New-York tribune., 1910-06-26
CONGRESS CLOSES,
PROUD Of RECORD
President Taft's Capacity for
Leadership and Fitness for
Hiuh Office Amply Proved.
PARTY PLEDGES REDEEMED
Republicans, United, Face Cam
uairn with Confidence of Vic
tory-Progressive Legis-
lation Put on the
Statute Books.
TFror1 The Tribune Bureau. I


washington. June 25.-The 6lst Con-
r-ess brought its first regular session to
close at IL O'Clock this evening with a
record of legislative achievement to its
credit which has probably never before
beer eQualled in a single session. Once
before in recent years the record of this
Congress was approximated, but not
equalled. That was in the fifth year Of
he administration Of Theodore Roose-
velt, when the 59th Congress passed the
railway rate bill, the meat inspection
bill the pure food and drugs act and
numerous other meritorious measures in
the long session which ended on June 30
1906. This Congress has passed a rail-
way rate bill Of infinitely wider scope
and Importance; a postal savings bank
bill which gives promise of great bene-
fits indirect as we'll as direct; has
provided abundant funds to enable the
Tariff Board TO conduct an adequate in
vestigation of the cost of producing at
home and abroad: has passed a state
hood bill which adds two new states TO
the Union and abundantly demonstrates
the willingness and ability Of the Repub-
Hoan party to rise above partisan con-
sjderations 10 redeem its platform
pledges: a conservation bill which lit
orally clinches the great policy of con-
serving the nations resources. of which
Theodore Roosevelt was the father and
william Howard Taft is the loyal ex-
penent and executor; e campaign public
ity bill which is destined to remove not
only dishonesty but the suspicion there
Of from the election of all federal Off
Gals, and numerous other measures of
only comparatively less Importance.
Set in Motion by Roosevelt.
Il had required five years Of unwaver-
for President Roosevelt to educate the
public and its representatives In Con-
sress 10 the Importance of those great
fundamental policies which have become
the bone and sinew Of progressive Re
publicanisrn, TO bring order out of chaos
and harmony out of discord, but he set
II motion e process of evolution which
viii not cease. which has revivifled the
Republican party and directed its char
scteristic efficiency -and-~cnnstructive
craftsmanship into channels which are
bound. in the future as "a the past, to
compel the admiration and support Of a
majority OF the American people.
II has required practically one year for
President Taft to demonstrate beyond
peradventure his capacity as a leader,
his remarkable fitness for the high Of
f1e <1- -z-hs s1, n 1v$y- oh
his ability and his determination TO
carry on the work Of his party and of his
predecessor along those lines Of prog
ress with which ne has always been in
hear.iest sympathy, which he stanch1y
supported as he sat at the Cabinet table
Of Theodore Roosevelt, and which as
President he has promoted with a sue
cess made possible only by his excep-
tionsl attainn1ents In the first year CT
MS administration President Taft has
proved the wisdom Of those who selected
him TO lead his party to victory-,lot
only the victory at the polls, but the
greater victory of craftsmanship, as is
sttested by the legislative record Of the
elst Congress.
Great Difficulties Overcome.
No adequate realization of the achieve
ments Of the year just ended can be
formed without due consideration of the
difficulties which have been encountered
and overcome The beginning Of the
session found the leaders Of the House
confronted with z revolt which threat
ened to assums startling proportions.
The progressive spirit Of the party had
come 70 regard the lone man rule" Of
ms House with intolerance and was de-
terfnined upon it's overthrow. Cannon
ism, which was even more of q system
than personality, was doomed; but
whether It could be replaced with sys-
TEN in consonance with the spirit OF the
party by the peaceful methods of par
hsnentary procedure, or must be over
u1own by revolution which would SO
lar dominate the session as to preclude
sh legislation other than the enactment
OF the regular supply bills, was Ques-
hen OF the utmost moment.
those familiar with the inner work
nss OF the party realize 10 the full that
uls situation presented to President
lat an opportunity for spectacular dis
pay which would probably have Won
iof him the cheers of the multitude, de-
tlNte the fact that 1t would have blocked
nost-perhaps all-of the important leg
-siauon On which he had set his heart
Dut with that restraint and diplomacy
Which are his chief characteristics he
'eafsined from stepping into the arena,
Nihie he lent diplomatic encouragement
" those insurgents bent on revolution
-1Mg the House rules, to which to-day
''es gladly testify. Thus he avoided IN
lhg hostility of the old regime
"'iich would have made impossible the
4actnent Of his legislative programme,
"Hlie ne succeeded ia at once encourag-
aug and exercising q control over the
''oeressives which has led them to ac-
lphsh their end and, as has been
f0nteo out editorially in The Tribune,
OoFe the House to it's proper place as
1eiioerative body, the representative or
people and the supporter Of the Ex-
ecutire.
Situation in the Senate.
AN even more difficult situation has
f'eNsiied in the Senate, where the pro-