The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1910-04-01
Second Term Not Worryino.

OcCOnu Term NOt worrying
Washington, March 26.-When Pres.
dent Taft is asked about 1912, he
smiles. Does he expect renomina-
ton? Asked if, with denomination,
he thinks he can be reelected, he says
the question is one nobody can an
swer. Meanwhile, he is doing the best
he knows how, and will continue to
do that to the end. If he should be
renominated and reelected, he will
be lucky; if he should fail of one or
both, he will be in distinguished com
pany, and then he recalls the one.
term presidents by name-both the
Adamses, Van Buren,, Polk, Taylor,
Pierce, Buchanan, Hayes, Arthur Har-
rison, most of whom wanted another
term, and several of whom were re-
nominated only to fail at the polls.
1t is the idea of President Taft that
he ought not to use his Office with
reference to a denomination, and thus
far he has steadily declined to do so.
AS the leader of his party, he is anX-
ious to have the party, as represented
in congress, carry out the wishes of
the national convention, and he is
working earnestly to that end. But
there is never word about himself.
No president for many years has
| put on so perfect an air of disinter-
estedness. He says to his political
advises this in substance: 81 will
| have been president four years at the
end of my term, and if | then am to
step down and out, | shall be just as
much former president, and just as
much entitled to the respect of the
people, assuming that | do my duty
for a second four years. This mat
my troubles at present. | am much
more interested now in securing the
enactment of certain legislation. My
| thoughts do no go beyond that, and
the congressional campaign which is
soon to begin. All these other things
will take care of themselves when the
time comes, and have so many other
things that are daily pressing for i'm
mediate attention that l think | am
wise in declining to burden myself
with them"
How a president of this kind will
come out in the political game, no.
body knows. He says he has no par
ticular aptitude for politics, doesn't
| know the game, and finds much in it
| that CRATES on his sensibilities. He
! notes that he has been for many years
| a judge, and because of the training
of the bench prefers to look at things
| in a judicial way. For the same rea-
son he likes to be deliberate and to
take his time about deciding questions.
There is none of the push and rush
about the executive offices that one
found there under Roosevelt, and he
says he doesn't like to do things in
that hurry.up way.
| AS for the next house of represen-
| tatives he would like to see it re-
publican, not, however, because of his
own chances in 1912, but because if
the house should be democratic, the
| party will be able to do nothing fur.
Their in the way of carrying out the
pledges of the Chicago platform than
can be done at the present session of
| congress.
In seevral letters to personal friends
the president is saying frankly that
the chances for his denomination and
reelection do not appear as bright
as they might be. But he always
adds that he isn't worrying about that,
and shall not worry about it at any
time.
| Because of his desire to have the
next house republican, he will do
everything he can during the cam
paign. In all probability he will make
no speeches, this being contrary to the
properties, but he will undoubtedly
write one or more political letters to
| friends, with a view to having them
made public, these letters to discuss
the issues and tell why, in his opin-
ion, the republican party is entitled
| to vote of renewed confidence.
Politicians here are saying that no
president since the civil war has come
into Office with the handicap that has
been Taft's. They discuss this ques.
ton, not as sympathizing with him,
but merely as an interesting political
| development. Roosevelt was a cru.
sader say these men. He awakened
the country as no former president
had awakened it, and set it to think
ing seriously, and with more or less
intelligence, about problems involved
in modern capitalstic and industrial
development. He went out of Office be-
fore the country had gone far enough