The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-06-19

he resigned 10 engage IN MS pTesiuSn-
tai campaign of 1905.
During his incumbency of the Cabi-
net office Mr. Taft displayed TO even
greater advantage that efficiency and
tact he had shown in his administrs-
ton of the Philippines. Perhaps his
greatest achievement as Secretary OF
War was the mastery manner in
which he wrought order out OF chaos
in the Panama Canal Zone. The Pana
mianians despite the Hay-Varilla Urea
.ty, were more or less firmly convinced
that the United States had not acquir
ed that section of the Isthmus of Pan
anna solely to build a canal. They were
OF the opinion that there were diplo
matte reasons behind the move. They
thought that the United States sought
TO strike at the independently OF the
Central American Republics through
the establishment of a rival state and
The gradual absorption of the surround
ing territory.
This antagonism had to be overcome
and Taft was the man that overcame
il. He visited Panama and exercised
there those personal and mental pow
ers that had won him the confidence of
the natives of the Philippines. The re-
suit was that army engineers. under
mis- direction. were enabled 10 proceed
with their work of making this pest
hole habitable without serious opposi-
ton from the natives.
Another instance of his ability as an
executive and a diplomat came with
the second insurrection in Cuba. He
journeyed to that island in 1906 and
hardly had he reached its shores when
internal affairs took a change for the
better. In a comparatively short time
peace had been restored among the
warning factions. He remained as pro-
visional Governor of Cuba throughout
the months
In June 1908 he was nominated for
President by the Republican National
convention at Chicago, and in the fol-
lowing November he was elected to
the presidency by considerable ma
jority.
Up to this time there had been moth
| ing in Mr.. Taft's career that had elicit
ed anything but boundless praise. He
had been a faithful and efficient ser.
want of his country at home and
abroad. Throughout the world he had
| made many friends for the United
States by his frankness and hberality,
and his country was only too willing
to see him honored with the highest
office within his gife. 1t is no. exagger-
alton to say that no President ever
moved into the White House with so
nearly the universal goodwill of the
ropulace as did Mr.. Taft.
He fell heir, however. to a political
situation calculated, by it's complex
SIDES and factional friction to create
barty dissension and party criticism. II
was understood that he was to pursue
the Roosevelt policies" which. though
popular in some political quarters,
were equally unpopular in others. He
did not pursue them. He took his own
initiative, abided by his own counsel
and stood out firmly for the measures
ana administrative policies that his
own judgment told him were right.
| AS President he not only faced the
questions left over by ex-President
Roosevelt's administration, but he EN-
barked upon a period Of dissension
in his own party. He was placed in
the difficult position of having to
please both the stand-pat wing of Re
publicanism and the Progressive
branch of the Republican party. II he
pursued one course he was bound 10
arienate the support of one faction OF
rhe Republicans; il he pursued anoth
he was in the same predicament. His
administration. therefore. lent itself to
criticism no matter which way he turn
I'D and much criticism had been &C
corded it. II cannot be denied, howev
FER, that Mr.. Taft advocated the things
he thought were right and pursued his
policies without reference to his politi
cal future.
Mr.. Tafts most serious party break
came with the signing of the Payne-Al
drich tariff law. Through this act he
alienated the support of such men al
the late Senator Dolliver of Iowa, Sen
ator La Toilette of Wisconsin, Senator
Cummins of Iowa and other prominent
men of the progressive faction of tn.
Republican party.
utSS IutH went DSIOEe the pSOpl<
and claimed that Mr.. Taft had betray
ed the trust of his party through sign
ing a measure that embodied largel,
the protective tariff. Mr. Taft stood tt
his guns and upheld his action. II,
claimed that revision of the tariff
downward was not expedient He me
me attacks of the Democratic legisla
ture by vetoing their low tariff bill
and explained his action by Stain,
that he wanted to hear the Official re
PORTS of the various boards investigat
ing the measures which they so hastil,
advocated.
Through his reciprocity bill, provid
ing for the free Interchange of certain
commodities between Canada and tn,
| United States. he sought to alleviate
the sufferings of the people.
. This measure was enthusiasticall,
advocated by his friends and wa
, passed by both houses of Congress. /
met its Waterloo when the Canadian
Parliament overthrow Laurier and re
pudiated the tentative agreemen
largely on sentimental grounds.
J In the advocacy OF internationa
| Il ace he surpassed all previous Presi
dents. He assembled the representa-
tives of France, Germany and Englan,
and submitted to them a treaty which
; would practically obviate war between