The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-23
sAnn roun rnAcls, nm. rAFT!

SAND YOUR TRACK, MIR. TAFT!
II win not be considered out of place,
we are sure, II we shall seize this OPP
portunity Of making some suggestions
TO President Taft that would be OF
use to him in the preparation OF his
annual message to Congress, and in
the further prosecution Of the work OF
his administration.
In the first place, Mr.. Taft should.
insist upon the revision of the tariff
downward and this revision should be
made without delay.
The Payne-Aldrlch bill is far from
satisfactory to the country. 1t was not
satisfactory to- the President himself
when it was passed, and there has been
no Improvement In 1t since it's enact
ment We . quite ready to admit
that IL is the best tariff the Republi-
cans have ever made, but, surely, that
is not extravagant praise. 1t is no1
what the party promised nor what the
people wanted. This was made very
clear at the recent elections. Ihe'l
tariff was the leading issue in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts-the
hotbed of protection. Foss made ms
race for Governor upon this issue, and
Floss was triumphantly elected, beating
his Republican opponent by something
like 10000 plurality. The tariff was
also an issue in New Jersey and out
West, and wherever the fight was made
on this issue the Democrats won,
There is to be Democratic majority
in the next House and the Republican
majority In the Senate has been ma
terially reduced.
There Is much objection In some
quarters about Mr. Taft's plan of piece
meal revision. but the people demand
that the tariff shall be revised from
top to bottom in the interest of the
people. and not in behalf of the pen
sioners of the protective system.
Then there is another question upon
which AIR, Taft should exercise the
greatest cautlon-the ship subsidy ques-
ton IT has been reported that he in
tends to urge the passage of a, ship
subsidy measure by tie Congress at
the approaching session We trust
that he will do nothing of the sort
The ship subsidy business is loaded.
Mr. Taft; let it alone!
Ul-der the Constitution it is the duty
of the President to inform Congress as
to 1.-THE state of the Union" and IT is
in no sense incYmbent upon him tc
initiate policies of the ship subsidy
sort.
We gave you some most valuable
counsel about the tariff bill, and you
would not take it, and you know now,
better than we can tell it, what hap
pened. !sidestep the ship subsidy issue,
Mr.. Taft!
A question Of much iterest to tie
people OF" this country is the pension
question It costs the people of the
United States more than $4,000, 600
annually to pay the cost of conducting
THE War of the Rebellion nearly
fifty years ago. There are thousands
of unworthy m on the pension bill
m n who never smelt powder, men who
performed absolutely no service to tbs
country, and yet the mpudent demaht
has been made that the pension burden
must still further be i.cre; ed on tn,
dollar-a day plan. 1t is nothing les
than reproach to the United State
that the men who fought for the uniol
must be paid for their services, forty
five years after the Union was saved
Mr.. Taft will find in the veto messae
= Grover Cleveland some splendid ma
terial that he might be able to wor
over for tn information of Congress
and the honor of the United States,
Their is another question upon whic
we hope Mr.. Taft will mediate SC
riously, and that Is the question {
insisting upon square deal for I'll
great volume of capital that has bee
of this country, There have been man
abuses, unquestionably, in the manag,
ment of the transportation affairs
the country, in the methods by whic
the trusts have managed their bus
ness. There must be regulation of Il
public utilities. but regulation does N
mean confiscation, The popular sid
after all, is the right side, The Poop
are beginning TO see things as tn
are. and the day of the demagogue
passing
We do not think Mr.. raft has
fair chance, and his own party IS
blame for it. lie VIII enter UPON Il
second half Of his administration, no,
sver stronger in The confidence of Z
people, We believe than he has ey
been, we wish him well in his wor
in spite of his party
sALvE.
The educators Of the commonweal