The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-01-26
PRESIDENT needs
ADVOCATE NOW

washington. Jan, 20 - Wanted -
Senators and representatives to act as
advocates-in-chief of. the Taft pro-
gressive policies. Apply at the white
house
There Is an opportunity today that
ought to be alluring for able voiced
and able minded members of congress
TO make themselves and their efforts
gratifying to the administration and to
the progressives of the country. but as
yet few statesmen or near statesmen
have put forth their hand to grasp it.
President Taft has congress in lead
ing strings, and yet he is being put
TO it to find champions for the meas
ures for which he has pledged himself
to do the best to secure legislative
sanction. The policies that he adyo-
Gates are in the main Roosevelt pofi
cies, and in all likelihood it is for this
reason that the powerful ones in the
house and senate are not pressing to
the front of the lists. The leaders
have promised to put through legisla-
ton which the president desires, but
none of them has shown any desire or
willingness to act as chief advocates.
1t must be borne in mind that it is
the greater OF the administrations
measures which today have no cap
talns to direct their course. In the
senate statehood legislation will be adj
vocated by Senator Beveridge, bur this
legislation, as compared to that intend
ed to change the interstate commerce
laws belongs in minor class. In the
house, Representative Townsend will
guide the destinies of the bin intended
to further regulate the tariff transae-
tons OF the great carrier corporations.
but Mr. Townsend is at best but lieu
tenant.
No Commerce Champion.
For his interstate commerce .Iesisla
tive endeavor the president has no
foremost senator to act for him. The
administration is Taft's, but the legis-
lation is RooseveIt's. The heart of no
organization senator turns kindly to
the bills which by his vote he must
help make into law The senator who
comes forward to act as leader and de-
batter -tn-c chief of any of the Presidents
must in common
honesty of purpose espouse the cause
OF both In the spirit and the letter. 1t
II possible that the old-time conserva-
tives. who, from years of occupancy
know their seats in the senate as the
beggar knows his dish, intend IL they
can to 'ameliorate" while in progress
of passage, the conditions imposed by
the administration's interstate CONF
merce measure?
III 1t is the intention of the senate
leaders TO weaken the force of the law
which the president wants passed. it is |
perfectly natural that none Of them
should be willing to come forward to
announce himself as it's floor champion
He might expend his eloquence i'm
word pictures of the beauty
and strength Of the legislation i'm hand. /
but If his organization comrades had
made up their minds to weaken the
force of the proposed law, the volun-
teer captains efforts would bring to
him nothing from the country but dis |
credit.
Won't Ride to Fame.
The Taft policies are popular with
the people, and no one knows it better
than the leaders Of both houses. Con-
servation has back of it supporting
wave Of enthusiasm, but no prudent
member Of congress seems to be will
Ing to ride to added fame and popular
Ity on the waves crest Some one must
the most radical of the
conservation measures. The
refusal nj the republican members or
The public lands committee to advocate
shese measures for the oarninistrationl
y now medieval history. but lr the
lime that has passed since the refusal
- one having the real strength Of
leadership has announced a wish to b.
j onser for the Taft Roosevelt Pr
hot legislation.
lBels are few msn Of prornIncace
'i.t house who care to take III thslI
ares and the burdens which will at II
ach TO the work of securing sanction Ii
or the postal savings bank bill. II isls
rue that Representative George II Ii
Toss Of Illinois Is the author Of an afe-
Iuate postal savings bank legislative
Ian. but MI Foss for years has con-
lned his legislative efforts almost en-
irely to the field Of sailor statesman 4
Ihip, for the Illinoisan as chairman Of Il
BE committee Of naval affairs. has
iad slreadnoughts and shipyards on his