The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-28
TAFT AND CONGRESS.

among the erStWhile supporters OF
President Taft, who are now his Sc
verest critics, there does not appear
to be the slightest disposition to give
him anything like a square deal. This
gentry is now endeavoring to point
out his inadequacy as a chief execu-
tive because there is considerable de-
lay in congress in shaping up the
measures covering the important leg
islation on a variety of topics, in
Guiding the Roosevelt policies which
Mr.. Taft desires enacted into law,
and which comprise the Legislative
programs that the congressional lead
ers are willing to take action on. 1t
is pointed out that first one form is
decided upon for a certain measure
to take. Then another one is sug
gested. This is followed by further
suggestions and so on. with Mr.. Taft
agreeing first to one and then to an
other. This is construed in the anti
Taft quarters as showing that PreSi-
dent Taft hasn't much of a mind of
his own, that he is devoid of back
bone and that the eventual legislation
he will get from congress will not
amount to much. All kinds of ridicu1e
is heaped on this, the Taft method"
of doing business. Tt is labelled as in
efficient and everything of that sort.
A ringing utterance" or two is what
these crictics would like to have Mr..
Taft send to congress to make it get
busy.
That method of doing business with
congress was tried for seven years by
Mr.. Taft's distinguished predecessor.
Ringing utterance"" after ringing ut
terance' was hurled at congress from
the presidential chair. And what
was accomplished by them? The
members of both branches of con-
gress sat in their seats with bored ex-
pressions on their faces while scold-
ings were being read to them. Then
they proceeded to go about their
business and paid no more attention
to the ringing utterances" than if
they had been fly bites. The bills
which were most earnestly advocat-
ed during the seven years of presiden-
tial strenuosity fell by the wayside.
These bills were prepared by the adj
visers of the then president and con-
gress was told that they must pass
them as they stood without the cross
ing of a t or the dotting of an i, and
congress failed to pass any of the i'm
portant ones. Congress would not be
buIlied. Nor should it be.
Some people seem to have the idea
that the chief function of congress is
to sit around and do whatever the
president of the country bids. 1t was
MT created for any such purpose. Be
cause of his veto power, the wishes of
the president have to be reckoned
with in all legislation but that does
not give the president the right to
absolutely dictate legislation. And
legislation as a matter of fact is
matter of compromise in all legisla-
tive bodies and schemes of govern
ment as they exist in the United
States. It should strike most people
that the Taft method" of yielding a
point here and there and gaining an
other one in some other place which
will make certain the enactment of
legislation of some sort along desir-
able lines, is far preferable to such a
dictatoarial attitute on the part of a
president that congress will pay no
attention at all to his wishes, even if
the people who chose the congress are
in sympathy with them.