The Washington times., 1910-03-07
BRITONS CONSIDER
TAFT AS MEDIOCRE
His "Suavity" Looked Upon
as Patent Asset in
United States.

LONDON. March Even In the face
Of their own Jangle OF affairs govern
mental English politicians suddenly
have affected a deep interest in the
speeches Of President Taft, which have
appeared here in book form.
with lis volume as the excuse for
I SubJe't they, along with partisan
newspapers, have made it the vogue to
place tie Unitci States and its chief
ExecutNe unGer the microscope The
result has been some deductions that
are likely 20 pro- oke the risibiliticg as
Wen as the gooc natured federation OF
the average Aneri an citizen.
II has been decided that President
Tart IN Engla0l would rank merely as
sounu average politician" but that
ms very ''I-HdiOCrity" and ''suay-
10y nave been among his potent assets
IN me conditions that prevail in Uncle
SAN s country tt has been pOnderOusly
adluQged that he. contrary to American
belief, has no humoT no gift OF rhetoric
whatsoever anu no quality Of style-"
having had their own trouble. over
those twins Of politics-tarifr reform and
Iree udde-they predict that the ReDub-
lican party VIII have to nay the fiddler
lot calling the tune OF the present tariff
Eastern Policy Praised.
Amid this mingling or brlckbate and
bouuuets OF criticism there IS general
desirabllity Of the Far Eastern policy OF
the Taft Administration a rose he
pinned on the United States as China's
best friend.
Typical expression Of this latest micro
FcOplc study in the British political Ia bO-
ratory is contained IN the following edf-
toIlal from the London Daily News
NhlcA IN part th'.S deals with what Il Is
Pleased 70 call Mr.. Taft's record"
Mr.. Taft has had The wisdom tn ~a-
form They are merely a selection COW
erinE the six or seven months from
August. 1905. 10 February. 1902. but thew
MI volume Of 300 pages. They could
nave been prunUd and compressed with
advantage. for they are campaign
oratory, most Of them, with the inevita-
bic vice Of repetition. Mr. Taft. as ne
appears IN these pages. has little OF the
PLATFORM art He has practically no
humor, no gift Of rhetoric and no quality
OF style
Calm After the Storm.
But n Mr.. Taft's speech is without
originality Of thought or distinction of
form. it has no positive vices. II he
never rises 70 rhetoric. he never Iapses
into slang; # he has not Mr.. Roosevelts
weakness for turEld verbOsitv. he is d.
rect, simple, and lucid II he has no pas /
sion. he has "a good deal Of kindness
and no malice. and he treats his poIiti-
cal opponents with unvaryinE courtesy |
Mr.. Taft IN England would appear a /
sound average politician. but his very 4
mediOcrity and sUavity must be great I
assets In a country Ike America where I
the political conventions run IN the on
pOSlte direction. They carried him a Z
long way toward the Presidential office I
The Republican party required a period 4
Of calm after the Roosevelt wnirlwind. |
and every point IN which Ny Taft diff /
fers from Mr.. Roosevelt commended /
him to his parry leaders.
How far Mr.. Taft has answered these /
expectations Is d nice question with /
out doubt he has done nothing 20 affect /
the confidence If his party chiefs, but 4
loyalty 10 the Republican bosses is no ]
necessary highway 60 the approval Of ]
the American people. America has come +,
into the sphere Of influence OF the so
cial problem
The years Of invIncihle optimism.
houudless eNpaueiou and Infinite heed ]
lcssueSs are ECne forever. and an out
side chance OF q place in Fifth avenue /
Is 10 longer Euti"ient TO stop the mouth J
% the hungry and the broken Ameri- /
cans are beginning 20 feel that lottery I
Is not O. satisfying substitute for So 4
riety that brings chem into direct cor
hict with the ,Iasuates OF the Republ- /
can party
Republicans Held Responsible.
MIR. Taft. I'm defending the new tar1n.
pleased the beads OF the Republican
machine. but lost hold upon the people
The belief was general that his party
had broken ITS pledges, and instead OF I
had raised the tariff For that 4
llUndeT. which is also a crime, the Re
DUbliCans are certain to pay. and I'M
IN domestic administration
Mr.. TAFT can present no compromising
achievements
1T is in another direction that MI
Taft's originality and success must be
sOuGht-in foreign policy. Mr. Taft as
governor Of the Philippines acquired a /
knowledge of the Far Eastern politics
and formed q determination 70 give
the United States a weight IN the Far
East adequate 20 the Importance OF /
American interests there
THE insistenCe upon a share in the !
railway loan and the
recent proposal to neutralize the Man
churian railways are Illustrations of
Mr.. Tafts activities In this sphere, and /
there can be no two opinions that Il is
CoOd for the Far East
America stands outside the game Of
alliances and intUigues and IS able 70 I
face any question that arises with some
measure e detachment. China viii