The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1912-01-10
TAFT AS A "PROGREssivE.'

politician what be understands by q
''progressive" political program and
in all likelihood he will Say that he
believes in the initiative and referen.
DUN, the recall and the direct election
of senator's. He may also add come
thinglvague about tariff reform and
''curbing the trusts" but when be
enters THE field of political discovery
he Is not sure of himself.
The ide.bound follower of LaFol-
lette will not admit that there can be
any brand of "progressiveness" with.
in the republican party that has not
been exploited by the "insurgents."
But the citizen with an absolutely fair
mind ought to examine the situation
for himself and then pass judgment.
IL not President Taft, after all. the
real "progressive?" In other words,
has he not espoused the kind of pro-
gress that brings results?
In all of his messages Mr.. Taft has
sought to do things. 1t was under his
administr alton that the fret serious
effort to enforce the Sherman anti
trust law was made, and today the
department of justice csn point to q
list of victims which includes such big
game as the Sta )GarG O company,
the tobacco trust, lnc sieol trust, the
sugar trust and probably the big
packing companies. Gould any real
''progressive' do more that has been
done along this line? There is today
firmly established in this country q
system of postal savings banks. This
was achieved under the Taft admins.
tration. For the first time the postal
department Of the government has
shown q balance to it's credit. Ia this
not true ''progressiveness?"
President Taft has been a sincere
advocate of the federal civil service,
and be has consistently carried out
this idea in all departments. Where
an employe Of the government has
proven capable be has been retained
in his position regardless OF his poll.
tics. The president has put the con-
sular service on a civil service basis
and has made it an attractive career
for American young men. The presi.
dent has negotiated various peace
treaties looking toward world peace.
Mr.. Taft has been an earnest advo-
cate of employers liability legisla.
ton, and he would reorgonize the rules
Of practice in order 10 expedite justice
In the courts.
What il real ''progressiveness' il
1t is not the kind that President Taft
stands for? Better q scientific re.
vision of the tariff such as the presi.
dent has provided for than a continue.
ton of the Ubiquitous tariff tinkering
to which politions have given their
attention for decades. The president
has taken advanced ground on many
great questions, but he has done
60 in such a quiet and business-like
way that the country scarcely realizes
the sum of his service. One of the
original civil service papers says:
''lf the recommendations which Presi.
dent Taft now makes were carried out,
we should have an extension of the
civil service reform going beyond the
fondest dreams of the earliest advo'
Gates of that cause in this country"
The thoughtful citizen should first
ask himself the question: "What il
real progressiveness?" Then he
should compare what President Tai
has actually done with the fanatica,
theories OF men like Bryan, La Fol
lette and other Performers" who have
never actually accomplished a thing
except 10 the way of reckless agitation
and obstruction of true progress
Kansas City Journal.