The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1910-08-12


md in accordance with the platform .
dorted by its convention in 1908.
Under the circumstances 1t is meet .
that the people should give it their
ormal iudosement by continuing it in
power in congress at the coming elec.
tions.
The chief executive does not speak
yaingloriously of the achievements OF
his administration and of the majority
in congress. SO far as he himself is
concerned, he feels he has done the
best that is in him for the people, ir-
respective of political faith, and he
proposes to pursue those policies
which, in his judgment, will inure
to their benefit in the future.
Naturally, he desires republican sue.
cess in November, less because of the
personal qualification he will enjoy
from the confidence which thereby
will be expressed in him and his ad-
ninistration than in the opportunity
republican majority will afford to
write into law far.reaching reforms
he contemplates.
The people have little idea of the
importance of the legal problems that
will press for solution during the next
congress-the last of this admins
tration.
Before the congress elected in No.
vember shall meet the supreme court
will hand down its decisions in the
Standard Oil and tobacco trust cases,
and if the contention of the govern
ment be sustained, as the president
believes, vast reorganization of busi-
ness will follow, and legislation must
be provided to enable the government
properly to grapple with the new
conditions.
If the government be beaten, then
there will be universal demand for
the Strengthening of the antitrust
| law, or at least the provision of a
remedy which will force huge combi-
nations OF capital to conduct business
more in the interest of the people
than is the case today.
The president already has framed a
| solution in his federal incorporation
plan for all corporations doing an in
terstate business, which he submitted
to congress in a special message last
winter.
The tariff experts will submit to the
president within two years recommen-
dations for revision of certain sched-
ules of the tariff law. The problem
| of currency reform must be dealt
with courageously. Effective govern
mental control of railroad captaliza
ton must be secured. The demand
of labor respecting the issue of in
functions must be considered wisely
and with due regard for the effect
of the action taken upon all the i'm
portant interests involved.
Further reforms for the conserva-
ton of national resources, which will
insure the preservation of natural
and at the same time permit wise and
sane exploitation and development,
must be enacted.
l have referred to only the more
striking things in the legislative pro-
gram the president still has in mind
to show how necessary, in his view, is
the election of republican majority
in the fall. A democratic house would
refuse, of course, to grant him the
legislation he so earnestly wishes. 1t
would hamper his administration in
every possible way.
And while, from legislative point
of view he would be able to achieve
li++la apnorratio hODSp IL ic
the belief of the president he still
could do many things in administra
ton which would be of great value
to the country. He proposes to in
troduce economy in government, tc
place the several departments upon a
business basis, to create an efficient
machine which will run smoothly and
at the lowest possible cost.
AS an indication of what the presi
dent has in mind attention may be
called to the reorganization and saw
: ing which have occurred in the treas
ury department and in the postoffice
department The latter department
actually turned back ten out of the
seventeen millions of the deficit fol
Wnlcn an appropriation was Hldue' As
result at the end of the last fisca
year instead of the anticipated deficit
of $4O,000,000 there was surplus OF
$13, 100000, which, as the president
suggests, is a truly wonderful show
ing.
The president is not concerned
about the effect of the elections upor
his personal fortunes. He is not
looking forward to 1912, not direct
ing his acts or his policies toward
securing denomination and reelection
to the Office he now holds.
He is seeking to do the things al
hand and to do them in the right
way. If his course be approved, vel
and good. If it be not approved, wei
and good also. That this is his state
of mind is shown by his decision not
to take any managerial part in the
approaching campaign.
He will do what he can to assist
the party but he will not permit poll
tics TO interefer with his work. Fol