The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-09-19

duet of their forces in the next con-
gress TO that end.
President Taft will take up the re-
malnder of his program. which was
postponed at the last session in order
to concentrate efforts on the more
urgent measures, and he will recon-
mend the addition to the employers
liability law of a system of fixed com
pensations for injuries and death,
obviating the necessity of litigation
and its consequent evils and waste;
federal incorporation of concerns do
ing interstate commerce business:
perhaps, a permanent tariff board.
amendment to the injunction law
and other legislation pledged in the
platform on which he was elected.
II he has an adverse majority to
cope with in the lower house. these
measures, not only will be jeopar-
died, but the opposition party
will be making a record, which will
affect its success at the next nationa!
election.
II may be accepted as settled now,
that the Republican party is progress
sive in its policies. The president in
advocating an employers liability
amendment, federal Incorporation or
interstate commerce concerns: open
ing OF corporation books. the cor
Doration tax. the extension of fed
eral regulation of railroads, leasing
Of public fuel lands and water power
sites. systematic improvement OF
water ways, the postal savings bank.
and the revision of the tariff by a
has aligned himself on
the progressive side. Theodore
Roosevelt has demonstrated that
those reactionary leaders. whom he
defeated at the last national conven-
ton. will stay licked. But while the
president is progressive. he is also
d!sinelined to follow
zealots OF reform. and con-
siderate of property rights. He will
not disturb the confidence OF the
business and Industrial world.
His attitude of conservative pro-
gressiveness. as long as Roosevelt,
idol OF the insurgent element re-
mains friendly. will make it difficult
for the opposition to assail him sue
cessfully from any quarter. A presi-
Dental campaign is always more
sober than the disconnected skirm-
ishing. which marks this year. Seri-
Gus weighing of the consequences
will take the place of unresrained
expression of feeling. The silent
vote" Is not noticeably present this
year.
There are two extremes between
which the minority national party
has vacilliated the last several ma
tional campaigns. There are huge
interests, whose operations are affect
ed by federal Incorporation, federal
regulation and imposed publicity.
They would be willing to handsome
ly finance any national campaign. the
success of which would assure them
la voice in reversing the policy aud
tendencies of the present administra-
tion. State rights would make fine
party cry, behind which to hide their
purposes. while they decried against
the usurpation of authority by the
United States government.
The other extreme offers the radi-
cal theories which threaten the Sc
curity of property rights in this
country. These radicals have been
pleased with the general tone of
Roosevelt's speeches; but they will
be disappointed with the limitation
he puts upon the elevation OF man
above property: and the presidents
indicates that he has no
with destructionist theo-
ries. These men, taking advantage
Of the reform movement, and resent
ng the conservatism OF the president
md the GOODNESS of Roosevelt, might
we'll sway the opposition into the
madness, which disrupted 1t in 1896.
Either position assumed by the OPP
position Is bound to drive to the sup
port of the administration the most
and conservative element
Of the country. Whether the oppo-
sition takes the form OF reactionary
or the contrasting extreme
Of radical antagonism to the security
Of fundamental principles underlying
rights, it will ALLEVIATE the
other element. There seems to be no
ground on which these two
extremes can meet to encompass the
defeat of the administration. Before
the fight the chorus of opposition
makes a big sound, whose very dis |
cords add TO the menace of It; but
no opposition will ever swing per-
manently into power on the faults of
the administration. Il must win on
its own merits. offering not merely
denunciation of existing policies. but
a substitute for them. Here difficulty
appears, for when the time comes TO
present the substitute the discordantI
opposition will fall out about waysl
and means.
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