Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-02-20
How Taft's Problems Differed
from MIR. Wilson's.
1mprobability of Joseph wilson's Cam
didacy for Secretary Of Senate
New Presidents Big Patronage
Opportunity.


ministration, but this does not exist In
Undue measure, as compared with other
administrations in their beginning. When
Mr.. Taft was prcsidcnt-eect four years
ago at this time, large problems. legls-
latiVe and executive. doomed ahead Of
him 1t was well understood at tho time
that an extra session of Congress would
he called to revise the tariff lie had con-
ferred with the prospective members of
the ways and means committee and talk
cd with leaders Of Senate and House But
there was very little of n definite charac-
ter as to what schedules would he ~
duced or how much the reduction would
be. Detailed preparations for revision
were no more satisfactory than the a ctiv-
tiles now well under way by the demo-
cratic House Of Representative. Tho then
prosident-clect was committed TO other
legislation The Interstate commerce law
was to be further amended. a federal
license for corporations and regulation
OF stock and bond ISSUES were favored.
But it was months after March I. 1909
before definite plan for amendment of
the interstate commerce act WAS evolved
The chief business of the extra session
was the development of tariff revision,
and republicans were occupied at that
task till well into August. Federal license
and the regulation of issues of securities
We're never enacted into law and no plan
altogether satisfactory was prepared for
either proposition
SUPPORT BACK OF NIX WILSON
From these things It will appear that
criticism of President-elect Wilson. who
undoubtedly has larger problems to
tackle does not properly lie with repub-
leans. Before his Inauguration Mr.. Taft
had precipitated criticisms of a virulent
character by discussing several matters.
one of which was proposed reorganiza-
ton of the House of Representatives by
custing Mr. Cannon from his position
as speaker. The uproar was SO Sreat
that he had TO recede. and the new prcsi
dent bega n his duties in the White House
with representatives. of his own party
dsgruntled far beyond anything mat
now prevails among democrats Of that
body.
President-elect Wilson undoubtedly re-
tains the good will of legislators who will
constitute the majority party in both
branches Their resentment at his
ily Deep down. it is due largely to pa
tronagc questions If they know who
were to be at his cabnete table and who
were to have important executive and
| diplomatic appointments there would be
| le IS comment of the present character. 1t
may appear in due season that the presi-
dent-elect was altogether wise in con-
serving his conclusions and not taking
! the politicians too much into his conf
dencc. They may easily he praising him
| within so days for the very things they
| now comment unfavorahly about. Their
respect for the president-elect has not
! lessened.
JOSEPH WILSON'S VISIT
Joseph Wilson. the prcsident-elect S
! brother, has paid Washington visit, and
the scribes wrote things about him, in
! Guiding newspaper notices about his can
/ didacy for a place as secretary of the
| Senate. 1t IL doubtful if Brother Joe"
actually has been a candidate for that
| office. 1t would be most indiscrcet II he
had been. First of all, the democrats
| Senate will never elect brother Joe
! as it's secretary. There are good and suf-
tcient reasons. Tho secretary OF the Sen
ate IS very much IN the confidence OF
that body. He has access to the executive
| sessions and knows the ms and outs of
a lot of Senate business. much of which
! is never expected to reach the public
| Now as president, Mr.. Wilson will have
| lot of business before the Senate. Some
fne morning he may want 10 know why
the Senate has not confirmed lill Zones
| Lad 81 Tommy john
son as postmaster at Sducdunkvillo.
| II Bother Joe" were secretary of the
Senate he would know why all these
things were and he would know easily
who were the offending senators. Per
| haps nothing more need be said 10 demon.
/ s,rato the opposition thai senators OF both
parties would have 30 such status
FUTILE POSTMA STERsHIP COUP
Somebody ought 10 figure on the number
of jobs President Wilson Will have to be-
stow soon after he enters office. The
will easily number 1900. places that M
can with propriety dispose of during tbs
month OF March, now so near at hand
The postmasters alone will run toward
1900, for there is no long-r any question
about the democratic senator's prevent
ing the confirmation Of republican post
masters now pending. That is pretty hare
for the republican postmasters. Undoubt
eddy goody company of republican post
masters whose terms had expired "A yea
and more ago. would have been renomln
ated and confirmed. had their names beer
sent in a year ago. But the presidential
compaign was coming on. Managers, wit
believed they were doing the proper thing
advised the president and the postmaster
In that event the incumbents, still holding
on. would be up and doing in the cam
paign. II nominated and confirmed ,hes
postmasters would grow fat and indii
ferent.
Postmaster in his plight probably di'
their utmost civil-service rules n
civi-service rules, Their insistence upol
a denomination during the last few month
since the Senate was in session and thei
! clamor that the republican Senate shoul
not yield easily TO the defiant democrat
indicate the feelings of these postmasters
They have been badly huncoed, although
it may be something of a nice questio
in political ethics whether anybody /
particularly to blame The entire a'fai
/ is only another political episode in tn
ill-starred efforts to renominatc ana re
, elect President Taft.
But President Wilson will have nImcr
Gus important nominations 10 make RICH
away, apart from cabinet officials diplo
matte representatives and democrats 4
man the departments at Washington
There are half dozen judicial position