Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-06-15
TAFT AND HARRISON.

A short time ago a Congressional del
egation, including Congressman Har-
rison Of New York, decided 10 go To
the White House and call on the Pres
dent. whereupou President Taft sent
word that he did not care to see Mr.
Harrison The reason for this was
that the latter had publicly criticized
the chief Executive.
Some Of our contemporaries take &C
casion to lecture President Taft on
broad mindedness. Mr. Harrison him
self publishes the statement that, lit
IL unfortunate for the President that
he cannot stand criticism; It Is un-
fortunate for the country that he can
not stand the truth" But IL appears
TO US that the Presidents attitude was
very correct
These congressman came to see the
President and TO introduce a Hebrew
delegation who had appeared before
the House Foreign Affairs committee
To advocate the passage of Mr., Har-
rison's resolution requesting the Pres
ident To use his friendly offices with
the Russian government to prevent
recurrence OF the recent massacres OF
Jews in Russia They were the Rev.
Or. Pereira Mendes, Judge Leon Saun-
ders. Louis Morris, s Berkewltz. DIT
L. l. Egelson. the Rev. Or. Abram ST.
mon and Simon Wolf" Mr.. Harrison
had accused the President OF dishonest
motives-his statement being that "the
President and the Attorney General had
agreed to furnish to Congress mislead-
ing information" Mr.. TAFT might well
take offence at that and conclude that
ne would have no further personal re-
la tions with Mr. Harrison, Al all
events. Harrison having permitted him
self TO accuse the President OF dlshon-
estv. was not the proper person TO in
troduce the Hebrews to him Common
sense would have suggested some one
with full confidence In the President
and enjoying his confidence.
The right TO public criticism Of Off
cial acts must not he curtailed In this
country. but there Is wide difference
between criticism" OF official acts and
personal attacks for political purposes.
such attacks are never justifiable
though recklessly INDUCED in. Those
who make them thereby place them
selves outside the pale Of gentlemanly
courtesy They have no cause for
complaint II the conduct OF others to-
ward them simply reflects their con-
duct towards others. MIR. Harrison,
after having stated that the President
had sent to the Senate Of the United
states an official document in the Bal
lnger- Pinchot controversy OF which the
date had been wifully falsiled by be-
ing predated. could not expect TO ind
the door to the White House open.
The congressman came TO ask the
President TO use the influence Of his
Office in favor Of the Jews in Russia,
This was a good and laudable object,
Tho Jews are treated shamefuily in
that country. only the other day the
folly and injustice Of the Russian gov
ernments procedure was illustrated in
a dispatch from ST. Petersburg stating
that Oscar Hammerstein had been for
hidden 10 cross the Russian frontier.
OF the Car. II was upon grounds of
race alone that admission was denied
him such being the case friendly
reminder from the President that
American citizens have certain rights
in Russia, and that humanity has some
demand upon the Russians, would be
proper