The Washington herald., 1913-03-05

| WUUUhS
| ments. Mr.. Taft's early clashes with the
| insurgents over patronage are seen to
have little effect upon the alienation OF
the progressive element of his party. In
these clashes Mr.. Taft was placed In a
false position as the result Of lack Of
Judgment on the part of his assistants
| in the executive offices. 1t Is not now
believed by those who have taken the
trouble to look into the matter that Mr..
| Taft in 1910 had any intention OF with
| holding patronage from the insurgents,
but the first impression. which he did
1 not correct until late IN the year. gained
too general credulence to be overcome
by a tardy denial. In this. as in many
! Instances. Mr.. Taft was the victim of
his own poor judgment in the selection
of secretaries. He has had three. two
| of whom were failures in this all-im-
portant post.
Among the important pieces Of legisla-
| ton which has come out OF the Sixty
| first and Sixty-second Congresses are the
granting of Statehood to Arizona and
New Mexico: the income tax amendment:
the Mann white slave act: the creation
of the Bureau Of Mines; the immigration
Commission: the installation OF the postal
savings banks system: the parcel post:
the Commerce Court: the Mccall cam
paign publicity act; the Panama Canal
act. the Children's Bureau: the employ
ers' liability and workmen's compensa-
ton act. and the corporation tax law.
With the aid OF the progressives in
both parties, Mr.. Taft got through the
second session Of the last Congress the
Panama bill, providing free tolls for
American ships in the coastwise trade
and requiring the divorcinE Of land and
water carriers engaged In canal trafilc.
This has been strongly opposed as q
violation of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty
with Great Britain. by which We were
enabled to build the canal after our own
ideas Mr. Taft has been adamant in
his refusal to consider this treaty VIOLA
| ton. and his stand has met with popular
approval. although leading international
law students have arrayed themselves
against the President Mr.. Taft Is will
ing to submit the question to arbitration
by special board. taking the stand
that The Hague tribunal. composed al
most entirely of European representa-
tives. cannot be considered an unbiased
tribunal He leaves this problem for
President Wilson to dispose of.
After several attempts to pass legisla-
ton over his veto. the Sixty-second Con-
gress. two days before adjournment. sue
ceeded, when both House and Senate
thirds of the members present. to pass
the Kenyon Webb bill. prohibiting the
interstate shipment OF liquor In dry ter
ritory. the Presidents veto to the con-
trary notwithstanding" In this veto the
President showed his very strong attach
ment TO the Constitution. disapproving
the bill because of its alleged unconsti-
tutionality.
The employers liability and workmen's s
Senate during the second session Of the
Sixty-second Congress, was called up and
passed in the House under suspension OF
the rules last Saturday. and at the time
this review was written had not reached
the President Opponents of the bill de-
clared 1t was liberal and fair to all par
ties, and framed along lines laid down
in the report of the commission appointed
by a joint resolution during the Sixty
first Congress to study and report on the
question. Opponents of the bill declared
that it was a railroad measure and des-
tined to exempt the railroads from any
large indemnity charges. What action
the President would take on the measure
il II reached him was not known at tho
time of its passage.
No review of Mr. Taft's administration
is complete without reference to the deep
personal and patriotic interest he has dis
District of Columbia and its citizens. The
District has been the subject Of a number
Of Mr.. Taft's important messages to Con-
gress, and he has lost no opportunity to
oppose hostile legislation or propaganda
against the National Capital.
He has been n consistent advocate in
following out the already well-def1ned
policy OF Identification through public
parks. has done everything in his power
to further the cause qS public play
grounds here. and has the District de-
Tended against ill-considered attacks
from uninformed quarters whenever the
opportunity offered.
AS the result of his long residence
here in official capacities, Mr.. Taft had
come to regard Washington almost as
affectionately as his home town. and
comparatively few of his close friend
ships in this city. but were the result
of his many years residence here be-
fore he entered the White House.
This feeling upon the part Of Mr..
Taft and his family showed itself in
the unique spirit which pervaded his
formal entertainments and in the nature
Of the guests at the private social affairs
at the White House. 1t also furnishes
explanation for social activities Of the
Tafts outside the white House. No
Presidential family in recent administra-
tions has accepted as many invitations
away from the White House as have the
Tafts. The close personal affection in
which they are held in Washington's
established society is demonstrated by
the handsome gifts which the President
and Mrs. Taft and Miss Taft received
from their friends here-a handsome