The San Francisco call., 1910-05-15

Editor Call-As a republican will you
permit me to enter a protest against
your editorial comments on the atti-
tude of administration toward the tariff
bill, and when 1 say your attitude I in
clude the stand taken by the Chicago
Tribune, the Philadelphia North Ameri-
can and other dailies that seem to have
acted hastily.
1t seems to me that Mr.. Taft's course
so far has been strangely misunder-
stood in many particulars. The admin
istration preceding his, and in which
he played most important part. was
remarkable for its popularity, for it's
activities as well as for its hostiIities.
1t was an administration that breathed
life under the dead ribs of a nations
moral sense. 1t was an administra-
ton that awakened the public con-
science and stripped away from capital
ism its cloak of hypocrisy, and held up
for criticism all of its greedy lawless-
ness. 1t was an administration that
threatened and scolded and gravely ad-
monished all to obey the laws or to face
the punishment that should go hand in
hand with disobedience.
That administration quarreled with
congress, rebuked it time and again
and spared nothing in characterizing
its members who fell under the ban of
its disapproval. But, and this is sig
nificant that administration great as
it was, glorious as it will shine in his
tory, achieved little in the way of legis-
lation. The great and boundlessly good
work of awakening the public con-
science was complete when Mr.. Roose-
welt laid down the burdens of his Of
flee. His task was ended for the time
being. And he so stated to friends who
urged him for third term. Reason
ing men must reason. What was the
clear course open to his successor? To
extend the quarrel? To continue the
attacks and 50 postpone indefinitely any
settlement of the issues?
Mr.. Roosevelt understood Mr.. Taft,
and understood, too. that while their
objective point was the same, their
methods were different. Mr. Taft's mis-
sion was of more somber nature, of
sterner character. 1t was the duty of
the incoming administration and was
its part in the broad scheme of things
to carry to legislative fruition the
hopes of the people. 1t was its mission
to set upon the law books of the coun-
try the statutes that would make of
these hopes living force. 1t was it's
duty, through legislation, to carry out
the pledges of the party platform as an
nounced in the party conventions and
approved by the people OF the nation
The instruments in Taft's hands
for the carrying out of these heavy
obligations were the instruments fur
nished by the people themselves. He
had in himself no power to legislate
The power of initiative was his; but
after >he had spoken he was as help
less as babe to enact into laws the
measures he had recommended To
congress alone could he look for sup
port; to the controlling element in
congress alone he must look for the
ultimate passage of tariff bill,
postal savings bank bill, an injunction
bill, or measures regulating trusts Te
quarrel with the working majority of
congress would have been to break
the only tool in his hands and it mi ght
have written the doom of every public
hope; and he~was justified, though per-
haps deceived, in believing the people
would understand him.
His administration has been one of
personal self-sacrifice in the cause of
the people. Though he saw the bat
teries of his own ranks turned upon
him he did not finch; though subject
ed to the hasty and unkind1y criticisms
of his own friends he did not waver:
though strongly urged toward a course
that would have resulted in a theat-