The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-01-11
The AggresslYeness of Taft.

The temperament Of the man in the
White House invariably serves very
largely TO emphasize or subdue his imme-
date suggestions and shape popular sur
face Impressions concerning the same.
Mr.. Roosevelt's was a slashing. dashing
style. and what he said usually ratified
the rafterS," whether he actually intended
it to or not Il IS not probable that he
made use of those famous expressions.
malefactor Of great wealth" and 'unde-
sirable citizens" with the deliberate pur-
pose Of having them become for months
part and parcel of our everyday talk.
But after Mr. Roosevelt had been saying
things for a little while in the White
House. we seem, somehow, 10 have
dropped into tho habit OF accepting his
every utterance as couched in vehemence
and calculated TO shock somebody's
nerves.
An exactly contrary state of things has
come 10 pass IN Mr.. Tafrs case. His is
naturally the judicial tone-the even. con-
sidered. dispassionate method. He does
not shoot. and jump hurdles. and hunt
bears. and glare. He affects the soft
pedal. perhaps. Hence, we are coming 70
accept his Official utterances as interest
ing but not instantly exciting; probably
sound, but not furious or at once strenu-
ously compelling.
In concluding his last message to Con-
gress. Mr.. Taft made use OF these words:
THE Attorney General. al ny suggestion. has
drafted Federal incorporation bill embodyins the
views have attempted TO set forth, and it will be
al the disposition Of the appropriate committees
Of Congress"
If that has moved any Watchful citizen
to vociferous complaint or anxious view
ing with alarm. We have failed to note It.
Neither have We seen any hats thrown
into the air nor heard long and loud
shouts from the grand stand because Of
it. But whyc Is it not a plain Presi-
dental attempt to butt in on the legis-
lative functions of Congress? Is II not
unmindful Of the constitutional lines SO
sharply drawn between the executive and
the Iawmaking departments? With all
his inclination to call a spade spade. it is
doubtful whether even Mr.. Roosevelt ever
was quite 50 frank about this matter as
Mr. Taft is. The President not only has
recommended" certain things TO Con-
gress. hut the Attorney General, at my
suggestion" actually is getting them into
bin which Congress is-inferentiaIIy. at
least-eXpected TO pass. Is not that sufi-
GENTLY R0oseveltisn 10 meet the demands
Of the most exactng? We should say so.
anyWay-and yet. mayhap, it had entirely
escaped your notice,
Then. again. the President in this same
message denies that it is possible to dis
criminate in legislation between good
trusts and bad trusts. Good trusts. pre-
sumably, need no regulating; but mas
much as the President proposes the reg
ulation Of trusts. there must be no trusts.
logically, but bad trusts. Is not such a
sinister suggestion likely TO upset things
generally and play the Old Nick all
around? If Mr.. Roosevelt had said IT. he
would promptly have been denounced as
a 'demagogue" on the one hand and a
patriot unafraid on the other
After all, the grip Of steel in the velvet
glove loses nothing Of its real effective
ness merely because OF the glove being
there. 1t is the grip that really counts.
It merely happens that the presence of
the glove sometimes causes US unreason-
ably to doubt the existence of the grip.