Semi-weekly herald., 1913-03-10
WHAT NEW PRESIDENT
INHERITS FROM TAFT


alone "war presidents"
few national executives ever. faced
upon March more stupendous task
than yesterday confronted President
Wilson. And probably no president
ever realized more fully The gravity
of the tremendous responsibility hat
is his.
Democracy was placed OIL trial yes
terday for the first time in twenty
years, at the bar of public opinion,
with the entire nation as the jury.
Crises innumerable await tests in De-
mocracy's crucible. Future prosper
ity of the country--indeed Of several
countries-and fate of great political
parties hangs in thu balancs.
Sentiment for progressive" re-
forms which put the Democratic party
into power yesterday demand per-
formance. To secure legislation of
real reform is the four years task
facing the new administration. Fac
tional divisions within the dominant
party, Democratic leaders themselves
admit, make the next four years po-
tent with possibilities.
This nations course of peace and
friendship with the world powers and
its policy in Central and South Amer
ica were yesterday placed in the hands
of President Wilson. Alone this con.
stitutes a mountainous task. Cen.
fronting him in prime Importance was
the civic strife in Mexico-the prob
lem Of preserving peace and ordei
there without shedding of American
blood.
Administration of the Panama cana
was another giant problem assumed
yesterday, involving settlement of dis
putes with Great Britain, Canada, an,
other European countries over .th
''free tolls" concession given Ameri
can shipping. The Taft administra
tion left these negotiations practical
ly in q state of incubation. Repea
of the fires tolls" clause is the de
mand Wilson's cabinet must face AM
solve. Other diplomatic question
confronting the new administration i
proposed recognition of the new Chi
nese republic negotiation of ney
trade and passport treaty with Rus
sia, work of the Alaskan boundar
commission, tariff reprisals in Europe
completion of the Honduras lion, join
action in conserving the Alaska seal
ing situation, and the Newfoundlan
fisheries, muttered rumblings of strif
in Cuba, Santo Domingo, Haiti, Sal
vador, and Honduras, besides the dis
pute with Brazil over coffee importa
tions.
Immediately confronting Presiden
Wilson yesterday was the great ques
tion of patronage and the program TO
the extraordinary session of congress
Revision of the tariff and possibl
banking and currency reform are urg
ed for special, immediate action. Call
ing of the special session is to b
one Of the first acts of the new presi
dent, probably within few days
Appointment of the cabinet was t
be the opening gun of the patronag
fight. Ambassadors, ministers, con
suls, federal Judges, prosecuting off
GERS, thousands of postmasters, an
an army of lesser federal officehold
ers is the task awaiting carly &C
ton.
Platform pledges galore await full
fillment by the Democrats. These in
clude such knotty problems as Philip
pine Independence, Porto Rican citi
zenship, amendment or Strengthening
the Sherman antitrust law, singl
presidential term, and 'labor" legis
lation.
"Legacies" innumerable were lcf
to the new executive by former Pres
ident Taft. These include the Pan
anna tolls controversy, the Mexical
trouble, and many measures whicl
died in congress when the Sixty
second session ended yesterday.
Among the bills and policies await
ing action by the new administration
and congress are:
Senator Works resolution for con
stitutional amendapant limiting tenur
Of president to ons tsrm Of six years
Limited independence for the Fill
pinos.
Representative claytonr anti-in
junction bill.
The "seamen's labor" bill.
The Page educational and vocation
al bill.
. Ceassrvatsa It wster power an,