The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1910-04-01

with its thinking to be prepared To OF
fer definite solutions OF these problems.
For instance, there is no formula
which u majority of congress- seems
likely to accept providing for further
regulation of the trust SO called; every.
body favOrs conservation and yet CON
grcss Is not agreeing as to the Ian
guage Of conservation legislation.
The work of agitation in other
words, is still going on, just as II went
on under Roosevelt the people de-
handing something, but they don't
know precisely what, and congress ia
marking time, hoping that the situa-
ton will clear up so II can know what
to do.
In the midst of this confusion stands
President Taft, with the Chicago plat
form in mind, demanding that cou-
gress shall carry out the promises
therein made. And congress comes
back mt him, saying 1t cannot act in
diligently until public sentiment has
further crystallized
In New England and the east, there
is absolute Indifference as to conscr-
walton matters. In certain parts or
the west conservation is the one great
issue of the day. In the east there iS
much interest in the pending railroad
legislation. but It is largely an inter
est that doesn't want anything drastic
done.
In the central west the railroad is
sue looms large. Statehood for Ari-
iona and New Mexico is promised ih
the platform, and yet the practical
men in the republican party are hest
tatng about admitting two new states,
and thus giving the democrats four
new members of the senate. The
president tells these men that they
should have thought about this while
the Chicago convention was in ses-
sion.
The reply is that the statehood
pledge was inserted at Chicago for the
sole purpose of plaCatlng certain sec
tions of the country, and should not
now be taken too seriously. The pres
| ident says he knows nothing about
this placating business he finds state
hood in the PLATFORM, and believes that
as party leader he should urge the
| legislation.
| And so the matter goes on. The
people are FESTIVE, and political ties
are more loose than for more than
a generation. One section OF the
country is demanding one thing in
the way of legislation, another section
is demanding something else and OPP
posing the demands of other sections.
All sections look to the president as
their especial champion, and threaten
to bolt the republican ticket If he fails
to do what they think should be done.
Was there ever such a situation dur
ing the time of any man now alive
The president continues to smile,
and to be goodnatuied with all who
meet him. He understands the condi-
ton of unrest in the republican party
and wishes things We're otherwise.
But because they are not otherwise,
he does not purpose losing any sleep,
or adding any lines to his face. He
simply wants to do the very best
he can with very unusual and very
difficult problem. If he can solve r.,
well and good; if he cannot, he will
have the consolation of having done
his very best. And that is about all
there is to it, from his point of view.
There are many persons who are
saying that Roosevelt's proyerbiat
luck didn't desert him when he de-
clined to stand for Second elective
term" Were he president instead
of Taft, these people say he would
be having just as much trouble as
Taft is having which being the case,
he got out just in time. The my
policies" which he left over for Taft
have proved to be a very troublesome
legacy.