New-York tribune., 1910-06-08
IFrom The tribune Bureau. ]

Washington. June l.
A VICTORY FOR DIPLOMACY-In the
qualification over the great victory which
President Taft has won for the shippers
and. OF course -aat means for the con-
sumers as well-it Is worthy of reflection
that this was made possible only BY the
tact and diplomacy with which the Presi-
dent has all along dealt with all with whom
he has come In contact. There have been
many observers Of political events who
have longed for something more exciting
than Mr. Taft has afforded them. There
have been those who even said that they
would like to see the Chief Executive do
"a little upper-cutting," and who have de-
plored his pacific character and his desire
TO avoid rather than to promote conflict
In the case Of the Western railroad man
ayers, they laid themselves open to prose-
cution under the Sherman antitrust law
and the judicial occupant of the White
House was not slow 10 perceive his oppor-
tunity and to employ that form of legal
procedure-the injunction-which in his
campaign for the Presidency he so ably de-
Tended against the anathemas of Mr..
Gompers and the sophistries of the Demo
cratic orators. Those who have observed
the progress Of the negotiations which have
ministration TO protect the shippers and the
consumers realize that il was attainable
because Mr. Taft had retained the conf
dence OF the business interests of the coun-
try. and because when he strongly advised
the railroad men-especially those OF the
East-to adopt the course he outlines. and,
in effect. 20 submit the operations Of their
roads 10 the provisions OF a law not yet
enacted, they respected him a wise and
safe adviser. who was actuated solely by
desire to do his duty and whose advice was
entirely free from demagogy or an instinct
10 play politics There are victories of war
and victories of peace. and Mr.. Taft has
just won a victory of peace and one that
I'm concrete results will afford greater
benefit to the people of this country than
any other that has been achieved in quar-
ter of century.
Mr. TAFT'S FRANKNESS.-Had Presi-
dent Taft been more Of a politician and
less of statesman. he would not have
outlined. during the first year of his ad-
ministration, Legislative programme con-
sisting of FIVE specific measures. He would
have realized that this course so far COM
mitted him that were any one of the
measures tc fail Of enactment his political
charge his administration with at least
a partial failure. Had he dealt in glitter
ing generalities. discussed various meas
ures. but always intimated that he would
be satisfied if he could procure from an
unwilling Congress even a part of the
legislation he advocated. no such oppor-
tunity would have been given to his op-
ponents. But that was not his way. With
a frankness which is characteristic-and
sometimes amazing-he showed his entire
hand. clearly indicating the particular
measures which Congress must pass to
be true TO the platform pledges and TO
keep faith with the administration and
the people. Could he secure the enactment
Of all the measures he has plainly
craven on his legislative programme. he
would be esta blishing a record which none
Of his predecessors has attained, and while
ii is not Improbable that he will establish
a precedent for legislation enacted in the
first regular session of an administration
it is hardly likely that he can secure all
that he has asked
THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME
With an optimism which has proved amaz-
ing TO most of those who witnessed It. the
President has insisted all along that Con-
gress would enact most of the measures
he had pronounced essential, possibly all.
There have be times when the prospects
Of such an achievement have been, indeed.
poor. and when some of his stanchest sup
porters in Congress have been disposed to
run up the white flag and return TO their
states and districts 10 open the campaign
on local lines but with the word failure