The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-02
SATURDAY, DECEMBER Z. 1911
PREsrpENT TAr-rs INTERVIEW.

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In the forthcoming Issue Of the outlook an
Interview with the President will be printed.
III. Francis E. Leupp is the interviewer and
sthe article is full Of interest In 1t Mr.. Taft
explicitly states what has been matter of
ecmnon knowledge; that he is a candidate for
ne denomination of his party. Says he: Il do
not affect 10 deny the satisfaction should feel
III. after casting up the totals pro and con- and
aszriktng a balance. they should decide that my
arss term had been fruitful enough TO warrant
their enlisting me for another. But / have
NOT been willing nor shall l be- to purchase
Il Il the sacrifice Of my freedom to do my duty
~ see IL"
This is said In a straightforward. manly and
1ignifed fashion and none who have followed
closely the career of the President will doubt its
sincerity. Mr. Taft's course. especially on the
s4arin. has been full OF apparent Inconsistencies,
but his position has been a delicate and at
zines an embarrassing one and We have conf
Aence enough in the integrity of the man to feel
that. whatever the surface may indicate, Mr.
Tat has endeavored to deal fairly with the
situation so far as the political exigencies Of
his situation would permit.
VI The interview is interesting chiefly as de-
tense of his tarir dealings. He is frank enough
10 avow his opposition to the course of his
party at this point. He admits that he has
long been convinced that the Republicans have
been OVERRIDING the tariff business and he be-
Iieves that the chief objection to the high pro-
Beehive tariff is that 1t has nourished monopoly.
With these admissions, however. We do not
believe that he can convince the country that
there is anv hope of relief from another Repub-
ifcan administration. Nor do we think his
own course justiaes the hope that he will have
sufscient power as President to compass any
eonsiderable reform He has signally failed
already to secure any great reform In tarin leg
islation and at the crucial moment he disap-
poin.ed the people by his vetoes OF tariff bills
fhaf might at least have been tested by trial.
and offers nothing of new and valuable infor-
nation IN the subject his last plea and prop
will have been knocked from under him.
The Republican party is the recognized
champion OF the protective tariff and the inter
ests and influences in that party are so strong
that a president who owes his election to its
support cannot go very far In the direction OF
reform, however sincere his purpose may be
There Is but one hope of relief; the election oil
m executive and congressional majority that
can carry forward TO success well defined
program OF tariff revision
IL One thing TO which the President alludes IL
true and all fair-minded men, OF whatever party
Or principle will grant him deserved credit
for It, He has been discriminating and patri
otto in his appointments to the Supreme Bench
As much as We admire Mr.. Bryan, we thna
his insinuations of Interior motives In these ap
pointments are unwarranted and unproven. II
n the appointment OF Hughes, Lurton and Lamar
& ne has chosen men OF high character, distin
xuished abilities and unquestioned patriotism
and no one Is justified in casting reflections
upon them or him And his elevation of MIR
Justice white to the place Of chief justice was
tribute to a man whose conspicuous equipment
and service fully warranted the selection.
Mr. Taft has failed as President Of the United
etates not because he has proven insincere anc
he lacks that strength and moral courage thai
would have made II possible for him to drive
ahead In the following his own views regard
Ioss Of his party leaders and because he was :.
Influenced by the unwise advice of polite ms
Who in some way exerted a powerful ir <ence
upon him. We think he realizes his Gistakes
and at this late day Is endeayoring%.o reassure
the public but IL il too late. II the Democratic
PARTY is wise the next President will come from
IT. ranks