The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-28
you NEVER CAN TELL.

subterfuge, triekery ana cnieanery are the es'
American political arena will fascinate and en-
thran so long as the unexpected is to be expect
ed; and that means always.
Some politicians are genuine, dyed-intbe-"oo
enignaas Nobody ever knows what they are 60
Ing TO do, and they never do what anybody
surmised they would. After they do IT, how
ever, it is usually the case that they or their
cliques or clans have come out on top. This is the
genus homo known as a good politician. a
shrewd politician.
These good politicians oan be at ~daggers'
points with the superficial enemy one moment,
and showering kisses upon him the next This
is good politics, and although the public gener-
ally, and constituents particularly. do not un-
derstand. it is all clear as crystal to the shrewd
politician. Sometimes men who have Quafed
the nectar Of the gods from the same golden
cup. with arms entwined around each others
necks, part company and their tongues become
AS faoile and eloquent with abuse as they were
won't to be with protestations OF love.
Witness now the weather-vane shift Of Senator
Jonathan Bourne. who mas not only deserted but
condemned David" in the White House. Mr..
Bourne's friendship seems to have the imperma-
nency of color of a cameleon's back. He seems
to have used no mordant whatsoever in setting
his hues.
While discussion was fife as to whether Presi-
dent Roosevelt should run In 1908. Mr.. Bourne
1fFa~pd I'll nD0 for the hast naOps univ rho Col.
onel should bear the G. O. p. standard again.
He used his every influence to persuade the sage
of Oyster Bay To consent to be President again.
To Mr.. Bournes mind there was not another
man in the world, not excepting The then Secre-
tary of War. who was as fit TO be chief executive
of this great nation as Colonel FRAGILE" The
Colonel was adamant. however, and Secretary of
War Taft was elected. whereupon Jonathan
Bourne not only fell upon the Ohioan's Shout,
ders and wept tears of JOY, but made a golf en-.
gaeement with him. They would be playing
golf together yet but for the fact that Jonathan
has 'teed of" in the Senate with a stroke which
piles PelIon and Ossa between them.
Mr.. Bourne. of Oregon, has risen up in the
Senate and declared that this once beloved
friend of his from Ohio. by influencing congress.
sional votes the way he wanted them to go with
patronage, has sunken TO the level of the ward.
heeler, and used a powerful b~ludgeon with which
to whip legislators into line. What Mr.. Bourne
says about Federal patronage will find a ready
Amenl throughout the country, particularly in
the South. where It's vicious influence is felt.
But-Mr. Bourne is president OF the Progress
sire Republican League. composed in the main
of Insurgents and enemies of President Taft
and when the organization was formed ii was
freely predicted that it meant the repudiation
OF the present White House umb and the
paving of the way for the Man OF Destiny back
from Elba.'
1t has been said Of President Taft that he ia
as guileiess as a child In political affairs. and
many of the things charged to him are not at.
trfbntable to him as a politician. but to the men
who realized his unsophistioation and made the
best of it-PefAsps a,frcng the many mistakes
made by President Taft during the early DAYS
OF his residence in the Executive Mansion was
that Of playing golf and otherwise hobnobbing
with Senator Jonathan Bourne. Of Oregon.