The Washington times., 1912-07-31
HELP A cRIPPLEl

Nothing proves the complete vacuity Of Tafts
Administration, the absolute zero Of constructive
work done by him in the past three years, more than
the semi-oficial announcement that he intends to
make the tariff issue the burden Of his speech OF
acceptance.
For while it was emphasized in Administration
circles and in the reactonary press that Tafts record
as trust buster" was the really big thing OF his
Administration. A formidable list Of prosecutions
started under his direction occupied conspicuous posi-
ton in all standpatters praise Of his work.
1t was iterated and reiterated that while Roose-
welt talked about fighting trusts, Taft really fought
them; that his was an Administration of action quiet
but effective.
Within week the news item has gone the round
of the reactionary papers that Tafts vigorous prose-
cution Of the trusts under Wckersham's personal
supervision has so angered Big Business that it will
not support Taft unless he lets Wickersham so.
Could any record, If it actually existed, be any
more popular than such one as credited to Taft
on the trust question?
Another policy of the Taft Administration was
played for the stellar role for monthsthe policy of
reciprocity with Canada. II was pronounced the
greatest piece Of constructive legislation conceived
by any President for generation Those Repub-
lcans from the Western States who opposed it we're
denounced by every yed-in-the-wool Administration
enemies to their country.
Yet the Chicago Republican platform did not
mention the Canadian reciprocity measure, and now
it is announced that Taft intends to recommend to
Congress that the reciprocity act be repealed Al
ready he has informed the Finance Committee Of
the Senate Of his desires in this respect Thus he
himself aids in repudiatng one Of his greatest
pieces of constructive craftsmanship"
Deprived Of these two policies he gropes around
to find something upon which to hang his campaign
something to justify his official existence and he is
driven to choose-what?
The least of many evils
Out of the mess of Balnger scandals, land
frauds, betrayal of the conservation policy, the
Wickersham railroad bill which almost approximated
crime, the hamstringng of the pure food laws, the
appointments of nterestcontroed judges to Federal
benches the veoing of the right of people to frame
their own State constitution so as to give to them
selves direct government the manhandling Of Fed
eral appontees everywhere, the renewal Of the
spoils system and the use Of patronage to force
measures through Congress, and the Payne-Aldricn
tariff-Taft is forced to select the Payne-Aldrich
tariff as the one he can best defend.
And the Payne-Aldrich tariff was the issue which
made the present House Democratic!
Think of the extremity of an Administration
which begins with Winona speech and ends with a
stolen nomination!
Sound the poverty of it when it is forced to
select as its strongest issue policy which the people
have once repudiated
1t is the first time any Administration in this
country ever had to 60 through bankruptcy proceed
ings and then give pound party and basket social
in order to enlist enough sympathy to give it the
appearance of being popular.