Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-04-15

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1t was the conviction Of Mr.. Taft
that his was not the work of pioneer.
but that of builder, q far lens spectaeu-
lar. but in many respects q much more
difficult task. How to elinch the Roose-
Welt policies with laws that would stand
the tests Of the courts and accomplish
the remedies Of those abuses to the
existence Of which his predecessor had
80 courageously and successfully aroused
the sleeping conscience Of the nation was
the work to which Mr.. Taft set himself
from the day on which he was inaugu-
rated president and TO which he has de-
voted himself with q patience and poise
in the face OF bitter criticism. mis-
representation and In the absolute abb
sence Of that sympathy and assistance
from his predecessor which he had every
reason to count upon. Only his expert
ence as Judge on the bench has en-
abled him TO weather it. His judicial
service taught him when his decisions
were attacked to look to history rather
than to passing public opinion for a
Just appreciation Of their merits. This
has led him at times into one of the
most serious mistakes OF his administra-
ton, that OF paying too little attention
TO public opinion, not because Of any
real indifference to what people think,
but through a conviction that in many
instances criticism has been based on
both of the purpose and
effect Of what he has been trying to &C.
eomplish-
Charge of Being Reactisnary.
Although nominated by the progressive
wing of the republican party four
years ago. Mr.. Taft today is charged
with being reactionary of reaetionaries.
Ample REPUTATION OF this charge Is to
be found In his record of three years
In the White House. and II is unneces-
sary In the light OF the things which he
has accomplished to take up in detail
lie defense OF the various specifications
are now attempting to make out against
him. But an illustration Of the mis-
representation Of his talent is to be
found at the outset OF his administration
In the formation q his cabinet. FIRE.
quently during his campaign Mr.. Taft
was charged with being a carbon copy
Of his predecessor. of being a man with
out a mind Of his own. whose only en-
deayor. II elected. would be to give the
country a weak imitation OF the Roosevelt
regime. Even by the progressives he
was more than once urged to abandon
his praise Of Roosevelt in his speeches
and show wherein he differed from hls
predecessors In methods. while in hearty
accord with the principle. To all
such entreaties Mr.. Taft turued q deaf
ear on the ground that any such attempt
on his part would be mlsinterpreted. He
was content to let the people find out for
themselves that while he heartily be-
lieved In the progressive policies which |
he as part OF Mr.. Roosevelt's cabinet |
had helped to frame. he must necessarily |
resort to different methods in carrying |
them forward and clinchlng them by OBJ |
tanning the enactment OF legislation with |
out which the Roosevelt standards could |
not be maintained.
When he came to make up his cabinet |
he felt the need Of selecting as his auxil- |
iaries and advisors men In sympathy with |
the methods which he intended to |
employ. and he also felt that II he were |
to accomplish the results to which he
and his party were pledged he must have
q free hand in the selection OF his ad-
visors. Furthermore. 10 have retained
the Roosevelt cabinet intact would have
confirmed the charge that he was to be
a mere imitator of his predecessor. The
fact that his selections were not in every
respect the most fortunate does not alter
the wisdom OF his determination to exer-
else his unquestioned rights and select
his own official family. A cabinet officer
under the Taft administration has been
with far more responsibility
and authority than most of them enjoyed
under President Roosevelt. Mr.. Taft has
not felt himself fitted to supervise the
various details Of the executive depart
ments In the way Mr.. Roosevelt did. for
The reason that he possesses neither the
versatility Of interest nor the aptitude for
qualifying as an expert in gunnery or BIZ
ology or simplified spelling. or the thou
sand and one things that Mr.. Roosevelt
thoroughly enjoyed. personally directed
and in most Instances with great success.
As president, Mr.. Taft's effort has been
10 surround himself with a cabinet to
whom he could entrust the management
,f all departmental details. and whom
he expected to consult him only With re-
'pect to larger questions Of policy.
/
At time when the cost Of living Is q
problem that confronts all parts OF this
country and Is today world problem. it
S to the credit Of the Taft administration
hat economy In government has been
,ne OF its watchwords. That substan-
ial beginning has been made toward q
more economical administration Of the
nations affairs Is evident from the fact
hat at the beginning Of the first fiscal
rear after he was inaugurated the coun-
ny was facing a national deficit Of s5s.-
10000 A year later this had been
hanged to q surplus Of s47.oO0.0o. In
very department under the direction Of
he president the estimates were scaled
Town. having been cut last year some
81, eoe,ooo.
Conspicuous In the economy record Of
he administration has been the wiplng
tut Of q si7.00oDo deficit In the Postoffice
until this department has
lot only become sustaining but gives
romise very soon OF actually becoming
ne Of the permanent revenne-producing
departments Of the government. and this
nd every other economy has been ac-
omplished not by curtailing but by ex-
ending the service by the introduction Of
BUSINESS methods. by conservation Of
lme, of labor and of government money,
n example that. IL emulated in the coun-