The Washington herald., 1912-06-23


and factlonal friction to create party dis
sension and party criticism It was und-
erstood that he was 70 pursue the Roose-
welt policies" which. though popular IN
some political quarters. were equally I'M
popular In others. He did not pursue
them. He took his own initiative, ablded
by his own counsel, and stood out firmly
for the measures and administrative poll
oies that his own judgment told him
were right.
Faeed Moot Questions.
As President he not only faced the
questions left over by ex-President
Roosevelfs administration. but he en-
barked upon a period OF dIssenson An
his own party. He vas placed In ne
-difficult position Of having to please 3 th
the standpat wing OF Republicapism and
the progressive branch Of the RepubH-
can party. II be pursued one course
he was bound to ALLEVIATE the support
OF one faction OF the Republicans; II he
pursued another he wes In the same
predicament. His administration, there
fore, lent itself to criticism no matter
which way he turned, and much critI-
cism had been accorded Il. II cannot
be denied. however. that Mr.. Taft ad-
vocated the things he thought were
anu puEEuGu pOllGAG1 NlLnOul
reference TO his political future.
Mr.. Taffs most serious party break
came with the signing OF the Payne
Aldrich tarin law. Through this act
he alienated the support Of such men
as the late Senator Dolliver Of Iowa,
Senator La Toilette Of Wisconsin. Sena-
tor Cummins Of Iowa, and other promi-
nent men OF the progressive faction of
the Republican party.
These men went before the people and
claimed that Mr.. Taft had betrayed the
trust Of his party through signing a
measure that embodied largely the pro-
tective tariff. Mr.. Taft stood to his guns
and upheld his action. He claimed that
revision OF the tariff downward was not
expedient. He met the attacks Of the
Democratic legislature by vetoing their
low tariff bills, and explained his action
by stating that he wanted to hear the
ohicial reports OF the various boards in
vestigating the measures which they so
hastily advocated.
Through his reciprocity bill. providing
for the free interchange Of certain COM
modities between Canada and the United
States, he sought to alleviate the suf-
ferings OF the people.
This measure was enthusiastically ad-
vocated by his friends and was passed
bye both houses Of Congress. It met
Its Waterloo when the Canadian Par
Lament overthrow Laurier and repudl-
ated the tentative agreement largely on
sentimental grounds.
Advocate of Peace.
In the advocacy Of international peace
he surpassed all previous Presidents. He
assembled the representatives OF France,
Germany and England, and submitted to
them a treaty which would practically
obviate war between the four nations
party 10 the agreement. This measure
had the enthusiastic approval Of such
men as Carnegie and Rockefeller, and
was heralded as the greatest step to-
ward the deletion Of war ever taken by
the head Of a modern government The
bills passed the House by a large ma
JOrity, both Democrats and Republicans
Joining hands In singing their encomiums
and passing them along TO the Senate
They were killed in the upper body
largely through adverse sentiments set
afOot by those who claimed that national
degeneration would follow the submissal
o: such international disputes as they
provided for TO a court Of arbitration.
The railroad rate bill. passed during
Tafts administration. is regarded by
many as the most effective measure look
ing toward the regulation Of transpor-
tation corporations ever enacted by the
United States. This. too. however, came
II for factional criticism.
When the Supreme Court Of the United