Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-05-20
PRESIDENT TAF7"S UNFORTU-
NATE POSITION.

uSdhhB MT. DdDlnger, the secretary
OF the Interior and in dismissng l.. r
CLAWS from the service of the government
The American people have the highest re-
spect for the Office of President. Theil
conception of the Chief Magistrate is that
he is the President of all the people tina,
IN matters affecting the national welfare
his actions are based upon the fundamen-
tai considerations of justice and candor
that he weighs every question judicially
impartially and thoroughly. and that his
conclusions reflect his unbiased convictions.
1t is disappointing to Americans generally
that he has been compelled to defend him
self-to attempt to prove that his action
in the Claws case was in conformity with
the highest standard of Executive dignity
and fairness. The American people do
not like their President to be placed in such
a position, either by his own acts or by the
injudicious advice of his counselors.
II is the opinion of many Of Mr.. Taft's
fellOw-citizens. who have the highest re-
gard for him personally, that he has not
made the best use Of his opportunities as
President in the Ballinger case. Mr.. Bal
lineer was appointed Secretary of the In
terror by President Taft. Charges reflect
ing upon his competency, his loyalty to
the interests Of the Government, his zeal
in behalf of powerful interests who sought
to obtain valuable land grants in Alaska,
were brought to the attention of the Presi-
dent Mr.. Taft seems to have REGARDED
these charges chiefly as an attack upon
his administration, conspiracy to dis
credit him as well as his administration.
But that was not the spirit in which a
Chief Magistrate ought to meet an issue
which involves policy of vital importance
to the people of the United States-the
conservation of the nations natural re-
sources-as well as the efficiency and in
tegrity OF the head of the Interior Depart
ment Loyalty to ones friends is an ad-
mirable trait, but loyalty to the people, de-
votion TO their interests unremittine zeal
in promoting their welfare, is the supreme
duty of the President of the United States,
the paramount obligation of the Chief Mag
istrate 1t is most unfortunate for Presi-
dent Taft that, in his eagerness to "vindi-
cate Mr. Ballinger and to discredit his
opponents, he has placed himself in n
position which the people deplore. If in
reaching his conclusions in respect to Claws
and ordering his dismissal from the Gov
ernment's employment he seemed to be
influenced chiefly by Mr. Ballinger and the
latter's friends, it is not surprising that
lack of firmness and of the judicial quality
has been imputed to him.
On the bench Mr.. Taft seemed to be en-
dOwed with the judicial temperament But
in his action as President in the Ballinger
case the judicial temperament has not
been in evidence. Nor has there been
that firmness that was expected of him
in meeting crisis in which firmness was
essential to the courageous and resolute
discharge of great public duty. In his
statement Mr.. Taft directed Assistant At
torney-General Lawler, after consultation
with him on the CLAWS charges. ito pre-
pare an opinion as If he [Lawlerl were
President This was a delegation of
Presidential powers to subordinate which
has amazed many of Mr.. Tafts fellow
citizens. 1t is interpreted by the people as
an evidence of weakness and indecision.
Mr. Taft at that time was preparing for an
extended trip in the West. in the interest of
his party, to defend the Payne-Aldrich
bill. II would have been better for him
and for the nation if he had abandoned
the trip and devoted his attention exclu-
sively to the CLAWS charges, which raised
an issue of the very highest importance to
the American people.
The people of the United States regret
that Mr.. Taft's championship of Ballinger,
his apparent purpose to accomplish the ex-
oneration of that official, has seemed to
indicate very tender consideration by the
President for the interests with which Mr..
Ballineer has been associated in Western
land transactions. Mr.. Tafts experience
with the influences. which control tariff
legislation for their own advantage ought
TO have been sufficient, 1t would be amaz .
ing If the President were still unable TO
realize that the people demand protection
from the landgrabbers, as well as from the
interests which despoil them through the
tariff. The Republican party is carrying a
tremendous handicap in the Aldrich-P Payne
Tariff act. Is il prepared to add to its
difficulties the responsibility for Ballinger
and the Presidents zeal in "vindicatine
him." Ii is suggested in Washington dis
patches that the revelations in the Balm
ger case. the influences through which he
was exonerated, and the Presidents course
in surrounding himself with the friends OF
Ballinger, will blast the Taft administra.
ton" But the question which most deeply
concerns the people is whether President
Taft is the resolute man they assumed hin
TO be-whether he is able and willing t.
NNNs~sN NS OaAsNa NuHAoudNC tilN
spirit which he displayed on the bench
Mr.. Taft's record in the Ballinger case doe
not. in the general view, inspire confidenc,
that he will rise above his environment
II he does throw off the influences by which
he has been surrounded since he becam,
President, he will put Ballinger out of hi
Cabinet and disassociate himself absolutel
from even the appearance of friendlines
for the interests with which his Secretar,
Of the Interior is identified. Baltic San.
-$O~
Representative Charles Z. Liulefield. O
Maine, Republican, now admits that tn
plank in the last Republican national plat
form regarding injunctions was put Their
TO placate the labor leaders and with n
intention Of its being carried out. He cat
ries his frankness 10 an even greater ex
IRENE and says that the plank is perfect