The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-09-29
0umtont Matthman.
THE ATTACKS ON TAFT.

One of the current magazines con-
tains an article on 1.-THE Collapse of
the Taft Administration in which it
is evident that the wish is father of
the thought 1t is part and parcel Of
the despicable attempt of a certain
class Of periodicals to compass the
political downfall of William II.
Taft. The very title of the article
is an absurd untruth. One has only
to recall the series of political disas-
ters that followed thick and fast up
on the triumphant election of Grover
Cleveland for second term, cul-
minating in the Bryan free silver
mania of 1896, when the administra-
ton was cursed more roundly by
Democrats than by Republicans, to
see the difference between the Cleve-
land and Taft administrations.
This malicious article goes on to
say: 1.-THE record of the Taft admin
istration is pathetic story of fail
ures in both politics and statesman
ship. Mr.. Taft has seemed incapable
of steering his politics in the course
of wisdom, and unwilling to support
the progressive measures which the
country expected from him. Congen-
ital incapacity for practical politics
might explain the failure to keep his
party in hands; but only a more I'M
kindly explanation can account for
his apparent purpose to repudiate
the men and politics to which his
platform pledged him."
1t is difficult to see how more
untruth could be condensed into a
few lines than the reader finds in
the paragraph quoted. Referring to
the probability of a Democratic vic
tory, the writer continues: "a DEM
ocratic victory, however, will be no
testimonial of confidence in Demo-
cracy. 1t will emphasize the repudi-
alton of Taft's leadership. And
this is the kind of rot that is being
circulated broadcast throughout this
land and poisoning the minds of
those whose knowledge of political
affairs at best is only superficial.
William H. Taft is not an astute
politician but a man may be good
and great President without know
ing all the arts of political WIRE
pulling. He is not skilled in the arts
of self advertising. Heis a quiet,
modest gentleman, but brave and
sincere, with a devotion to the law
and the Constitution, and a deter
mination to do his duty in spite OF
all the abuse that may be heaped up
on him.
And yet listen to this venomous
attack: "Mr. Taft came to the Pres
idency with an almost unprecedented
fund of public confidence and good
will. A vast majority of the people
honestly looked upon him as the
best trained man ever offered fol
President. How completely, in &
short year and half have all these
judgments been reversed. People
who year ago were sure Taft meant
we'll now ask: Do you think Taft
intended all along to betray the pro-
gressive policies, or was he just Sc
weak that he couldn't help himself?'
1t is difficult to speak calmly o
ouCu q WlShCu iiioi pi NoSheoeAO'A ~
the policies of President Taft. Wha
progressive policies, pray tell, ha:
President Taft betrayed? He has &C
complished more than Roosevelt eve]
was able to do in the same length o
time. He has strengthened railroad
legislation and secured additional
conservation legislation. He has OBJ
-ta1 10 o.
act providing for the publication o
campaign expenses. He has venture(
on tariff reform program when hi
predecessors did not dare to attemp
such an effort,
The writer talks blithely of new
party but where are the evidences o
such an organization? The Repub
lcan party never has been incapable
of growth or unable to adapt itself t
changing conditions. On the eve o
his death President Mckinley an
nounced radical change in tarif
policies which his successor failed t
carry out. Under Roosevelt the par
ty underwent a radical change, bu
new party was not found neces
sary. Now the public demand neN
leaders in the place of Cannon, Al
drich and Hale. But Taft always ha
been in favor of progressive mea
sures. Because he is less spectacu
lar than his predecessor the unthink
ing imagine that he is not a reform
er. Just now we are suffering fro1
an unusually violent spasm of rad
calism. Some good will come out
it, but meanwhile one of the best
our Presidents is compelled to SUITE
cruel and unjust attacks Of whic
the authors some day are likely to b
very much ashamed.
NAnn D0AnG pit GRIMtGE