The Washington herald., 1913-03-03
Till We Meet Again, Mr.. Taft.

I'LL VIC NlCCk fhS oAAAt A'AA' ees'
In times OF political hurricane, thu
full blast Of the storm of popular dis
approval vents itself upon those tree:
which tower above the surrounding
timber OF the forest. If the latter Is
not sufficiently strong and plentiful tc
help resist the blast, the former, the
finest and best timber, unable alone
and unsupported 10 withstand the
storm, can hut succumb, and, uprooted
fall PROSTATE to the ground.
So it has been with Mr.. Taft
Splcndidly qualified by training and
experience to fill the office which he SC
ably filled during these past four years
he has stood head and shoulders above
all OF his party. Upon him has the
political storm vented its fury, and
vet, without wavcring. he has faced it,
sacrificing himself to shield those
whom he thought it was his duty to
protect. and doing his work with but
one object in mind, namely, TO do his
duty to hi, country.
1t is a great pity Mr., Taft's Cab
met and the chief officers OF his ad-
miniStration were not better able 10
plan and fight his political battles for
him. \ few were not only both able
and loyal as hi> advisers, but were
also sturdy fighters in his behalf in the
political arena. Unfortunately, others
were not only mediocre advisers, bu:
seemed either not sufficiently interest
cd. or else unable to help him when
the storm clouds gathered
As for Mr.. Taft's administration. it
Is not our intention to enter into a
detailed discussion of what it has &C
complishcd A. to the main effect of
the Payne Aldrich tariff bill, namely,
that it is good revenue setter. there
can be no dispute But as the truly
sensible man that lie is, Mr.. Taft rec
ognizcd that tariff board would have
10 be created. to investigate to the
bottom the conditions OF important
schedules, before a tariff law unob-
Jcctionable in character could, if ever,
be enacted. In so doing he took the
most sensible step in the direction of
true tariff reform that any President
has ever taken.
Among other things Mr.. Taft's ad-
is responsible for, are the
tax law, which produces
an annual revenue of about S3o.ooo,ooo;
the placing OF the Post-oficc Depart
mcnt upon a self-sustainine basis, be-
sides wiping out in that direction def
icit OF some 100000, and the pro-
motion OF our foreign commerce I'M
I'll our exports have reached the enor-
NOUS figure OF S2,ooo,ooo,ooo These
are but few OF the things accom-
plished by Mr.. Taft's administration;
but they. together with his firm stand
in defense OF the Constitution, the wis
dom OF restraint. as well as OF prepar-
alton exhibited by him in the case of
Mexico. cause lis to believe that he is
the true progressive of prcsent-day
politics.
We who live here have seen Mr..
Taft as man, and know him to be a
fnc one. No other President in our
memory has shown such interest in
his city or such an understanding of
its future as the Capital of our coun-
ry. BY continually mingling and as
with all classes OF the peo-
pic of this city, by attendance at vari-
jus clubs and commercial bodies, he |
laS shown that he could learn much |
ly SO doing and was not afraid of being |
in the wrong direction.
Doubtless by this course he has not |
only learned much but has enioyed |
thoroughly his life while here. Ger
ainly he has endeared himself sener-
lily to the hearts of Washingtonians,
md we recognize in him one of the
inest men, one OF the truest gentle
nen who has ever filled the Office of
President.
We venture to prophesy that history
viii recognize him as one of our great
st statesmen, and, as was recently
aid of him, he is the worst licked
nd the best loved of any President
hat ever sat in the White House"