The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1910-10-07
PRESIDENT TAFT, PROGRESS
I'VE

A concise and well-wOrdcd sum
mary of political problems was that
contained in the Saturday speech Of
President Taft in New York City,
before the National Republican
league. 1t was not plumed with plat
itudes nor fired with catch words OF
roaring rad 'calism The president at
intervals makes speeches which show
him a man of clcarest thinking and
aptest expression, as that last Satur-
dav; or the one at St. Paul conser-
walton congress a month ago, or as
that at Rochester, N. Y, last March.
No public man states pohtica. ques-
tons more clearly from time to time
than has President Taft. Not all cltl-
zens agree with President Taft. Not
all citizens agree with all his opinions
Yet as a stra ghtforward, simple
speaking man he belongs to the first
rank of our statesmen.
1t is a worthy achievement, now-a-
days, to hold popular attention with
political address that does not lncite
unreasoning retaliat on upon pol1tl-
cal abuses. Progressive statesmen
too often lack specific, concrete ex-
PRESTON "A party Of true progress
is not party Of radicalism," the pres
ident said Saturday-which 5 true
and sound yet" he continued, 1T
is not a party of ultra conservatism.
A progressive Republican is one who
recognizes existing and concrete evils
and who is in favor OF practical and
definite steps to eradicate them" Yet
few so-called progressives know the
practical and definite steps. They
are more familiar with a lot of gen.
eralizing rhetoric. That is the big
fault of Pinchot and his fellow con
servationists. The Pres; dent scored
them roundly for it in his conserva'
ton address at St. Paul.
The New York speech shows plain
ly that wage-earners have more to
lose than wealthy citizens from eN-
IRENE corrective measures. Hence it
is the legitimate Office of those charg-
ed with governmental responsibility
to do what they can to prevent the
spreading of fears which will drive
capital to its boarding place and pre-
vent the investments necessary to car
ry on the widely expanded business
of the country from which our people
derive their livelihood" These are
sober words, uttered in truly pro-
gressive spirit.
Corrupt control of government
agencies and greedy combinations of
capital present evils of glazing kind.
They must be abated through en-
forcement of restrictive and correct
i've laws. But the laws need to be of
practical and definite sort. Radical
ism is not progressiveness. For eX-
ample, it is absurd to harangue the
people that Interests" must be turn
ed out of politics. For, obviously,
the so-called interests have good and
bad purposes in politics. 1t s Who'll
ly proper and also necessary that in
terests should use their influence in
politics in open and honest manner
to protect property and capital.
President Taft's speech has refresh
ing sound, amid the boisterous ora
tory of people-hattering politicians.
His detail of measures enacted by
congress and OF further issues to be
worked out has the merit OF unusual
directness and clearness. II 5 renew
ed praise of the Payne tariff touches
the loudest note of discord. Yet that
is a subject on which the country nev
er will agree and never has, Even
Colonel Roosevelt is unable to cope
with the difficulty-Oregonian.