The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-01-25
fulfill PLEDGES,
ORDER FROM TAI 7
PRESIDENT SAYS PARTY MUST
MAKE GOOD ON PROMISES
TO COUNTRY WILL
DRIVE CONGRESS.

Washington, Jan. 25.-President Taft
has stopped pinching himself to find
out If he is really president, or if it is
only dream, and has now awakened
to full realization of the fact that he
is the head of the nation and clothed
with tremendous power for good or
evil.
Perhaps some of his old fashioned
notions about the relations that should
be observed between the executive and
the congress have been knocked out
within the last few months. At any
rate, he has declared that, in addition
to being president of the United States,
he is the titular head of the republican
party, and as such intends to use in a
legitimate way all the power and force
at his command in order to bring aboul
the fulfillment of republican party
pledges.
A good many of Mr. Taft's we'll
meaning friends have been obsessed
with the idea that ne should trim his
sails with the single purpose of bring
ing him into the port second term
If Mr.. Taft was impressed with the
solicitude of these well-wishers in this
regard he will now have none of it. Il
is evident from what he is saying to
visitors in whom ne has confidence that
he is going ahead to carry QUE the pro-
gramme laid down. in the national re-
publican platform of 1908. and that he
intends, to see that party pledges are
redeemed without regard to personal
or political consequences to himself.
prasident is Arn,.sad
There is no doubt that the, president
is aroused. Those who came to know
him prior to his election to the presi-
dency found out that, although Mr.. Taft
was of genial temperament, and did
not walk around with chip on his
shoulder, he had the faculty of becom-
ing indignant through and through
when he believed that he was confront
ed with situation that required dras-
tic action and in such cases the gem
iality. gave way to fixed determination
a bulldog tenacity to clear obstacles
out of his path without regard to
whose feelings were hurt.
In some way the country has OBJ
tanned the impression that Mr.. Taft
was of consistently mild disposition:
that he laughed during most of his
waking hours; that he would walk a
couple of blocks out of the way to
avoid meeting trouble and that he was
satisfied to let things run along if they
did not disturb his mental equilibrium.
Those old friends of his who knew diff
ferently have been waiting to see the
other side of the man develop. 1t has
developed now and the political wealth
er signal, Look out for squalls before
long is being displayed from the white
house.
The president has made it clear that
he does not intend to interfere with the
internal works of the senate and the
house OF representatives, except In
cases where the republicans i'm either
house adopt an attitude which he re-
CARDS as consistent with the pledges
given in the Chicago platform. He has
laid down the principle that the in
surgents in the house may insurge as
much as they please against Speaker
Cannon, the house rules and other
things that affect the local adminisrra-
ton OF that body, but that where their
insurgency Is applied to resist or over
turn the pledges to which the republic
can party as a whole is committed he
will not recognize them as entitled to
the favorss which the president has the
ability to confer on party supporters.
May Read Some Out Of Party.
1t is an open secret in washington
that the president is out of patience
with senator's like La Toilette of wis
consin and Bristow of Kansas. who. al
though elected as republicans. are de-
voting their energies in periodical pub
locations and lectures on the Chautau-
qua platform to giving black eye to
the Taft administration and the policies
which 1T advocates. The time Is dang
erously near at hand when their presi-
dent may feel compelled to apply spe-
ciacally TO such alleged republicans his
rule that man who fights the prin-
ciples of the republican party laid down
in the national platform is not re-
publican. He realizes that to read such
men out of the party would greatly
hamper his chances of obtaining the
republican nomination in 1912. But the
whole disposition of the president ia
that. his personal fortunes are not az
consequence alongside the liquidation
of party obligations. and If his present
mood continues there will be no let IN
In his insistence that the legislation
which he has recommended in accord
ance with the dictates of the Chicapo
platform shall be put through congress
without regard to the alienation ar
prominent republican insurgents whose
friendship would be desirable In an ef-
fort FL obtain q sonop5 49,. .