The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-24
A rRoGREss1vE PRESIDENT.

"a progressive will be the next presi-
| dent" remarked John F. Shafroth,
governor of Colorado, the other day
while he was stopping for brief spell
in Kansas City. And when he gave
voice to this sentiment, being a Demo-
crat, he had in mind such presidential
timber as Champ Clark of Missouri, or
I Woodrow Wilson of New Jersey
| Governor Shafrothe.is quite right in
his belief that the next president will
be a progressive, and there are not a
few people of sense and discernmept
| in this nation who are firm in the be-
lief that william Howard Taft of Ohio
will be the man. He fills the re-
quirements laid down by Mr.. Shafroth
nicely,
If there is a more progressive states
man and administrator of the right
sort in the United States than Presi-
dent Taft he hasn't been uncovered
yet. Some people confuse radicalism
with ogressiveness. They look upon
the leather-Iunged individual who
makes the most noise and. denounces
the most conditions in existence as the
biggest progressive. President Taft is
anything but a progressive of that
type, but for real progressiVeness in
the solution of the pressing questions
of the day for the best interests of
the whole people. President Taft stands
to the fore. This fact, too, is being
realized more strongly each day by
many who were bitter in their de-
nuncIatioffs of President Taft during
the earlier stages of his administra-
ton. -.... vs.. q.
But William Howard Taft's record
as president has begun to speak for
itself and it is speaking in no uncer-
tain terms. He has ever championed,
and With more success than was
achieved by their originator, the ia
nous policies of Colonel Roosevelt. His
launching of the Canadian reciprocity
plan shows the caliber of his states
manship. His move to bring about
treaties between England and the
United States and France and the
United states which will preclude the
possibility of the United States and
either of them ever going to war to
settle any question that may arise be-
tween them, even one of honor has
challenged the admiration of all decent
civilization. 1t brings the dream of
universal peace within the realms OF
realization. His handling of the deli
cate situation caused by the revolu-
lions in Mexico is not open to criticism
except from the foolish jingees, and
their opinions don't count. ..~
Even in the matter of tariff revision
and his handling of the Payne tariff
bill was responsible for most of the
| unfriendly and unjust criticism that
was directed against him-President
Taft has shown progressiveness. He
| succeeded in having some kind of
tariff commission created, and even
the most ardent of tariff revision en-
thusiasts concede that the only. right
way to settle the tariff problems is
through a commission that can make
the investigations which congress has
always found it impossible to under-
take.
| Through his attorney general. Mr..
Wickersham, there has been greater
activity in proceeding against the IL
legal combinations of capital in the
nation than ever before in its history!
AS a matter of fact, not a step has
been made by President Taft on any
! important question that has not been
a progressive one. AS Governor SHAFT
roth says, "a progressive Will be the
next president" But this doesn
! eliminate Mr. Taft.