The Washington herald., 1912-10-27
SAMUEL J. ELDER
Republican.

Mr.. Taft had the widest training with
which any President ever entered the
white House. He was. as was then said,
''sthe only man who had been over the
plant" During his administration the
country has recovered from the financial
reaction Of 1907 and entered upon what
ought to be an assured course Of pros
perity. He has pursued that middle course
which has SO little OF popular appeal in II
and so much OF assurance and security.
During his administration a deficit Of $50.
1000 a year has been changed into a sur
plus Of 80. 100000 a year; . reasonable cor
poration tax has been imposed: reform Of
the civil service greatly extended: con-
servation has been sanely and vigorously
promoted: excellent judicial appointments
have been made: a worbmsn's compensa-
ton act pushed forward; increased rail-
road rates restrained; q parcel post Sc
cured: the Panama Canal has been
brought towards an early completion: in
the face Of popular cIamor. the Constitu-
ton and the courts have been fearlessly
upheld. Mr.. Taft has never played poll
tics. No trust prosecution has been de-
layed to affect an election. He Is not q
politician and has had no policy except
to tell the people the truth az he sees II.
The Democrats threw down the gauge Of
battle q year ago in the cotton bill. the
wool bill. and the farmers free list. Presi-
dent Taft accepted the challenge and ve-
toed the bills. Similar bills have been
presented TO him again this summer, on
the even of election. and in the midst OF
an intense campaign, and Mr.. Taft has
again vetoed them. Certainly no one can
deny that he has the courage Of his con-
victi6ns.
The Democrats have carried their pro-
posed legislation into their platform. and
declared for tariff for revenue only. The
Democratic Speaker OF the House of Rep
resentatives. the Democratic floor leader.
and the Democratic Presidential candi-
date are opposed to protection. They have
not contented themselves with denuncia-
ton OF the inequalities in the tariff, but
have raised anew the question whether
the Constitution permits the protection OF
American industries.
Nothing should be palmer than that
radical reduction OF the tariff In this coun-
try u impossible. Radical revision down.
ward means unemployment. closed shops,
and workmen in the employ only OF
Street & Walker" 1t is of no import
ance whether such a revision is wise or
not. whether II would furnish IN the end
an ideal tariff or not 1t cannot be tested.
In two years comes a new Congressional
election. In four years a new Presidential
election. Workmen are without work and
farmers have diminished markets for
their product. II IL unavailIng 20 urge
them to possess their souls in patience.
The party which is the immediate cause
Of the suffering goes down to defeat. and
men pledged to protection are returned to
power by overwhelming majorities. The
result is a revision of the tariff upward.
The Republican party stands not merely
on its declarations. but'cn its accomplish
ments. Presidept Taft has suffered more.
perhaps. from the statement at winona
three years ago that the Payne-Aldrich
bill was the best tariff measure the coun-
try had ever had than for any other single
cause: but It was, and is. the best tariff
the country has ever had.
AS for Mr.. Roosevelt. he has never had
any tariff policy. and he has none now.
For seven and a half years. in the face
OF increasing and vehement protests
against the Dingley bill. he did nothing.
He Is the ablest Of politicians and he
knew the danger OF definite dealing with
the tariff. He left II to his successor. II
Is no campaign bogey this danger of a
permanent Presidency. The men who
know Mr.. Roosevelt best, who served In
his Cabinet and in Congress during his
administrations. are opposed to him now.
There is no reason to doubt that, II elect
ed now. he will feel that his mission to
the American people imperatively requires
him to accept . fourth term.