Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-01-02
He Amt One Of Us.
Worlds work.l

AT one OF the towns In Kansas Wnefe
President Taft stopped during his long
journey, a great crowd Of country peo-
pie came to hear him. His speech was
an historical discourse which provoked
no enthusiasm. AS the crowd dispersed
one countryman said to another: NO
he amt one Of u.s." There is much tes-
timony to snow that this feeling pre-
walls in many parts of the country
which the president visited. At club.
surrounded Try lawyers, where his good
natured comparable instincts have
free play at close range, they
do not find themselves in d.
rect contact with him. They do
not feel sure that he knows them or
understands their problems. He talks
as an administrator might talk to his
little brown brothers Or as a judge to
jury. His thought seems impersona!.
remote. formal. not the spontaneous ut
terances of 'one of u.s. Even his poll
cies that the people approve seem In
way TO lack directness and effective
ness. Does he want tariff reform? 1t
must come only in his own way. by his
tariff board. Isn't the method OF more
, Importance to him than the substance: :.
In spite OF his apparent amiability and
undoubted good intentions, he will
presently have the house aroused
against him in his tariff plans as he
has the senate unfriendly to his peace
plans. II he could stir up public opin-
ion to support him vigorously. con-
gressiona! opposition might be turned
into an advantage; but public opinion
does not come to his rescue.
Again, his enforcement Of the Sher-
T. ~ =, 80.
to enforce it, displeases the world OF
big business without satisfying the
world OF little business. Mr.. Taft even
In his most emphatic. and vigorous
declarations does not Wholly convince
the people. They belieYe-him sincere:
| but he and they speak a somewhat DIFF
ferent language and they are not quite
sure that he means what they would
mean If they used his same words. His
thought moves in formal ways: theirs
runs straight to conclusions.
Again. in the Ballinger case. the
presidents postponement of decisive
action could not change the inevitable
course of events, but 1t continually
made bad situation worse until II
ended as everybody knew it was bound
/, to end: SO, in the case. of the agricul-
tural department similarly unfor-
tunate delay has similarly unfortu-
nate effect. The aged secretary Of agri-
| culture, like the former secretary OF
the interior. does not see the logic OF
events. and the president mistakes q
| personal loyalty for a public service
t Yet the inevitable can not be prevent
| ed by any such mistake. Everybody
knows that this great department
must be reorganized under new head
The president does not face difficulties
decisively.
| Yet no man has more patriotic in
tentions. The explanation seems to be
temperamental-that he amt one Of
U.s.
| Mr.. Taft's interview that appeared
in the Outlook, explanatory of his work
and purposes as president, had the tone
OF an apology. His amiable personality
showed in it, as in everything he does
or says. But there was the tone not
only of apology but even OF a sort Of
helplessness. The very illusion Of lead
ership was stripped away In a perfect
~ commonplace explanation that some.
how seemed to do offence to the greai
office. Nothing to stir the Imagination
nothing to rally men--one can hard!;
help wishing that the president had
not made such an explanation"