The Washington times., 1912-09-19
WANTED-A MAN WHO CAN DO THINGS

Mr.. George D. Penniman, one of the substantial
citizens of Baltimore and lifelong Democrat, has
announced his conversion to progressive doctrines
and his intention to support Mr.. Roosevelt.
Briefly summarized, Mr.. Penniman's argument
runs something like this:
Of the old points of difference between the Re-
publican and Democratic parties, only the tariff
question survives; and even this has dwindled to
such point that there is greater immediate need
of electng a President who force Congress to
enact tariff legislation such as the whole country is
agreed upon than of picking and choosing among
the candidates according to their theories of what
ought to be done with the tariff ultimately
Second the country at large is demanding social
welfare legislation, and going to get it, 1t is more
important to elect President who has the force to
prevent its emascuation in obedience to factional
interests of party than to pick and choose accord
ing to the amount Of such legislation the party plat
forms promise.
Third, great aggregations of capital must and
going to be controlled and the relation Of labor
to capital must and is going to be better established
Both problems difficult and dangerous. The
man most suited for President is the man VINO can
successfully the Chief Executives influence
properly to mold legislation concerning them.
Still more briefly SUMMARIZED the best man for
President at the present time is not the of many
good many people will indorse Mr.. Penniman's
view that Mr.. Roosevelt is the one man on the
political horizon who fills these qualifications.
That man is not successful President who floods
Congress with meritorous suggestions and then sits
twidding his thumbs in wonder that Congress does
not Immediately and with rejoicing proceed to enact
them into law Nor is that man likely to become
successful President who must listen with his ears
to the clamor of half his party that he forget his
platform, while the other half holds the written party
pledges before his eyes that he may read and keer
them.
A very strong man might overcome this handi
cap But Governor Wilson is as yet untried in any
great position. He mas made an able, forceful gov
ernor of his State. He has also tried to make Mr.
Charles F. Murphy good by shaking his finger at him
In Washington Governor Wilson would not be fight
ing the small fry of State Legislature, but grea
and potent interests, and men who know eXactl,
what they want and are past masters in the art D
getting it. He could not frignten them as he coulC
the New Jersey assemblymen. Certainly to shake
his finger at them would do no good. Whether HI
has other resources for the management of men i
unknown; and to just that extent this election wout
! be an experiment.
Casting aside all claptrap partisan enthusiasm
and consideration of what may be the ultimate drift
of policy it is not at all likely that the class of gen
eral problems to be handled by Congress in the i'm
mediate future will depend upon whether Wilson o
Roosevelt is elected. To enact the full program O
either at once would be revolutionary and in suc
matters the country moves slowly. One common
type of legislation would serve the purpose of either
The man VINO can get it on the statute books in clear
unemasculated form is the man we want for Pres
dent.