The Paducah evening sun., 1910-03-19
TAFT ON THE OHIO RIVER.

ures and policies, which are most
pleasing to the ears OF those who
hear them. They talk about the no
bility of labor to laboring men: they
talk about confidence and stability TO
capitalists; they talk about high
tariff in New England, and free trade
in the south. They would consider IL
labsurd to talk otherwise, and We
have become used to their philosophy.
Perhaps, that is why We sometimes
wonder at President Taft's ways.
Even during his campaign for presi-
dent, he evinced an inclination, not
so much to court the favor of par
ticular groups of suffragists, but to
convince them that a stand, already
taken by him on a given question,
was right. In his speech Thursday to
the Chicago newspaper club he said
the people are fair. when they know
the facts. When Gompers attacked
him during the campaign on his labor
decisions as federal judge and his
platform declaration, concerning the
injunction, he appeared before AN au-
ldience OF union men in two or three
Icitles, explained his decisions and
took issue with Gompers on the in
Junction question. He convinced
them, and they supported him. When
he wished to defend the Payne tariff
law, he didn't go to New England:
lhe went to Wisconsin and Minnesota,
where congressman and senators be
llong to the insurgent wing OF the Re
publican party. which Is demanding
: another immediate revision. When
: he desired to announce his determi-
] nation to regulate railroads and re-
e strain monopolies, he didn't go 10
I Kansas or Nebraska, or Oklahoma,
where trust Dustin is more popular
: even than broncho Dustin; but he
went to New York city, and told II tc
a the heads of the trusts and the rail.
!, lroad magnates. In Kansas and Ne
: braska he told the people that the,
should not be unfair IN their antago
nism to capital. He cannot overcome
his judicial habit of waiting until he
2 hears the last word from both sides
. before making up his mind, and oi
! requiring the ultimate measure ol
!. Justice from the one side and equita
BILE acceptance of the judgment OF
the other.
Mr.. Roosevelt possesses a sense o1
the dramatic fitness of things. which
seems entirely lacking in President
} Taft. II Mr.. Roosevelt. for instance
had intended expressing himself In
, favor OF the Ohio river and in dis.
, lparagement of the Chicago to New
Orleans ship canal. we would have
been justified in expecting him to
come down to some Ohio river port
TO say 1t. Not 30, Mr.. Taft. He went
to Chicago to relieve himself OF that
opinion. There day before yesterday
in the presence OF Governor Deneen,
who Is an ardent worker for the deep
waterway, he gave expression to these
words:
whenever an enterprise has been
examined by experts, whenever its
cost has been reported, and when
ever it is made to appear by those
who know that there is every proba-
biity that the effect OF that improve
ment will l-assist In respect TO railroad
rates and will furnish transportation
sufficient to justify the investment,
am In favor OF making the invest
ment and making II at once. Now. II
Is unfortunate for me, trying to act
as Judge in this country and i'm
partially, that the only enterprise that
really meets those requirements Is
the Ohio river. / believe that the
Missouri river from Kansas City TO
st. Louis. and the Mississippi river
from st. Paul to st. Louis, and the
Mississippi river from st. Louis 20
Cairo, are all capable OF being put in
that condition and answering those
requirements, and as they are am
, In favor of appropriating for them.
} Now, as to your fourteen foot water
! way from Chicago to the gulf, / am
I waiting TO be convinced. There Is in
/ the present bill a provision by which
! the matter again is 20 be submitted
D to engineers. / hope can select i'm
: partial ones and the whole subject
e can be reconsidered, and then, II the
I report is favorable, / am sure that
: congress will act upon It,"