The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-25
TAFT STANDS FIRM.

TAFT STANDS FIRM
whether one be a Republican or Democrat. or
friend or foe to President TAFT admiration for
the Chief Executive cannot be logically or right
fully withheld in view Of his stand on an extra
session OF congress.
The Congress OF the United States is elected
70 transact the nations most important business,
enact needed legislation and appropriate money
from the common treasury to make the wheels
of the governmental machinery revolve Mat.
,ers of great public Importance and nationwide
urgency should be transacted as expeditiously
and thoroughly as al intelligent body Of men
can handle them The third session Of the Six
ty.hrst Congress has NOT been of the benefit to
the people and the nation that it should have.
In the words Of Senator owen. from OklahQma,
ana nativeborn Virgiuian. The American
public has repudiated this congress- Matters
OF the gravest importance have come up in the
two houses of Congress since last December,
only to be sideracked and ignored. The Senate.
supposed 10 he a more lofty, dgnifed and sensi-
bic body than the House. is more culpable than
The House has voted favorably on the bill
creating a tariff board and the reciprocal trade
agreement with Canada The best interests of
the people of this country and the nation itself
demand the enactment into law Of these mea-
sures. There are iunumerable other worthy
measures upon which the Senate and the House
should act if Congress Is really to be the clear
ing-house of public business
The fact that William Howard Taft is Re-
publican and owes allegiance to that party does
not mean that us thinking man, he is blind to
his duty to the American people. nor that he
cannot personally father legislation favorable to
the public. He has sponsored several measures
which he believes in his heart and conscience
are imperative for the nations good The 1910
il Congress has dilly-iaiIied over these mea-
sures with a hope that adjournment would re-
iieve congressman and senators of the RESPONSE
bilties which they are loath to meet
President Taft intends calling an extra SEES
sion that necessary legislation be enacted. He
is to be commended for his firm stand in this
matter. He believes the people of the country
are back of him. aud we believe he is right
Politicians and representatives of the special
interests have brought great pressure to bear
upon Mr.. Taft to dissuade him from his extra
session views. but he has turned deaf ear tc
all The President has been reminded of the
fact that an extra session always unsteadeS
business and causes industrial conditions not al
all to be sought for or courted- His gratuitous
counsellors have emphasized the fact-and it il
an undeniable fact-that the Democrats will bt
in the majority in the extra session, and viii
begin II downward revision Of the tariff -Thif
asse, ,fas failed 10 7nove Mt, Taft. Those win
wish TO forestall an extra session have said that
the welfare of the nation would be seriously
jeopardized by the converting of the Congress
Immediately after March 4th AS between the
nation going 10 rack and ruin because of ar
extra session and by the failure of the Congress
to do its duty toward the people and the nation
Mr.. Taft has made his choice. and he is to be
praised for his firm stand and dis determine
ton to see that the viii OF the people is obeyed