New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-05
THE DAyTNWASHINGTON

marty stands pledged and a measure
remedving the only defect in the granting
of iniunctions and the one which has been
extensively utilized by labor leaders in their
agitation for more radical legislation. he
has submitted to and urged on Congress
the first adequate conservation measures
ever proposed, and has received assur-
ances that one. at least, and this the all
embracing one, will be enacted. And, fnai-
~. Mr.. Taft has sent to Congress meas
ure providing for federal charters LOT
corporations a measure of such vast I'M
portance that It is not likely to be imme-
diatey enacted. but which VIII form the
basis for discussion of this all important
problem.
EXECUTIVE DISCIPLINE.-One Of dhe
most important, if least spectacular,
achievements of the Taft administration
has been the establishment of discipline
in the executive departments, the curb1ng
of those whose enthusiasm outran law and
discretion. the restoration of the proper
relations between department heads and
their subordinates and the elimination of
those who in their zeal refused to be re-
strained by the necessities of proper dis
cipIne Where the discerning judicial eye
of the President has detected lack OF
constitutional or statutory authority for
the promotion Of the policies of the party,
Mr. Taft has appealed to Congress to
square the law with the policies, that no
step in the progress of the party may be
lost. Those whose vanity has been
bumped have uttered wild cries of pro-
fest and the performance of this i'm
portant but disagreeahie duty has fur
nished Il plethora of material for the
''muckrakers,' who have shouted ''reac-
tionary" from the housetops. But grad
ually the purpose of the President is COM
ing to be understood, as the baselessness
of the reactionary charges is being dis
closed. Ultimately. the loyal disciples of
the Roosevelt policies will come to realize
that President Taft is as much their up
holder and as determinedly their promoter
as President Roosevelt himself realized
when he urged the nomination of his sue
Cessor.
ROOSEvELTs VIEW-"The people of
the United States do not want me for
their next President" Mr.. Roosevelt once
declared in private conversation. They
NAV think they do, but they don't" he
Il am pioneer. l Weld an
axe and I have blazed the trail through |
ODH'hS'NANH1'
Now the country wants a careful, con-
engineer, who will convert my |
corduroy roads into well built and per-
rnanent macadam highways, along which I
the business of the country may proceed !
without Jar and without interruption. The |
man who can fill the bill is WIZ Taft"
That was in the fall of 1907, and it is a
safe prediction that those who view with |
md; in ff,n oil of no
of President Taft will have
occasion to reflect that the prescience of
Theodore Roosevelt four years before was
as trustworthy as the experience OF most
Of his contemporaries.
TAFT AND THE LEADERS,-An adept !
with the olive branch, President Taft on
the day OF his inauguration discarded the
big stick. This implied criticism of his |
It meant merely that he was
wise enough TO realize his limitations and
TO appreciate the tools he could use with |
best effect. He has sought by diplomacy |
to induce Congress to do its duty. where
President Roosevelt sought the same end
by coercion He has succeeded in large
measure He enjoys to-day the support of
Aldrich and Cannon and the organizations
perhaps. but not the less cffec-
tively-and he will get the legislation for
which he strives. The vast portion of the
American people which loves a fight has
been somewhat disappointed, The Taft
methods have been less spectacular More
over, they have afforded opportunities for
a vast amount Of misrepresentation of Mr..
TaftS relations with the leaders. Mr. Taft
has believed that important legislation OBJ
tanned with an encouraging pat on the
back of the Senator from Rhode Island or
even the hairless Uranium of the Speaker
of the House, was well secured 4 por-
ton Of the public would doubtless have
preferred an upper cut on the chin in either
case. But when time has afforded OPP
portunity to judge of the results it is
probable the American people will be graft
fed, even if they have been less well en-
tertained. c. G. II.