The Washington times., 1911-02-19
ATTITUDE Of TAFT
PUZZLES W|SEACRES
Experienced Politicians in
Congress Unable to Fol-
low the President.

A lot of old and experienced politicians
among the Republican members OF Con-
gress are standing around and gasplng
for breath every time they contemplate
the politics Mr.. Taft is playing.
1t would be more correct to say the
politics which the politicians up on the
hill think Mr.. Taft is not playing. For
from the standpoint of lot of Repub-
licans in House and Senate, Mr.. Taft is
doing lust the thing a politician ought
not do.
So, they are wondering whether Tart
stands a ghost of chance OF re-elec-
tinn. His denomination is generally con-
Ceded.
A number of the things the President
has advocated recently are calculated
either to split his party or TO hurt him.
as great numbers Of his Republican
brethren at the Capitol see ii. And they
are wondering what is the explanation
No Attention to Politics.
One story going the rounds is that
President Taft doesn't really expect re-
election. and doesn't care whether or
not he is reelected. So he has made up
his mind TO be President for the next
two wears lust as he pleaseS, to do the
things he wants to, and pay no atten-
tior to the political side of it.
On no other basis, SO runs the talk OF
a number Of the Republicans in Con-
gress, can there be an accounting OF
wrv the President has indorsed these
three things:
Canadian reciprocity. with an extra
session if the Senate does not pass it.
The increased postage rate for maGa-
zines.
The blocking Of the Sulloway pension
bill. with q veto threatened if it is
passed.
From the standpoint of most Of the
Republican politicians in Congress each
one of these propositions is calculated
to cost Mr.. Taft and the Republican
party votes.
Question of Farmers Vote.
That is. the reciprocity agreement is
expected to cost some votes in the agri-
cultural States. Whether the votes of
farmers lost by it will be more than
counteraCted by the votes of ultimate
consumers is a matter of difference of
opinion. Mr.. Taft's friends think the
ultimate consumers are going to be so
pleased they will rehabilitate his politi-
cal fortunes.
The ultra high tariff men in Congress
are sore, and talk bitterly, and they
would like to see Mr.. Taft punished
for stirring up the reciprocity issue and
starting what they call the breaking
down of the protective system.
With reciprocity It is question
whether Mr.. Taft will not gain more
than he will lose in the net outcome.
Doubt Magazines Support.
But when it comes to the increase of
ne rate on the postage of the maga-
zines, it is the general belief about
congress that it is a bad move political
~ 1t is true. President Taft has al
ready been more or less severely criti-
cised in many of the periodicals. And
il is freely talked that the Admins
tratiou is reaching out in return to lay
on the heavy hand of revenge. But
whatever be the cause, the periodicals
of the country are not likely to rush
madly 10 the support of Mr.. Taft for re-
election IL they have to pay Accent
postage rate on their advertising pages.
The old soldiers of the country are al
most a unit apparently in favor of the
SullOWay bill. If the President should
veto this bill, he is well-nigh certain to
lose the votes of the old soldiers in
W.. Their vote is largely Republican,
and might turn an election, and do it
easily.
Urge Use of Big Stick.
But tnere is dnOtner sue 10 IL all
President Taft was elected largely be-
cause the people thought he was going
to be another Roosevelt. He lost caste
in the early months of his Adminstra
ton because he displayed too much of
a tendency to 20 along with the old
guard leaders, the reaCtionaries, in Con-
gresS.
Some of the political leaders believe
Mr.. Taft still has strong hold on the
affections of the country, and that If he
picks up the Big Stick. brushes off its
Cobwebs and proceeds to lambast every
thing and everybody that doesn't look
good to him, regardless of consequences,
he will run so fast in 1912 that you
can't catch him. Politics is strange
game. Who can tell how it will all work
out?