Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-05-24

What's the matter with Taft? This
is, after all, the question of immediate
interest in national politics. The au-
tumnal elections are six months away
"a whole half year. Not only is Con-
gress in session, but legislation uncon-
nected with the issues between the
parties and of great importance to the
country appears hopelessly becalmed
The Ship Of State hangs In stays, and
the skipper doesn't know exactly what
to do.
Theodore Roosevelt's government was
largely personal. He antagonized the
old organized leadership of Senate and
House he shook its power, but organ
lied nothing to take its place. The
Congressional situation Is chaotic in
consequence. 1t is such an hour as
naturally causes the country to turn to
the Executive-not for draft of laws
which Congress should pass, but for
fearless comment upon the relation be-
tween political ways and means and
national ends, for such emphasis upon
few salient points as shall give a
public opinion now confused and bewil-
dered definite set and direction.
The people of the United States be-
lieve in President Taft's sincerity aud
honesty. They would rally to his sun
port If he would make an appeal which
impressed them as simple and clean
cut Why doesn't he do it? Why does
he allow the ship to pound upon the
shoal without word to the crew?
In Bunyan's immortal allegory there
is man named Mr.. Fearing. He Is a
man of pure heart and clear mind; his
intentions are the best. But he keeps
to the hear; he has in him nothing of
the stuff of leadership; he reaches the
Celestial City simply because the body
of pilgrims carries him along; he fol-
lows because Mr.. Greatheart leads the
way.
President Taft is Mr.. Fearing. He is
man of clear mind and pure thought;
his destination is right; he is patriotic.
But in a national crisis he lacks both
vision and courage.
We believe that he lacks vision be-
cause he lacks courage. If he dared
more he would understand more. Sa-
vonarola used to say that "a man
knows as much as he does" The work
of the world is done on partial knowl-
edge by men who dare the conse-
quences of their own ignorance.
Anything would be better for the
country than the course Mr.. Taft is
pursuing. The conflict between the in
surgents and the standpat forces is IT.
repressible, and must be fought to an
outcome, but the nearest approach Mr..
Taft made to expression was in the
possible innuendo conveyed when he
referred to Democrats and Republi
cans-Republicans and Insurgents"
The man in the street wants to know
where to count the President. The
railroad bill is being torn to pieces by
Congress. Wednesdays audiences
would have liked to know how its in
spirer felt about it. Silence is not only
neutral; it is positively harmful. A
tremendous potential force for the d.
rection of public opinion was in those
crowds; why did not the President try
to WELD and direct 1t? Is he ashamed
of his cause? Has he lost confidence In
his power to persuade? Has he ceas-
ed to believe that the people are worth
reasoning with?
Sometimes we have suspected that
Mr.. Taft might be another General
Thomas, who never fought greatly un-
til pressed to the last extremity. If
this be true, the supreme effort is due
now.-St Louis Republic.