Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-09-15
PLAN TO HEAL BREACH.
Taft. IL Is said, VIII Get out Of RoOse-
veIts Way-President Relieves His
Predecessor is After Another Term
Taft Friend of Progr ssives-Patron-
are Restored TO Insurgents.

Predecessor is After Another Term
Taft Friend of Progr ssives-Patron-
age Restored to Insurgents.
Beverly, Sept. 15.-President Will
liam III. Taft has reached the conclu-
sion that Theodore Roosevelt is laying
plans TO be the next president OF the
United States. He has determined
that, so far as the present incumbent OF
the White House is concerned, Roose-
welt will have a clear field. Mr.. Taft
does not want another term.
While the above is not an authorized
statement from President Taft, it comes
from a source close enough to the
president 10 have distinct value. The
attitude of President Taft has been
made apparent during the past few
DAYS by the efforts OF his friends to stir
him to activity against the present
movement Of Roosevelt.
1t can be stated authoritatively that
President Taft will make no public
statement or no offensive move against
Roosevelt and the latter's projects,
no matter what tactics may be adopted
by the latter. 'Dignified silence"
sums UP both the defensive and offensive
measures that will be employed by the
president. He has made this known in
no uncertain terms to those OF his
friends who, during the past few days,
have repeatedly urged him to go after"
his predecessor
1t is pointed out here that practical
~ all OF the reforms for which Roose-
welt shouted through the middle west
have either been undertaken already
bv President Taft or forth part of the
legislative programme on which he is
working for the coming session Of Con-
gress.
A new policy looking to healing Of
the breach between the progressive and
regular branches OF the republican
party was announced at Beverly today
by the making public OF letter au-
thorized by President Taft to promi-
nent Iowa politician. 1t announces
the determination of the executive TO
restore patronage to the insurgent sena-
tors and representatives.
The letter itself is signed by Charles
ID. Norton, secretary to the president,
but has been carefully o. X. ID by the
executive. II announces that the presl-
dent has determined hereafter not to
draw any distinction between the repub-
licanism OF senators and representatives
so long as they subscribe to the plat
form of the party. 1t provides for the
restoration of the share OF the insur-
gents in federal patronage. In brief,
President Taft declares himself friend
Of the progresslves.
Politicians here declare that the new
attitude of the administration is not
adopted as q concession to the insur-
gent sentiment. They say it is re-
cognition OF their republicanism and
an attempt by the president, as titular
leader of the party, to turn progress
sive" activity into channels where the
most good can be accomplished. Here
tofore, friends of the president de-
clared, his Withholding OF patronage
from the insurgents has been con-
strued as indicating his alignment
with the regulars " This, they declare,
has never been true, and it is to be-
lated recognition of the fact that in
certain states the presidents name
has. without his consent, been used
against insurgents that the pronuncia-
mento today is due.
1t was not ah"n"hcel to whom the
communication wa sent, but those
here believe it was to one OF the stand
pat" Iowa congressman.
Senators La Toilette, Bristow and
Cummins were among the most con-
spicious OF these, but there were dozen
or more representatives who at various
times fought in vain for the privilege oil
naming constituents for government.
To those who have viewed the grow
ing breach between the two factions OF
the party, President Taft's letter today
is regarded as a bid for leadership oil
the new progressive Republicanism. .
1t is a plan to reunite the party be
fore the November elections that gives
promise OF a further revolutionary
progress. And to many observers it IL
believed 20 sound the deathknell OF the
stand pat" idea.