Evening journal., 1910-02-07
MONDAY, FEB. 7 1910
HARD TASK OLE TAFT.

M ANY keen observers note that the difficult
III ties of the administration Of Mr. Taft are
but beginning Mr.. Taft has been considered
by many as more or less of an easy going ndl=
vidua not hunting trouble, of judicial mind
and temperament, willing to let things so along
and hoping for the best lie is not OF the same
nature as Roosevelt, not spectacular, not fond
of show or display But the President succeeded
Mr.. Roosevelt, whose administration had been
marked by bringing TO the front some important
issues, the chief of which was the relation of the
government to the great combinations OF indus
try and the concentration OF great wealth as 1t
affects industry. Perhaps had not Mr. Roose-
Welt agitated this matter, consideration OF 1t
might have been delayed for some years, but not
for very many. The present disturbance over
the high cost Of living is but phase of the gen
eral question
Mr. faft has been tenacious in holding to his
views but those who objected TO the Roosevelt
Inethods-the forces that were popularity sup
posed to have brought a panic for which
Roosevelt was denounced-show no signs OF
changing their methods. They are giving every
indication of being determined to have their own
way under penalty of again causing business
trouble They have made known to President
Taft what they want. Concealed in their state
mcnts are threats of business disaster No
sooner does rumor so out from Washington
that the government is about to bring suit
against some alleged violators Of the law than
the stock market declines, and the inference IS
that we must have no prosecution OF volators OF
the law if we are TO have business prosperity
This it seems to MS, is an astounding condition.
the worst part Of which is that those who menace
business prosperity of the country arc powerful
enough to put their threats into execution. Some
time ago we printed figures showing the enor-
nous concentration of controllabe wealth in the
hands of Mr. Morgan and Mr. Morgan there
fore is able whenever it suits his whim to bring
business disaster upon the country if these
estimates of his great controllable wealth are at
all accurate.
Opposing some of the legislation fathered by
Mr.. Taft the corporations are in revolt against
the government corporation tax. The chief
reason for the objection is the publicity feature
of the federal bill taxing corporations The
opposition to that measure however will be
Modified by the announcement that the obnoX-
ious feature will be literally interpreted and the
sting will be taken from the law We have
thought however, that this law is not so good
as An income tax would be if any tax of the kind
were necessary.
Notice has been served by the railroads and
by other business interests that prosperity can
not be maintained unless they are TO be permitted
10 have their way. All of this is done for the
purpose Of bringing the President to terms, anc
he will be put 10 the test The people will
watch Wall Street TO see how far its tactics viii
prevail And doesn't Wall Street think tha
some day the people, the millions throughou
the country, will become weary of the methods
of Wall Street in trying to club the governmen
and Congress into doing as it demands? !
Wall Street persists, may there not be a cam
paign similar to that England has Just passes
through? Roosevelt is in hailing distance.