The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-12-08
TAFT AND HIS PROBLEMS.


istration, and while the West, as a
rule, is less favorable than the East
this is what the Denver Republican
says:
president Taft is so quiet and UNI
ostentatious, and he does his work so
easily and simply, that the people
were a long time in finding out what
sort of man he is. But it Is just that
kind of man who in time acquires
a powerful hold upon public senti-
ment. President Taft sounds no trum-
pet before him, he does nothing SEN
sational to attract attention or to make
him seem to be one of the plain peo-
pie. In way he suffered from this
for a while, for some of the people
thought he was doing nothing because
he was making no fuss about it, But
they have found out that he is work
ing all the time, and that he is an eff
ficient guardian Of public interests.
Gradually the people have learned
that all the time he is doing the things
they want him to do and that they
can safely trust him to keep on doing
his duty by them in every particular.
Most of them have already found this
out, and this is one reason why he
stands so high in their respect. A
man of that kind travels long and trav
els far in public estimation and lays
the foundation for a strong popularity
based upon respect for his patriotism
and the elements of true greatness in
his character"
AS an Eastern view the following
from the Boston Courier will be of
interest
with all the virulence of politics
during the late campaign. with Grim
nations and recriminations, and the
Impeachment of motives and actions
we note with pleasure that there has
beer very little bitterness and orifi'
cism against the President. The
strongest partisan papers and speak
ers have very properly refrained
from that abuse and denunciation
which is often visited upon the head
of the President in the heated dis
cussion of national policies. Some
have even given expression to quite
complimentary Acknowledgements of
his fairness and patriotic impulses, OF
his great ability and honesty of pur-
pose to do what he regarded as right.
The popular verdict, whatever it may
be on State issues and on the election
OF members of. Congress, has not les
sened the confidence and esteem Of the
people towards him as the Chief Mag
istrate of the Nation. All the bitter
assaults upon the Republican party
and it's prominent leaders have re-
spected him as the head of the party.
Public sentiment has endorsed the
man regardless of the Office. 1t has
recognized the fact that he was wiser
than his party. He has been more in
gistent than the majority of the rep
resentatives IF the party that the
! narty pledges at the time of his cleo
ton should he carried out He has
seen that action on individual sched-
ules through the information obtain
ed by non-partisan commission, was
the most systematic way of revising
the tariff and correcting alleged ine-
qualities without waiting for a whole
sale oneration to that effect with its
swapping of fayors for one interest
against those of another. With all
the lessons af the late election, the
! country feels that. despite partisan
differences, its destinies are safe in
his hands.
"When we remember the ridicule
and contempt and denunciation heap
q unon Hayes and Cleveland and
Harrison, and in old days, as history
tells us, unon Washington and his
successors. honest. great and patriot
is as they We're. we feel a sense of
relief and qualification that the peo-
nile so respect the man and the high
office as to accord to the President
good faith and high patriotism"
The task that devolves uDon Presi-
dent Taft at the opening Of Congress
is a difficult one. With a party di-
vided and defeated at the last election
he will attempt to unite the Repub-
lican factions in the hope that victory
again may be won two years hence.
While the President is not bril-
liant and dashing leader, in no way
spectacular or sensational, his pro-
gram of economy and efficiency II
the administration of affairs is likely
to be not only a good policy but goot
politics. His method of tariff revis
ion is altogether the most practica
| of anything yet suggested. The char
acter of his appointments is high ant
his honesty is not doubted.
If the Republican party is to vii
| victory in 1912 it seems altogethe
probable that it must be under tn
| leadership of President Taft TIL
| Democratic success of the fall cleo
lions ought tc be a warning to In
surgents and Standpatters that Their
must be a getting together and mu
tual concessions or Democrat
President will be chosen. 1t is salt
that Senator Cummins, Of Iowa, am
: Senator LaFollette, of Wisconsin, cher
/ ish Presidential ambitions. LaFol
! lette is impossible. He is a radica
Of the radicals and really much NOR
of Democrat than Republican. Hi
ideas are very similar to those hell
\ by w. j. Bryan.
The country at the present tim
| needs not 50 much agitation as per
iod of recuperation and stability. Thu
President is very much in earnest ii
his purpose that the corporations shall
obey the law, but he has the happ,
faculty of doing this without creating
general disturbance.
The more the country knows OF. Taft
the better it likes him.
by the narrow margin of 36 in o