The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-08-28
PRESIDENT TAFT's FIRST GUN.

ludicial tone, their complete oopsio'
Grafton of all the elements Of the case
and their eminent fairness to friend
and foe alike. This has been his
strength during the recent extra ses-
sion Of Congress, and il was his
strength in dealing with the Congress
that expired on the fourth OF March
last. We regret 10 see, however. that,
in his Opening gun" of the campaign
Of next year. fired at Hamilton. Massa-
ohusetts, in his address before the
Essex County Republican Club. and
other friends on Saturday last, the
President departed from his usual de-
Lucrative and candid tone. The speech
was. in fact. the most disingenuous
that we have ever known him to make.
In referring TO the support Of the
Democratic party for bis chief concern,
the Canadian reciprocity agreement, he
warmly commended that support, and
expressed his appreciation Of IL, but
he just as warmly denounced the course
Of the Democrats in their attempted
tariff legislation On both these prop
| ositions The Tribune is decidedly with
| President Taft. II is with all the more
regret, therefore, that we see his blame
visited entirely upon the Democrats.
and his praise so largely gwen 10
the Republicans, without any censure
at all.
On the mnin proposition, for which
| the extra session Of Congress was
called, the Canadian reciprocity agree
ment, the President praised the Demo.
Gratis, but he failed TO visit tho CORE
spending and proper censure upon the
Republicans. The vote against the
reciprocity agreement. in both houses
of Congress, was composed almost en-
tirely Of Republicans; but the Presi
dent does not blame the Republicans
at all, though he praises the Demo
Gratis on this point; possibly he wants
his censure 10 be inferred, from con.
trast. But fairness would require its
expression, and the exposure Of the
facts
He blames the Democrats, and Sena.
tor La Toilette by name, for attempted
tariff legislation when there was no
proper data before Congress upon
which 10 found that legislation; but
he does not blame the body of the
Republican Senators who absented
themselves from the chamber and al
lowed the Democrats TO pass the cot.
ton and iron and steel schedules, with
4 Oh ,t oI,,1o
over the opposition of the insurgent
Republicans, although those Republi
cans who absented themselves were
presumably opposed 20 the action taken.
But being opposed TO that action, they
should have remained in their seats.
and voted down the bill, as they were
we'll able 70 do Here was both treach-
cry TO principle, and direct attempt
10 put the President Gin a holep by
the Republican Senators; these Sena-
tors acting in direct opposition to
their own principles in sncaking out of
the chamber and allowing that bill 10
pass by reason of their absence. And
vet, the President omits any eensure
Of those Senators, and claims that the
Republican party is strengthened by
reason of the Democratic attitude in
Congress on the tariff question. All
this makes mp the most uncandid
speech, special pleading buncombe. that
we have ever known President Taft
TO be guilty of. and we deeply regret
that he is capable of it.
In his eXpositions OF the methods
adopted by the Democrats in the fran
ing up of their tariff propositions; in
his exposure of the sudden shifting
from one proposition 10 another without
any consideration at all Of the effects
Of what was being done. President
Taft was at his best His showing in
all that part Of his speech was very
strong, and his points were admirably
put.
His opinion that the effects of the
efforts TO pass those iumbled and i'll
considered tariff bills will rebound 10
the advantage of the Republican party
is judgment with which a good many
will not agree. Undoubtedly, the ad.
vantage in all this Injured personally
10 President Taft. But, since insur-
gents and standpht Senators appeared
TO be more at outs with each other
than either WIS with the Democrats on
the various movements, and since the
insurgents ht times lined up with the
| Democrats and the standpatters alb.
sented themselves so that the Demo
Gratis could carry the cotton bill in
their absence. we should say that the
! Republican party has certainly gained
| nothing By reason Of the extra session.
While. II we consider the party action
as manifested by the vast majority OF
IS members. both 10 the Senate and in
the House. these practically in mass
| opposing reciprocity. our iudgmeu,
would be that the Republican party
has distinctly suffered. while the Presi.
dent himself will gain.
AT the opening Of the extra session
| there was 4 distinct impression that