spend money that congress has not authorized by appropriation. The Re | heinz n