Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-03-31

pie into his confidence. This, 1t seems
to us, is tho proper as we'll as the log
ical and the polite thing for tho head
of government of the people to do.
If government is what we have
been taught to believe It to be, then
surely the people are entitled to know
what Is going on in the offices in
which men are simply acting as their
representatives.
Moreover, how can people govern
themselves intelligent1y unless they
are kept constantly informed concern
Ing the progress Of affairs in govern
ment circles? 1t goes without say
can not be proclaimed from the house.
tops. It is obvious. for example. that
1t would have been improper in the
extreme for the State department. to
give out In advance information con-
corning the progress of tho delicate
n negotiations between the United states
and Canada regarding the tariff crisis
just successfully passed. Premature
| utterances on the subject might have
seriously interfered with the nerotia
| tons, II indeed adverse criticism based
on ex parte statements might not have
blocked tho same altogether
President Taft has adopted the ex-
pedient Of frankly discussing with
| his audiences some of the points
which some of his predecessors have
Kept to themselves almost entirely
and the result is proving satisfactory
to all concerned. Concerning Presi-
dent Taft's visit to Chicago the Pos,
Of that city says:
where the President came into
closest touch with the largest number
| OF people was ~ the conserva ton
meeting in the Auditorium And we
would say that that meeting alone was
worth to him the long trip from Wash
! ington. For 1t has rarely been oul
| experience to SEQ speaker establish
| more quickly or more firmly n bond
| of understanding with his audience.
| "The President looked tired when he
followed the Rold-and-blue Butt and
tho tawney- haired Lorimer out on tc
the platform. But when he began &
| spcax, after the admirably felicitou,
Introduction by Alfred l.. Baker. hi.
voice was clear and fresh. And n,
struck the right note from the star
when he said: There is a good dca
| /.
\ whimsical way that made the words
mean a good deal more than = Nor,
excuse for not having prepared a dig
nifed set speech. His hearers grasp
ed the implication An n second. an'
Numbered out their sympathy for tn
man who holds the most difficult iol
In the United states.
"What they call in Washington hi
amazing frankness' Mr. Taft gave II
full measure from this easy infor7na
opening on to the very end OF hi
speech. The long applause for Roose
welt caused various trained politician
on the platform to suuirm uneasily 70
fear that the demonstration might b
so insisent as to constitute Sigh
upon the guest of honor. But whc
Mr.. Taft leaned forward and whispere
corfdentially to the audience Go
, again" the louder applause that fol
lowed was felt to be as much for tn
> present President as for his predeces
y sor. The platform politicians squirm
I ed again when they heard Mr.. Tat
=, squarely credit the inception of tn
forestry movement to clifford Pircho
But again the President brought III
= audience cheering to his feet
Upon this solid relr tionship Of pei
sonal liking the executive built UP pa
tiently a clear outline of the Who'll
= conservation movement. and he wa
d followed with n rapt attention tins
seemed to mean the making of hui
dreds of conVerts-earneSt converts
the cause he was advocating"
President Taft Is thus seen to HAY
captured Chicago by his attitude
going back to the people" 1t is sa
to say that he will capture the peop
OF the whole country in the same wa
IL he continues the policy OF takir
them into his confidence and talkir