Daily Arizona silver belt., 1910-02-25
h The Halls of Congress
Special Washington Correspondence
BY TAV.


 I have spent two days in the Congressional library reading editorials in republican news papers of the middle, western, southwestern and mountain states on the reasons of the wide spread dissatisfaction with the Taft admins tratiOn.
 An unusually large number of editorials have been printed on the subject within the last two weeks as result of the announcement of the straw ballot taken among 3,037 republican ed tors, of which number 1,944 dsapproved of Taft as president.
 "Why is Taft unpopular among the editors of his own political faith?" This was the question to which I sought reply in the editorial col umns of more than one-hundred republican newspapers.
 In the first hour of investigation found that the majority of the editors condemn Mir. Taft mainly because of the company he keeps. They resent his policy of close cooperation with such men as Aldrich, Cannon, Hale and Dalzel They feel, furthermore, that insult is added to injury when the president while listening attentively to the advice of the re-actionaries, nsolently re- fuses to consider the suggestions of such repub- licans as LaFollette, Clapp, Cummins, Deliver and Bristow And then the insult assumes the proportions of an outrage in the estimation of anti-Taft republicans, when the president goes so far as to charge from the public platform that the progressives and insurgents are not re- publicans, and therefore ought not to receive either patronage or confidence from the party leaders.
 The editors take the position that the pro gressives and insurgents represent the senti- ment of the republicans of the lake, prairie, mountain, Pacific and southwestern states. They reason, therefore, that when the president re- fuses to hear the advice of these statesmen, the sections which they represent are practically and in reality deprived of representation.
 The attitude of the average republican ed itor who disapproves of Mr. Taft's administra- tion, toward the president personally is inter- esting and instructive. There is practically no bitterness toward the president himself The question of his integrity or intent it may be said, is not raised. The whole burden of the expression is disappointment. The editors ap- pear to realize that Mr.. Taft is permitting oth- CTS to guide him. In his messages they see the handiwork of Aldrich; in his public speeches they understand he is endorsing legislation con- ceived by the Aldrches and the Cannons.
 The anti-Taft republican editors see no req son to hope that Mr. Taft will give up his pres ent associations. They have already grown weary hoping. They have come to believe that he is so hopelessly entangled that, strive as he may, he cannot eXtrcate himself The die was cast when Mr. Taft selected his cabinet
 Let us survey, briefly, the group of men who are now guiding the president The lineup would indicate that Mr. Taft selected the mem bers of his official family according to their re- spective relationships to the star campaign fund contributors. Whether this was the test or not, no one can deny that each of the really big interests has representative Eat court" Here is vest-pocket index which it might be well to