Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-03-13

he desired the endorsement Of q SEQ
ond term there can be no doubt, foi
he Is human. But that he lays down
the burden OF the most wearying and
responsible position on earth with q
feeling OF infinite relief and without
a thought Of bitterness IN hts heart
Is equally sure. His intimate friends
know that he never really wished 70
be president, just as they know that
he never wished to so to the Philip
pines as civil governor. Being IN the
office he exercised its functions to
the very best Of his Judgment, no
single act being swayed by thought
OF the possible effect It might have
upon his reelection. The country
has had presidents who were ADLER
executives than Mr.. Taft; 1t never
had one who performed the duties
OF the office with more complete
devotion to the public good as II
was given him to see It, and with
less regard for his own selfish In
terest.
He made many mistakes. But they
were mistakes that hurt him and not
the country. Now that he is retiring
from office he may challenge his
business detractor to point out one
act OF his that lowered the dignity
OF the Republic in the eyes OF the
world or that in any degree impair
ed its domestic welfare. The mis-
takes that he made were poiiticai
blunders-blunder that a trained
politician would never have made, or
that a weak and self seeking man
would never have made. It was
political blunder to recommend the
increase Of magazine postage. 1t ar
rayed against him as thoroughly sell
fish and as remorseless and unscru-
pulous an interest" as exists In this
country. He knew It would have
that effect, but he made the recon-
lmendation Just, the same because ne
Thought 1t was right. 1t was poll
tical blunder to sign the Payne tariff
bin. Mr. Taft knew perfectly well
that by vetoing it he could bring
to his support the whole insurgent
press and the great metropolitan
Journals which were against the law
because-and only because-it did
not put paper on the free list. But
he believed a veto indefinitely pro-
tracing the period Of tariff revision,
would injure the country vastly
more than any provisions in the Bill
Itself could possibly do. And so ne
signed It. He chose two caDinet
members from the same ward IN
Chicago because he thought they
we're peculiarly fitted for the WORK
he wanted done, not taking into &C.
count that neither of them had az
atom OF political influence. Ht
pressed reciprocity, knowing that i
would make him unpopular with the
farmers, but believing that its ulti
mate benefits to the country at large
would justify It's wisdom. In these
things, and score of other Ike
them, he piled up wrath against th'
day of wrath for himself politically
but the country marched steadily
, forward without jar.
!, But over against these politica
: plumbers see the long array OF POSI-
tive, constructive accomplishment
\ which he has achieved IN the face g
Y greater difficulties than have bese
. Iany president since Lincoln. Posta
|. savings banks, parcel post, arbitra
-Ition treaties negotiated, the Russial
} treaty terminated. new treaty witt
i japan concluded, q score OF long
: standing international questions set
tilted with dignity and honor, chill
elIabor bureau established, depart
3 lmeut 81 labor created, business me
r thods In tho departments modern
/ Iized and expenses reduced, the eign
Ehour law bfoadened, the employer
liability law framed to accord wit
y the constitution, war with Mexic
y avoided, the enforcement OF tn
Y antitrust laws--these are but fe'
2 Of the great measures that stan
y to the credit OF Mr.. Taft's Ecmini
y tration, for practically every piedl
3 Of the platform upon which he w
y elected has been written into q
y statute books. It Is a splendid re
= ord and sometime his countrynt
= Twin give him the credit which SUI
= record deserves.
. . Today at noon he gave his hal
:. In hearty and sincere greeting TO
l.,,oanscor and serene and snltlin