The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-06-02
CONG. PLUMLEY ON TAFT
yERMONT'S REPRESENTATIVE IN
NATIONAL HOUSE GIVES VIEWS
ON ADMINISTRATION.

Representative Frank Plumley Says
That the Failure Of President Taft
to Enact Into Law Certain of 'My
Policies" Should Not Be Charged
to Him-Many Things That Should
Be Put on Credit Side Of Ledger.
Congressman Frank Plumley ar
rived in town yesterday and is visit
ing at the home of his daughter, Mrs
H. A. Flint, Baldwin street. When
seen by a journal reporter last eve
ming, Congressman Plumley consent
ed to say something regarding the
administration of President Taft and
his remarks are, in substance, as
follows:
President Taft in his letter of ac-
ceptance of the Republican nomina-
ton clearly and definitely nominal
his policy to be the continuance of
the Roosevelt policies. so called, and
he was unquestionably elected in
faith that he would consistently and
persistently urge legislation along
these lines. During the ante-cam-
paign of 1908 he defined his ideas
of the Republican national platform
and those policies he brought out in
his inaugural address and to one who
has watched movements since his in
auguration there has been evident an
honest, sincere purpose on his part
to carry out his personal interpreta-
tion of the platform, which he right
fully assumed to be the voice of che
Republican party. but those policies
which he inherited from the previous
administration had met with serious
opposition in both the House and the
Senate by certain parties in both
branches and it was natural, no
doubt, that the things opposed then
should meet with just as serious OPP
position under President Taft. They
had hoped that Notwithstanding the
utterances of Mr.. Taft that he would
be easier to get along with and the
interests that stood back of the OPP
ponents of the Roosevelt policies
have endeavored from the beginning
upon the public through the press,
that Mr.. Taft was listening to their
advice and was content to follow
their plans rather than those of
Roosevelt. 1t has been evident from
| the beginning of the Taft administra-
| ton up to the present that there was
| in Congress two sets of insurgents,
one set representing those best
known as such, who are quite radical
| in their views, and in their interpre-
| tation of the policies of Roosevelt
and are somewhat disturbed over the
| fact that Mr.. Taft has been trying to
hold the party together as prime
requisite to successful legislation, and
the other set consists of the ultra
conservatives, who are the men that
opposed Roosevelt and his policies
and yielded to his persistent demands
for legislation only when the Big
| Stick was in evidence and who, while
claiming adherence and loyalty to the
new administration have only yielded
out longer against the President S
desire for certain legislation would
seriously expose them to the public
as the real insurgents, while the
great body of Senators and represen-
tatives have been Loyalty and earnest
ly trying to hold both of these wings
in hand so as to present a solid front
ward successfully the legislation de-
sired by President Taft.
while in theory Taft's administra-
ton is very similar to that of his pre-
decessor, and his sincerity, honesty
and great ability are not to be ques-
toned, his methods are almost ex-
actly dissimiliar and following as he
does the spectacular, dramatic and
rather theatrical demonstration which
attended the administration of his pre-
decessor, the quiet and persistent eff
forts in frequent consultation and ear
nest remonstrance or insistence are sc
comparatively mild and calm that to
the ordinary on-looker it may seem
that he is not pressing his policies
and plans, but may be yielding to
the adverse conditions that he finds
around him, but that is not the way
it appears to those who are looking
directly upon him in his efforts to OBJ
tain the aid of both extremes of the
party, which he must obtain to sue
coed i'm his desired legislation and
overcome a strong and forceful mi
nority party, especially in the House
IAN illustration of the position of the
ltra-conservatives or stand-patter
insurgents may be found in the re.
cent vote in the House on the ques-
ton of the passage of that portion Of
the sundry civil bill which carried
with it an appropriation of 100000
for the purpose of considering and
extending the powers of the tariff
commission and to aid President Taft
and through him to aid Congress tC
a more intelligent knowledge of the
facts, which would permit a correc.
ton of tariff schedules in a scientific
and logical way, based on the pro
nouncement of the party platform
upon which Mr.. Taft stands firmly
conscienciously and consistently, but
which was not supported in the
House by such men as Payne, Dial
zell and Fordney, who represent the
conservative claims, while the insur.
gents, so called, with the great body
of the Republicans stood firm witt
the President and secured its pas