New-York tribune., 1910-12-21
CHE DAWN WASHINGTON

provide a sinking fund. etc. Yesterday the
President summoned to the White House
the representatives of the liquor interests
the members of the Minnesots delegation
! and Governor Eberhard. No one appeared
to represent the liquor interests. and the
Governor despite the fact that he had been
a guest of the President at luncheon, failed
to appear at the conference held at 4:sO
p. m. At the conference the efforts of the
members of Congress who appeared were
directed chiefly to trying TO induce the
President to decide the question for them
AN UGLY SITUATION-The situation is
an ugly one. from whatever point 1t is
viewed. First, the necessity for enforcing
these laws has passed away. With the ex-
ception of very small area, there is no
longer any Indian country in the State
of Minnesota. Then, if it be decided that
the laws should have been enforced until
repealed, it is probable that the Commls-
sioner of Internal Revenue will be found
to be an accessory before the fact. Again,
should the President decide that the laws
must still be enforced, they will, as has
been said, apply only to a portion OF the
state, and will therefore constitute a d1S-
elimination against a considerable area.
For instance, Minneapolis may be COM
PEELED to "go dry" while ST. Paul. which
adjons Minneapolis, but is without the
boundaries Of the area affected, VIII remain
wet" AS the laws are no longer needed
for the protection Of the Indians. 1t might
seem that the simple way out OF the dliefh-
ma would be 20 decide TO abrogate them
but the temperance organizations all over
the country have been greatly aroused over
the chance of compelling Minnesota to go
dry" regardless of the wishes Of MAJOR
ity of the people of the state; ana the
leaders, headed by Wilbur f. Crafts, Unreal
en- dire consequences to any one VINO op-
poses the temperance view. And finally, the
legal lights of the administration ana OF
the state find grave objections to an effort
of the federal government to exercise with
in the boundaries of the state a police pow
er which was highly important when Min
nesota was actually Indian country, but
which is no longer needed for the pro-
lection of the wards of the nation. 1t Is
regarded as significant that neither of the
Minnesota Senators has committed himself
in any way on this question.
MIR. TAFT'S CONSCIENTIOUSNE
A striking instance of the CONSCIENTIOUS
ness of the President has just been afforded
by his consideration OF the case or Johfl
Wynne. sentenced to death for murder IN
Hawatii. and on whose behalf the Presi-
dent was appealed to for clemency. Presi-
dent Taft to-day commuted Wynne's SEN
tence to life imprisonment but before do
ing so he read every word of the volumln-
Gus record, working almost all night to do
So Then, when he had thoroughly mas
tered the case, he wrote with his own hand
his decision in the case, his opinion as orig
;nalIy prepared containing about six hun
tired words but which, as finally revised
by Mr.. Taft himself, was cut down to about
half that length.
THE LORIMER CASE.-The indications
that there will be an extensive and not
wholly edifying discussion or the Lorimer
case before it is finally disposed of con-
Iinue to grow and II is freely predicted that