Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1911-08-25
TAFT WON'T DO.

many things we would nave Wlsneu
might be different, the Inter-Ocean
has been in favor of a majority OF
President Taft's policies. We have
admired his stand on more than one
big question of national Importance
We have so stated through our editor
ial columns. We have stood for the
progressive policies for which we
thought and hoped he stood. Today
it would seem that Taft and ths Pro-
gressives have come to the parting of
the ways.
Taft stood for the Payne-Aldrich bill
in peculiar sort of way condemning
and yet commencing and through it all
we stood for Taft Taft stood for Bal
linger and, although we think Ballinger
was wrong and his entire administra-
ton of the department of the Interior
wrong, we stood for Taft just the
same We believed that possibly there
were things in that affair which the
general public didn't and couldn't
know. We thought Taft was strong,
although at times prone to lending too
willing an ear to fairfield, trust pam
pered counsellors. Taft stood for Re-
: ciprocity and came nearer to convinc-
ing the country of broad and farsee-
ing craftsmanship than at any time in
his term. We stood for Taft and Reel
procity, believing that although the
pact might work temporary injury to
the northwestern farmer, yet taking 1t
by and large it was for the good of the
entire country. We thought that 1t
furnished the opening wedge whereby
a real tariff revision might be obtained.
We praised Taft for his work in this
matter and then stood back watching
for him to go on with the work. And
right here is where we decided that we
owe no more allegiance to Taft or to
the faction of the republican party
which he represents.
! Taft had stated in his swing around
the country that the Schedule K, or
the famous wool schedule was "inde-
fensible" This was some time ago,
before the present session and before
the fight for reciprocity began. When
the reciprocity agreement was passed
backed with the entire power of the
presidential machinery, Taft then
stood on the threshold of tariff revis-
ion. A combination of democratic pro-
gressive republican votes passed
new wool schedule, passed cotton
schedule, and, passed farmers free
list. The bills were sent to the presi-
dent and he refused to sign them.
! What reason did he give? He stated
that he would await the findings Of the
tariff board in order that the country
might have the benefit of their find
ings before proceeding farther in tar
if revision. He had called Schedule
K indefensible, yet he refused to &C.
cept the opportunity to make it de-
feasible. He refused to allow any re-
vision whatsoever.
The thing which makes us say that
Taft won't do in the next campaign is
this: Taft deemed it unnecessary to
wait for the findings of the tariff board
before pushing through reciprocity.
When it was a matter of reciprocal
revision which in even the most fair
and open-minded estimate was temper
arely unfavorable to the farming in
dustry of the country. He said "go
ahead" in fact he said "Gedd' up"
When it was question of relieving
the farming industries of the country,
of granting a farmers free list, of cut
ting the cost of wooden clothing and
, the like, Taft then adopted new pol
icy. He said that we couldn't do these
things until we heard from the tar
if board. Why didn't we have to hear
from the board on reciprocity. Why?
Why, the haste to pass reciprocity and
the conservative. carefulness in re-
forming that country. Why? That
combined with some other things has
made us lose confidence in Taft and
Taft's administration.
Taft stands out plainly now. He
never has been and never will be tru-
ly in touch with the great mass of the
American people, their wants., their
needs, their political ideas and ten.
denotes. 1t took a long time to con.
vince us but we are finally convinced
for all time.
LaFollette appeals to US more strong
ly than ever. He is and always has
) been the idol of the west. He is and
always has been rock-rooted in the sol
from which the people of the nation
spring. Today he looms larger in the
3 national horizon than at any time in
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