Omaha daily bee., 1912-02-10

Mr.. Taft is fairly entitled TO renomi-
nation. He deserves it. He has been a
good president He is not standpatter,
but a reasonable progressive. To his high
office he came with an exceptional equip
ment in executive and judicial expert
ence, and IL legislative service had beer
added he would. probably, have avoided
some things that were unfortunate. Al
the beginning OF his term he and his
party suffered by reason Of the memor'
able tariff revision blunder. but II must
be admitted that his record with respect
to the sham revision of 1899 was bettel
than that Of the controlling republican
majority in congress. He sought to i'm.
prove the bill, and accomplished some
thing. But he began the work at time
when very little could be done, when the
field for Improvement was limited to the
disagreements which a conference com.
mittee was considering. He had not beer
a member of congress Probably he hac
not been student Of tariffs and tariff
legislation. For twelve years there hac
been no revision TO attract his attention
He did not realize how sensitive public
opinion was with respect to Legislation
affecting the cost Of living. At the pres
ent time. however. he stands for a down
ward revision that shall be determined BY
facts carefully ascertalned In accordanc,
with a plan designed to prevent logrollins
and bargaining and favoritism in tn,
making Of tariffs.
His policy in other fields has beer
marked by projects Of broad statesmen,
ship. We may point to his memorable
peace treaties his recommendations fol
great extension Of the merit system In
the civil service. and his reciprocity
agreement with Canada. He has en-.
forced the Sherman act suggested the
appointment OF q commission for the
regulation Of great manufacturing cor
poratlons, and sought diligently to pro
mote economy and efficiency In the pub
lie service. He deserves TO be com.
mended for his appointments TO the
bench and his defense OF the courts. His
patience and sense Of justice were exhib-
lied In his admirable treatment Of the
Mexican problem. He has not always
been web served by his cabinet. certain
members Of which have occasionally
erred. The Ballinser incident was ar
unfortunate one. But. as we have said
he has been q good president. a Just and
competent chief magistrate, striving earn
estly TO serve the people.
-
From partisan point of view, failure
because 1t would involve a virtual re
pudiation Of his administration. In Ia
convention. the party will make. Of
course. a platform reviewing and com
mending what the governor has done
In four years. II will ennmerate ths
achievements Of the president Upor
the record OF his term It goes into thu
campaign. To withhold denomination
from the president whose acts and
recommendation It supports would be 4
stultify itself. Upon what reasonably
ground can Mr.. Taft be rejected ant
laid aside this year by those who noml-
mated and elected him in 1908? VII
they say that he has been unfaithful NoI
incempetent7
Some republicans have been saying
that Mr.. Taft could not be reelected. II
there any other candidate for whom tn,
party could get more votes?
Republican prospects are not distinct,
encouraging. but how could they be i'm
proved by rejecting Mr.. Taft. and thu
Indirectly discrediting the party's whits
House record for the current term?