Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-09-01
THE PRESIDENT REVIEWS HIS
CONTRACT,
(From the New YORK. AmericanD

(from the New YORK. American.)
In impressive contrast to the wild.
whirling words from Cheyenne and else
where. the real leader of militant repub-
licanism publishes this morning the au-
thentic manifesto of the congressional
campaign.
MIR. Tafts letter Is as exact and re-
strained the drawings and specifica-
tons Of a campaign.
His tone has the accent OF business
The President reviews the designs and
detailed drawings of the contract made
with the people in 19OS-and reports prog
reSs.
The seriousness with which he takes
the platform pledges of his party and his
personal promises on the stump amounts
to a kind OF genius-a new kind in Ameri-
can politics.
There seems to be hardly any precedent
for 1t in the list of governors and great
officials. and Mr.. Taft deserves. II not let
tiers patent for the invention, at least
some kind of decoration of sober politi-
cal knighthood.
AS TO the tariff. If it was not all that it
should have been. who shall deny that he
did his honest best?
Passing down the long roll of his &C.
complished facts-a roll of honor that
puts his predecessor to shame-he enum-
crates the articles of a faith that has
been sealed by works.
The brilliance OF this recital shines by
| an inner light and needs no gloss Of
rhetoric.
In fine, he has his tariff board with
which to make scientific tariff pos
SIl .t,,l
mum" plan he has made favorable tariff
| treaties with all foreign nations. The
| corporation tax has opened the books OF
corporate ccnCealnent. And a deficit of
IS millions has been turned into IA surplus,
nearly half as great
| he has got his epoch-making commerce
court, his new rules on the railroad c!assi-
| fcntion and rating OF commodities new
| power In the commission to initiate rates
and to suspend the rate proposals of the
| railroads until the commission has pass
| Cd Judgment on their justice.
| He points to his hard won postal banks
to his accomplished naval program and to
| the new bureau of mines.
For the protection of workingmen there
liz legislation on railroad safety appliances
and employers liability. besides the insti-
tuition of commission on progressive
laws for compensation In industrial ac-
cidents.
Under the head of conservation there Is
| the sweeping land withdrawal act. tho
provision for demonstrating the surface
of mineral lands while reserving the pub
lie right TO the coal measures, the bond
issue to hasten irrigation projects. and
the appropria ton for new surveys.
Statehood has been given to two Ter
ritorios after generation Of shameless
delay and broken promises.
a law has been passed compelling the
publication Of Congressional campaign
accounts.
General appropriations have been re-
duced b. 70 millions through rigorous
pairing down OF administrative expenses.
and money has been set aside to conduct
an expert investigation into all possible
means of making further reductions.
AS for the future, Judge by the past. A
revived merchant marine, national
bureau of health, regulation OF railroad
stock Issues. and SO on-are we to be-
lcve the President when he says that
such things shall come TO pass?
There are, to be sure. things that ought
to come to pass that the President has
not named
But would It help In getting them that
the nation should withhold its support
from the most steadfast and responsible
man that has recently been seen In a
high place?