The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-14

30 ny IluCn the same con-
ditions that characterized the days
when Captain Kidd was piratical lord
and master of the high seas. To-
day President Taft is surrounded by
as shrewd band of political game
sters as ever came down the road And
the funny part about 1t is that they
are getting away with It, and Taft
with his strictly judicial temperament
and believing that everybody is hon
est even the politicians-does not see
It, though every one else does
Mr.. Taft. unfortunately. was left
with an overstock of the Roosevelt
junk on hand in the way of official
timber. and has been unable. SO far,
to unload. And right here Will be his
undong when he tries to explain to
the people next year
The worst blot on the Taft Official
record Is the case of the missing
vouchers in the Hay portrait case.
and the manner in which the case was
hushed up for fear that more and
worse developments might come. 1t
was bad enough. to be sure, as 1t was,
but no case is ever helped by covering
up the truth. and 1t is going to take
a mighty lot OF clever work to make
the people believe that doubtful work
mas not been going on in the depart-
ment presided over by Philander c.
Knox.
The missing voucher and the man
ner of its being found must stand out
as particularly Objectionable TO the
minds OF honest people. who want an
honest administration.
me Wickersham administra ton in
the Department OF Justice has Jared
little better and the great head OF
the nations law department did him
sen no credit when he shifted the
calcium from himself to the De-
partment OF Agriculture, where he ia
trying his level best to make "Old
bofaN Wiley the goat. He. may sue
ceeo. Wiley may have to go. but thou.
SANDS of people who have followed
whey management of the pure food
.aMs VIII say, There goes an honest
iiiah! Ihen the scene Will shift again
~ me Wickersham stronghold, and
, mnat developments will follow, I'M
less they. too. are chloroformed with
administration dope, will probably
serve to recall the days OF DioEenes
and the honest man
They're ain Bad.n
But with Wickersham and Knox IN
oau' and poor old "Tama" Jim Wilson
Tor thirteen years the adminis1rae
tions oficial farmer. about all an he-
S"use ne mas acknowledged that no
Hoe Know what is going on in
ms department, and that crop statls-
.ics ana IKE matters are manipulate
~ SUIT the wishes OF his underlinps
ne people may, indeed. look for some
ming real classy when they take hold
OF the great and only Frank II H,tcb
eoSk IN earnest. So far the hnndlin,
VI this gentleman by the conrressionaI
committees has been merely nerfrno-
.orE' out some time at no distant dov
ms real investigation is going 70
puslh' Ihen take notice! That same
iiitchcock knows things, and many
volumes will be needed TO make tha
seeoros when he comes down from the
witness stand. There are Just few
lacts relating to the batting OF sinai,
postmasters all over the country tba,
.he democrats want light upon. few
hsures about campaign assessments
ana just bit of Information regard,
ing pledges to support William Hou.
ara Taft and his band of q n
braves " T.
But this is only a part of the nro-
gram which Ringmaster TAFT vii,
present to the country's 10000. ooo neo-
pie next year in the hope OF securine,
another four years tenure in The
hte House. Seriously, the adminis-
ration is In n bad hole. and il is
question whether 1t is not too late
LOT political doctors to do any FOOD
The crisis is at hand.
p. H Nee