The Paducah evening sun., 1910-04-27
A MAN MAY SMILE AND SMILE.

A MAN MAY SMILE AND SMILE.
Elevated to the position of presi-
dency in the fierce light that beats
about a throne" intensified by the
pitiless refiectors OF the press, which,
we must admit, sometimes produce
queer illusory shadows In places
where there Is no form or substance
for suspicion, the human weaknesses
and the personal shortcomings OF
man show up all out of proportion to
his virtues. This is particularly so,
because in the heat of the campaign
preceding his elevation to the posi-
tion the requirements Of the Office
are vividly impressed upon the pub
lie, the president-elect Is magnified
IN the eyes OF his supporters to such
an exaggerated extent that more
thau human performances are ex-
lpected OF him, and anything short OF
perfection in his conduct is disap-
lpointment, a feeling for which his
political enemies are prone to furn-
ish excuse. He has made certain
specific promises upon the hustings,
and set forth specific policies in his
platform. II Immediately upon his
assumption Of authority-presto,-
the promises are not magicaliy full
filed, the policies discovered auto
matically and instantaneously In full
working order, our demi-god has
vanished, our magician has failed.
we see but a man. mayhap a large,
heavy set man, a pleasant man. who
shakes hands with people we dislike.
Having already found that We were
deceived in thinking him more than
human, we begin to suspect that he
somehow has imposed on US The
fact that he smiles and shakes hands
with the people we don't like, Is very
|convincing evidence that he is not
entirely free from guile. II we were
president we wouldn't shake hands
with anybody but Insurgents. and we
would never receive a wealthy man
at the white house without leaving
the telephone receiver down. so that
central" could hear every word we
say.
That Is what is wrong with Presi-
dent Taft. He picked out a lot of
first class lawyers for his cabinet.
Being first class lawyers. they rep
resented big interests In big lawsuits
and received big fees That was an
other suspicious circumstance. Be
ing a lawyer himself, and for years
a federal judge, he knew that the
carelessly drawn federal laws-es-
pecially those relating to corpora
tions. which were drawn by corpora
ton counsel in congress-"usually
didn't hold water" He prepared such
laws as he desired to effectuate his
policies and submitted them to con-
gressional committees Naturally, II
Mr.. Taft wished to secure laws for
the benefit OF private interests, he
would draw them himself and take
all the blame. That would be just
like all the crafty Williams we ever
heard of.
Then he selected Governor Hughes
OF New York, for the supreme bench.
Everybody admits that Hughes is by
character, intellect, temperament and
knowledge particularly we'll fitted for
a place on the supreme bench. that
ne is in hearty sympathy with the
progressive spirit of the age, and
withal a man of sufficient erudition
and strength of character to hold
fast to principle through all storms
OF public passion. Yet. we cannot
avoid the suspicion that II was a
shrewdly designed scheme of Presi-
dent Taft's friends. the race track
gamblers. to get Governor Hughes
out of New York politics.
President Taft has given away
Alaska to the Guggenhelms accord
ing to the uphft magazine editors.
who lately ceased talking about the
increased postage on their heavy ad-
vertising mediums; he has assassin
ated the Roosevelt policies, according
TO the organs OF the syndicates, which
would incite hostility to the corpora.
ton publicity and railroad rate
measures; he is the arch-tariff fieud
according to the Chicago newspapers
under the influence of the big Chica.
go importing houses; he Is too good
tempered. according to the Insurg'
ients, who wish him to head a fac
ton, instead OF his whole party.
But somehow. Bill looks to us like
Ia smiling headland in a storm. 4