The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-16
RECOGNITION OF STEWARDSHIP.

One thing at least Of value has grown out of
the Nationwide 'Insurgent' movement: the of
fee holder who never explains, the public man
who holds himself above popular responsibility,
has become obsolete. A new spirit of steward
ship--or rather of recognition of stewardship
to the public has been born out Of the realization
that The public will demand explanation and will
enforce an accounting. Only few years ago
silence the hall mark of capital, secretiveness
the Distinguishing mark Of politics. Now,
there is no captain of finance SO high that he
does not become garrulous at the breath of public
criticism, there is no politician so far up in the
clouds of statecraft that he does not give ear to
the popular will and make report to the popular
wish for statement. independence in the
people has brought home to those in authority the
dependence of power
Conspicuous example of this new thought is
President Tafts surrender in tho matter of
recognition of 1nsurgent Senators and Repre-
sentatives Mr.. Taft has seen light. 1t has
been brought home to him that the day has
passed when the Executive could hope to depend
On patronage as the basis of political power. The
insurgents who were read ont of the party are to
be made welcome. 1t is conceded at the White
House that they may represent their constituents
regardless of whether the sentiment they repre-
sent finds favor in the Presidents Office Mr..
Taft has bowed to the popular will. Late as it
is-too late, apparently, in his case-the sur
render will set good lesson for the future.
Even more conspicuous than Mr.. Taft is the
astounding fact that Roosevelt should explain.
Speaking in New York, he comes to the defense
of his "New Nationalism'' 1t matters not in
the least that the defense is qualified reteration
of the thing itself. The important thing is that
even Caesar should hear the voice of the peoples
criticism 1t is immaterial that the ex-President
should even in his explanation Enthusiastically
attack his critics as dishonest persons. 1t is sig
niticant that he should find it necessary, even in
the midst of an apparent wave of personal popu-
arity, to defend himself. Making for an even
stronger olgarchy of power than any this country
has ever known, the "New Nationalisn" car
ried its real hurt in the danger that the man
who fathered it could make it good. When the
man himself realizes that he can exercise power
only by means of satisfying the people as to his
use of it, the fangs of the evil are largely de-
nuded of their poison.
Mr.. Aldrich discovered after years of silence
that he must make defense Before him, Mr..
Hartman. wisest of all railroad kings, gasped
the new idea OF responsibility. Even IlerponI
Morgan the gruff now and again deigns to admit a
public interest in the control of the public in
terests, and John D. Rockefeller babbles like
senility in attempted justification. 1t is bad
time for any leader to be "haughty'. Even in
Virginia, the ''boss" is quick to catch the di-
rection of the hunt. All this is called ''insur
gency''. 1t means, not insurgency but indie
pendence. 1t means simply that the people who
lease their power coming to examine into the
manner of its use.