New-York tribune., 1910-12-07
From The Tribune Bureau

NdSHlEEton december I.
The PRESIDENTS MESSAGE-tSe
event OF the day in Washington has beea,
OF course. the publication Of the Presidents
message. state paper characterized by so
much breadth and ability that even its
critcs-and they are nUmerous-are forced
70 concede its merit There is no part of
the message which does not receive COM
-neadation from some. and hardly any part
CT which is not condemned by others That
same diversity Of opinion which has PLAYED
such havoc with the party in the past Is
doubtless naturally, reported in all init
mate discussions Of the naessaze-thar is.
those which are not for publication It
was probably too much 10 expect that by
this single communication President Taft
could inspire enthusiasm in his party. but
that it laws the foundation for the difficult
task which confronts him, not so much as
Chief Executive as leader Of his party, is
empharically affirmed By his loyal support
ers and grudgingly admitted by other mem
hers Of the party It is further admitted
that the message will be widely read and
viii command the admiration and respect
OF great number of voters
\ DIFFICULT SITUATIoN.-FareIy has.
Republican President been confronted by
50 difficult e situation as that which now
confronts President Taft To all who are
able 10 penetrate beneath the surface there
IS an unnistskable undercurrent Of oppo-
sition TO most OF what is best in the mes
sage-best. that is. from the point Of view
Of those who believe in progressive Repuh-
ncanisn. not the extreme radicalisn1 Of the
insurgents. but that clesr-sighted and sane
prcgressiveness which IS synonymous with
the unbiased views OF Mr.. Taft himself, and
becomes obscured only when the influence
ot certain ulra-conservative advisers pro-
cures its modification The Presidents
stand on the tariff. his advocacy Of 2 per-
meaent tariff commission, his uueoulvocal
and manly recommendation Of the leasing
OF coal lands. his preference for federal
control Of water power sites, his other rec
concentrations affecting conservation. his
thoroughly progressive attitude toward pub
lie buildings, his argument for the removal
Of postal and other officials from the realm
Of politics and their inclusion in the classi-
fed Civil Ssrvice-sli these and others which
are certain strongly 10 recommend them
selves TO the public-arouse among the con-
servative element which is still in the ma
jority an opposition which Is not -he less
intense and determined because II is Dip
ior7aticaIfv dissembled OF uttered only be-
hind closed doors. Those who would &C
curatelv gauge the situation Will be Nc more
rnisled BIZ the generally perfunctory and
platitudinous eulogies of the message given
out for publication than Is the President
himself.
POSTAL SJBVENTIoN.-Ths recon-
Inendation which appeals most strongly 10
the stand -paIters'' Is that which IS most
bitterly opposed By the insurgents, and IS
deprecated even by the more progressive
cf the regulars. This is the reconmenda-
ton of postal gubveption legislation There
are few members of either house who do
not recognize the logic Of the President
argument in It's favor, or who fail 10 ap-
preciate the desirability Of promoting the
commercial relations of the United States
with the republics Of South America by
moderate encoura cement in the form of
postal s1bvention. Of direct steamship lines,
The cpposition thereto Is, in the main,
based on the unpopularity of such legisla-
non. IS in large measure due TO the III ad-
vised efforts 70 enact Z, comparatively TAR
aching ship subsidy Law in the past TO
It's advocacy by Senator Hanna and others
whose motives we're suspected Of having
been more in the interest Of the shippers
than OF the people at large, and who we're
not content to begin with & simple postal
subvention measure as IN entering wedge,
ths scope OF such legislation 70 be ex-
tended only IS the beneficial effects Of the
measure became Obvious Whatever may
now be thought or is admitted Of q simple
postal subvention bill, z. very considerable
number cf legislators are convinced that
II rould be risconsuued BY the general
public and. ike the Payne tariff Law, would
add another and Al insuHerable burden to
The load OF the Republican party
CoNSERFATION.-Ther IS nc denying
the fact that conservation has few friends
II the halls OF Congress. 4 few there are,
Of course. vho do not only sincerely believe