Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-09-01
ASKS Bill OF PARTICULARS

has been a progressive plank To Taft
we owe the very liberal reciprocity
agreement with Canada. Has reciproc-
ity ceased to he progressive demand?
Tariff revision in the fight of facts
and scientific tests, protection without
extortion, log rolling and greed, pro-
terction mea sured by the cost of pro-
duction, has for years been universally
regarded as a progressive plank. Tart
is reyisonist an anti-extortion tarlll
man. a believer in the test theoretically
favored by all the insurgents. Wherein
is his attitude reactionary? True, ne
has vetoed patchwork bills and insists
on giving the tariff board time for in
lvestigation-time fixed by congress it
seif-and using it's data Does this
in August-and in the dark-progres-
sive, and revision in December. and in
the light, reactionary?
Unlimited arbitration is one OF the
most inspiring proposals ever made. Is
Taft. who has made it. worked for II,
given US the epoch-making treaties
with England and France, q reaction
airy?
/ Are the presidents positions on con-
servation. income taxation. regulation
OF common carriers, employees liability,
trust control. legal procedure. economy
reactionary?
| There vii. be some general excep-
tons to the statements OF the case as
presented. First and foremost. there is
some question about the equity and
| the liberaiity OF the Canadian agree
ment.
/ The date of the split between Taft
and the progressive came then the
Aldrich tariff was being considered.
When its iniquities and the log rolling
| processes of its construction were
subject OF debate in congress, when
insurgents were stalking their political
lives on the issue and defying the as
| pointing out the jokers in the proposed
law, how much encouragement did they
get from the PRESIDENT What did he
do to help. them remedy bill, some
parts Of which he admitted were in
! defensible ?" Was Taft progressive
or reactionary in this matter? And
right here he laid the foundation Of all
his subsequent trouble with the insur-
gents.
Tage the railroad rate bill for an
other example. Progressive senators
gave this measure all the merits it
possesses over executive frowns. Taft
endorsed the hill of the reactionaries
in this direction and again gave no
encouragement to the progressiyes.
On the income tax proposal the
president shifted from a real income
tax measure to corporation tax. On
the matter Of conservation, there is
yet some question. The discharge Of
Pinchot and Claws and the retention OF
Ballinger never looked progressive to
a large number Of people The APP
pointment OF Fisher in place OF Bal
linger is an Improvement but all doub.
on this poin. has not yet been re-
moved.
The presidents work for arbitration
is highly commemorate as are his eff
forts to Introduce economy into the
administration OF governmental affairs.
And he may still make good on the
tariff. But there is abundant evidence
to warrant the doubt Of a real progress
sive as to the genuineness Of his faith.
From the beginning OF his admins
tration Mr.. Taft has opposed the pro-
gressives in congress. He is opposing
them still and If his first campaign
speech is to be accepted as criterion,
he proposes to draw the line in such
way in the coming campaign that pro-
gressires who want to be loyal to the
republican party must consent to the
humiliation Of LaFollette and his
associates" in order to support the
president when he becomes the nom-
inee Of the party as 1t is reluctantly
admitted tia: he Is likely to be.
In view Of the work achieved in
Wisconsin, In Iowa, in Minnesota, in
Kansas. in oregon, in California, in
Washington under progressive leaders;
in view of what was done to the rail-
way rate bill In Washington: IN view
Of what was achieved In Illinois un-
der non-progressive auspices. it seems
passing strange that Mr.. Taft must
keep his back to the wall continually
while he puts In all his time facing
and fighting progressive men and
measures II there is doubt in the
minds OF people as to Mr.. Tafts pro-
gressive ideas and ideals he has him.
self to blame He made his own bed
Mr.. Taft viii ind little sympathy In
the west for his program OF running
a steam roller over the men who have
been pioneers in the reform move
ment Before he sets out on this pro.
gram It would be well for him to PEE
ruse carefully = copy q Burke's speech
to the English parliament on Con
siliation.-
/ Topics Of the Times