The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-02-16

| His own self-respect forbade the tor
mer course.
The American people are asking
the opposition to name the reasons
for their antipathy to the President.
| Not one of them has been able to
pick out single flaw in the admins
tration worthy of serious considera-
ton. They cannot point to duties
neglected, to policies that are wrong,
nor even to personal characteristics
that the people do not like to see in
their chief executive officer.
There was at one time severe criti-
cism of the President because of his
position in regard to the Payne tariff
bill. The people should remember
that the making of triff bill is a
complicated problem. Under the pro-
tective tariff policy, to which this
country is committed, two matters
must always be before the mind of
him who is forming the measure. In
the first place revenue must be raised
for protection is only incidental at
best. The expenses of government
are so much and the tariffs must be
arranged to provide the funds. There
is no sidestepping the matter of rev.
enue. In addition to producing rev.
enue the protection of American la
Dor, products and industries must be
provided for. The fiscal condition of
the country sufficiently justifies the
Payne bill as revenue measure. But
even if the Payne bill were the most
ubiquitous tariff law ever enacted
Congress and not the President is to
| blame. Congress is the legislative
branch of this government except
when bureau officers rule and regu-
late as did Pinchot. Senator Borah
is said to be against the denomination
of President Taft, but even he de-
tends the Payne tariff bill, or did at
any rate upon his return from the
special session which enacted the leg
islation.
In some sections there is opposition
to the President because of the broad
state smanlike view he takes of the ma
tural resources of the country. He
wants those resources used econom-
ically today, not boarded for future
generations. This opposition is from
the Pinchot ilk. 1t will not be found
in Idaho. This state had one siege of
Pinchotism in all its glory and will
not soon voluntarily return to it. The
wise conservation of our natural re-
sources means the present beneficial
use of them. President Taft pro-
voked ex-President Roosevelt because
the former would not retain the easy
going Garfield in his cabinet He fur
Their aggravated the provocation when
he summarily dismissed Pinchot from
the forestry service. Roosevelt's op-
position rests on the sole foundation
that he was personally affronted be-
cause the President did not see fit
to retain all his friends in the gov
eminent service. That certainly is
flimsy foundation for any man to
stand upon. but it is the sole founda-
ton of the Roosevelt opposition.
AS trust buster Roosevelt won his
popularity. In that line his most ar
dent admirer is forced to admit that
President Taft has gone farther and
accomplished more in three years
than he did in seven. Roosevelt was
strong on threatening speech but
weak on performance. Taft has lit
tie to say but does great deal. That
is the difference between the two
men. In our judgment the Taft char
acteristic is much more commendable.
There is little use in discussing is
sue after issue. Taft critics have nev-
er come out in the open because they
have no firm ground to stand upon.
hey don't like Taft. His. style don't
suit them. He don't buster enough.
He don't create Ananias clubs, rail at
nature takers and howl race suicide,
and what is more, he don't put them
all in Office. He is simple Ameri-
can citizen performing the duties of
his high station with an eye single to
the welfare of the people of this
country, He is too honest to be a
demagogue and demagogues don't
like him, He is too mindful of his
responsibilities to overstep the law,
and cut-across statesmen don't like
him; he hews straight to the line and
shifty politicians don't like him.
Those classes are against him. We do
not mean to intimate that he has not
among his enemies honest, sincere
men. Who has not? Probably there
are thousands OF citizens who are op-
posed to Taft for reasons that are
sufficient to their minds. They are
honest and sincere. Roosevelt had