The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-12-02
THE TAFT INTERVIEW.

| ward, well expressed interview in the
Outlook as teIcgraphod for yesterday
mornings Tribunc. IL is appropriate
that he should be heard in that pub
LEGATION, because there has been a good
deal Of criticism therein from tho con
tributing editor. Col. Roosevelt, hos
title TO President Tafts purposes and
propositions
IL appears that the Winona speech
assumes an importance in the mind
OF President Taft at this time that
would hardly have been credited. save
for tho attention given TO il in this
interview. The President. however.
stands by that speech In the main, cI.
planning only that he would have ex.
pressed himself somewhat differently
II he had taken moro time and given
tho thought in his mind moro exact
expression. He docs not claim now
that the tariff law of 1909 was the
best ever enacted. but only compare
lively an Improvement over some
others: which is quite different mat
ter.
HN' " kh' ANNklfs NfrllfhA 4 alt e
presses himself as saving that rcduc-
tions in the wooleu and cotton sched-
ulcs, and possibly in the metal sched-
ules Of the tariff, "will 90 10 the top
Of the calendar 10 his programme Of
insistcnce upon Congress II j. clear
case that the President is in the same
frame OF mind that nc WAS with re.
spect to the woolcu schedule when be
said that It was indefeusible II is a
clear ease also that the cotton schcd.
ule is quite as iudefensible. and that
the metal schedule is even more so,
and is proved 20 he so, daily.
We are glad to sec that the Presi-
dent keeps in mind his proposal for
relieving the paralysis of Alaska. and
allowing development to proceed in that
much.afflictcd region. He is IN favor
of legislation which will enable Alaska
20 develop "withou, infringing on
our broad policy Of conservation. - But
the fact is. that there is no broad
policy of conservation. but very mar
row. limited, and sectional policy
which does not deserve the name Of
policy at all President Taft will
doubtless come 70 see this in time. and
We wish that he would sec il now; but
the fact that he has his mind clear on
tho necessity Of allowing Alaska an
opportunity TO develop is great step
in progress. The President won de-
cisive victory over the fanatical con
servation notions of Pinchot in the
Controller Bay controversy. and il is
to he hoped that he will he equally
triumphant in his whole Alaskan policy.
and that that policy will bc liberal
enough TO allow of something prscti-
cal being done
The President also will insist upon
the ratification OF the peace treaties
between this country and England and
France. and the fiscal treaties with
Honduras and Nicaragua, which, in
their way, rs he explains, are peace
treaties also, a. their purposes are TO
remove one of the most prolific causes
of war The Tribune has discussed
fully all Of these treaties. and cspc-
cially the one with Nicaragua. and also
the Honduran treaty. II seems 10 be
plain that Congress would do an in
Justice 20 those countries and 10 the
United States as well. il il failed TO
ratify the treaties with Nicaragua and
Honduras. As to the great arbitra-
tion treaties between Great Britain
and France and the United States,
there appears 10 be an almost unani.
nous opinion in this country in their
! favor. except only in the Senate Of
the United States, where the petty
! view is taken that possibly some in
friugcment on the prerogatives Of the
Senate might result from that ratifica.
ton. This is too small and narrow n
| view, however, 10 afford the slightest
| Justification for the defeat of those
| treaties, We trust that the better
| Judgment Of the Senate wall come 10
the relief tho treaties. especially with
the general consensus that the Root
amendment, which reserves from az.
| bitration "any question which depends
| upon or involves the maintenance Of
the traditional attitude of tho United
! States concerning American questions
or other purely governmental policy,
viii be acceptable 20 the President.
! This. with tho other amendment which
is also conceded. that TO the Senate
will bc accorded the ratification of
the appointments Of the high commits
sioners which are expected 10 deter
mine whether any given proposition is
iusticiable or not. ought 70 smooth the
vay for the easy and quick ra,ifica-
tiou Of those treaties.
The interview is decidedly straight
forward. manly declaration. and Presi-
dent Taft is 10 be congratulated upon
making il, and especially upon his in
vasion Of the cDemy's country ia
I having II appear IN the Outlook.
THE DAY WELL OBSERVED.