The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-23
TAFT AND PRoGREss.


tory is replete with instances where
peoples have plunged themselves into
dire straits because they became dis
satisfied, for one reason or another,
with their form of government and
changed it root and branch over night
either by revolution with bullets
or one with ballots. And yet much
sof the propaganda of the Bull Moose
party, which declares that it is the
only party in the United States that
stands for progress, contemplates most
radical changes in governmental meth
DDS. 1t might mean progress in the
right direction. And it might not. In
fact, it might make for a serious re-
progression. Therefore, to stamp these
untried policies, many of which are
opposed to the constitutional plan on
which this government was founded
and has grown great, and the men who
are urging them, as being the only
progressive agencies and progressive
agents that are before the people for
selection or rejecticn-to stamp these
policies as progressive merely because
they contemplate changes is as ridicu-
lous as any proposition could be. AS
matter of fact, many of the self
styled Progressives il this country are
true prototypes of the "Gawdsakers,' -
who have been introduced by H. G..
Wells, the English novelist, in his new
est, and much discussed story. Mar
rage" Mr.. Wells explains that the
"Gawdsakers'' are the people who
jump up and say For Gawds sake
let's do something" without thinking
things out. And he gives them a de-
served grilling for their foolishness and
recklessness.
A nation of the proportions and COM
plexity of these United States can only
make real progress in any direction,
slowly, if the stability of it's govern
ment is to be preserved and the rights
of all its citizens are to be respected.
That is a fact of the automatic variety.
1t doesn't need demonstration. And
this would certainly have been much
more wonderful nation even than it is,
if its development had been brought
about without any mistakes that have
permitted evils of one sort and another
to crowd their way into the body poll
tic. This government has always had
problems to solve. And the great bulk
of them have always been solved
slowly but surely, and satisfa ctorily;
{ nd in accord with the fundamental
of constitutionalism, the
bulwark of our national fabric which
has played no small part in making
the United States the envy of all the
nations of the world.
No estimate can be made on future
people to solve such problems as con-
front them under any system of gov
eminent can only be judged by what
they have done in this direction in the
past. And the performances in the
past of the people of the United
States through their trusted servants. !
in settling each vexed problem as il
has Gomez up under the system of gov
crnment which prevails here. anc
which has proven to be most elastic.
is surely a sufficient guarantee that
each issue of the hour and the future
can be solved successfully with the
same basic machinery of government |
AS each problem of the past, big or
little, has been met and solved, a |
step of progress has been made. 1t |
s the history of the country, too, that /
most of the real progress has been |
made under Republican administra- /
ions. The record of the Republican
party in the past is the best cri- !
.erion of its capabilities to meet +
;quarely and succ essfully the questions |
If the day and the immediate future.
And under no Republican administra-
ion since the time of Lincoln has any
such record of actual accomplishments
worth while been made as there has
)een under the administration presided /
,ver by Mr.. Taft. He is a trained and
skilled executive of the broadcast SYM
,athies and widest viewpoints. Greater
progress in the enactment of important
egislation that the people had been
demanding and in a variety of other
Ways was made under the first two
ears of his rule, when he had a Re
publican congress to work with, than
vas made during the previous twelve
ears when Mckinley and Roosevelt
we're in the saddle. To style William
Toward Taft as a reactiOnary is sheer
mpudance. He has made mistakes.
But they have been magnifed away
nd beyond their real significance.
His has been an administration of
rogress and reform in many most es-
entail directions. He is an advocate
# many progressive measures that
ongress has not yet seen fit to act
n with favor. His plans for economy
n federal expenditures that would ul-
imately result in a saving of $780,
90, 900 or $3OO,OOO,0O0 a year is alone OF
efficient concern to challenge the at
ention and admiration of the whole
eople of the country. If congress
Tould act on his suggestion to place
Il the subordinate officials of the
ederal government under classified