Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-12-17
TAFT HAS PLAYED
GOOD POLITICS
FOR ONCE
President as 1912 Candidate
and His Legislative Program
Catch Factions Coming and
Going,
Morning Journal Bureau,
6f3 Munsey Building.
WASHINGTON, d, c., Dec. IA.

EVERY mtuShIt, move anu lolNS
considered or proposed during the
short session Of congress this winter
will be construed by public men, cold
" and cynically, with reference 10 its
relation 10 the presidential campaign
of 1872. From the honr when Presi-
dent Taft's message was laid before
congress. the political Vapors have
/ been prectpitating. Already several
significant things are apparent.
The regular republicans are for
Presidents Taft denomination in 1912,
but they are against his present leg
~islatiye program.
The insnraent republicans are
against President Taft's denomination
in 1912, bat they are for his legisla-
tive program. And there you are. The
insurgents, or progressives. or what
ever you choose TO can them. have
been put into n hole by the prcsi-
dent. He has no approved anything
like all Of their legislative program,
but he has taken enough of it TO Keep
congress busy saving wood I'll win
Ter. He Will have the progressives
fighting for TAFT measures" despite
that they don't want Taft, and don't
want to strengthen him with the coun-
try or the party.
MI iiiAl tflt iAiA nlttiSilitS Will Nv
crysta lized into law. That Ia not the
intention of the regulars, who Will
still hold control throughout this ses-
sion. Neither is IL the purpose or the
democrats, who VIII get q firm hold
on the house just when the failing
power Of republican regularity Losses
Its grip IN both houses. The stand
patters are going to hold the broech
tin March 4. and after TINT partisan
IA ,at.k,., =. I.f.tra,,s ~ 49, - IN. 80.
and a republican senate will be played
on to prevent accomplishment.
There Is no longer doubt about il.
President TAFT has played mighty good
politics. for once. There are people
who don't think he ever played good
politics IN his life, and he certainly
has played m mans full share Of
very bad politics. But he didn't do Il
when he wrote that message to con-
sress.
In case Of doubt. get an average in
surgent member of the house to tell
you his honest opinion OF the situa-
ton. one OF thcm said today. If
Cummins and Borah and these other
fellows keep on tramping up to confer
with the president. the country viii
think hos taken us all into camp.
Some people will think he has got pro-
grcssiVe; Others win think we have
SUI i't' ~ tttt III - fAFHAN -Ait q 1iiA 4
don't like it. either way
Ana this is from another insurgent.
THE president, of course, isn't any
more u progressive than he ever was:
but he has put Just enough progress
sivism into his message to make the
progressiVes seem to be supporting
him: and then he has induced the pro-
gressivc senators to confer with him
about appointments, and altogether
fhfnpu nasA ppftfnn m tphfN miya1 mt
Before election TO he an insurgent
meant to be against Tart. Maybe you
say 1t, but you We're. Now, to
be an insurgent Is TO- be for a good
share of Tafts program. Last two
sessions, the president was hand-in-
glove with the standpatters. Now he
has executed another Of those COM
fiops. Do YOU recollect how
after he was elected, in the closing |
Of 1908, he started to fight
Cannon? And now he lined up all
insurgency he could find. against
speaker And how then, when a
of people had committed them
to insurgency on that PROPOSE
tion. he Topped completely and be-
the foremost supporter Of Can
non2
Wei, he has done another somer-
sault just as effective, but much more |
lrtful, this time. He is progressive
enough to compel the progressives to
ieem TO support him. and yet he is so
mild and innocent about il that no
is worried; nobody seriously |
suspects that he is going to get his
program through. 1t takes fighting I
do that, and he win not make the
If names could be used, of men who
ak in such terms ana tones as these.
here would be plenty Of sensation In
he political gossip. Men don't say
iuch things for publication, of course.
But everybody is talking of these
asd regulars. insurgents and
democrats all discuss. from their vari-
rus points of view. the political effects /,
# the strange reshaping OF lines which
lRs taken place since the opening Of
he session.
Democrats calculate that If Mr.
SryPn doesn't interfere they viii
nominate Harmon or Wilson for pres
Regular republicans calculate
hat if Mr.. Roosevelt doesn't get into
he fight in some new way, they viii
lominnte Tart. Insurgents admit that
politics of the situation is now
adorable 40 Taft. but they hope that
n another year the administrations
weakness win have been still further
.c~ccutuated, to such extent that il may
ie possible TO break tho south and
England, and perhaps take New
ork away from the president, and
dominate a progressive.
II that contingency develops. then.
present indications. there viii be
~prosrcssives In the field. They
lready are frankly recognized As
residential candidates. and they seem
IkclS To have nearly equal strength.
hey are senator CummiRs of Iowa
Ha senator L. Toilette OF Wiscon-
In. Between these and other pos
shlc aspirants. RoossVelt'e noneina-
In a convention that had a de-
majority of anti-Taft dele
ates. is looked upon as no impossi-
iiiiy. Some of the progressives In
10Th house prefer Roosevelt 20 any
ther man. A year ago most Of them
would have said Roosevelt was the
MY "a Today "a poll cf actual
Replying, personal and political :
hoiceS would probably show that
roosevelt, Ia Toilette and Cummins
about equal strength among the
progressive leadership OF the repu5- 4
party. III
The question is. how does the mat II
er stand with the country That T. III
IA q ell the politicians want t. know. 4.
under the surface of thiuQ~ i'm /
Nashington, ca vast amount tf effort III
s being given TO finding out What al /,
iauces. forces and Influences viii be Il
sorking in Vurious directions and for
arltlS purposes. III
one OF the commoncst observations III