The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1910-01-26
AS TAFT SEES IT

surdity Of this view will ultimately be
recognized by the people, although
there is possibility that this will not
happen until after the republican
party has been defeated two or three
times.
It Is, of course, obvious that all the
president can do is to do the best he
can to make the government as good
as he can and to secure Is much legis-
lation as he can in the right direction.
It should also be obvious that, in doing
these things, he. must use those in
struments which are indispensable to
the passage Of laws. This statement
is elementary, and the president fails to
understand Why his friends do. lot al
understand it. ..
The truth is-and he and HE I'D.
visers have been quick to realize it
that the United States is now passing
through period ofsupreme hypocrisy
in which the man who makes the loud.
est pfotestations ofhatred of monopoly
and political corruption and bossism
has q great advantage. {:
The person is at a disadvantage upon
whom falls the necessity for affirmative
action, and the enactment Of beneficial
legislation: The irresponsible ones are
free to formulate their ideals, and
make mouths before the public in ia
vor of them and then blame others for
not coming up to these ideals in prac-
tice. This has frequently been the
case in America politics, and President
TAFT realizes his fate is not different
from that Of men who have been pre-
sident before him. -.
But he is anxious that these people
who are sincerely DESTROYS Of his sue
cess, and that Of. the party whose
leader he is, should remember that he
is labesing entirely to do something,
that his the full measure of .respon.
sibilty to the country; that he person
ally has good deal more at stake in
seeing something done than anybody
else. He is not and cannot be in SYM
patty with the idea that he is to stop
all the activities here referred to and
make enemies Of congress leaders, and
of all those who in the present con-
gress have the power to bring about
the reforms which he has adverted.. d.
As to his own political future he is
supremely Indifferent. He feels that
he can we'll afford to get along with
one term as president, if he can point
back to things done, and not to a record
of noise and fury, and hypocritical de-
magogy. The future concerns him
not in the least. He is busy with the
present and is willing that the future
should take care of itself. 49,.
He does want the approval Of his
countrymen, and this he feels sure he
is to receive-if not now, then at some
future time. When in the light Of his
historical perspective his administra-
ton is judged by its true relation to
the real issues the present day. As to
all these issues he feels certain that his
attitude is correct. 49,.
The trouble with people who look
At the president and try to pass judg-
ment upon him from the outside, is
that they do not take into considers
ton the responsibility they would have
ifthey were in his place trying to do
something. and were looking about to-
find out how. -. -.
In other words, as the president tells
his visitors these days. if. his critics
we're to get down to "brass tacks' and
talk about practical steps to be taken,
and just how this was to be done, they
would stop condemning everything.
and no longer find as much satisfac'
ton in the gloom they think prevails in
political affairs. And while doing
this, it is the belief Of the president
that they would reach state Of mind
that would give their views on public
affairs a real permanent view. So
much by way Of comment On the pres
ent situation that represents the pres
ident's views. =:
Early Earrings.