The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-15
JUDICIAL PROCEDURE
MEXICO AND POLITICS
Former President Taft Gives Interest
ing Interview On Themes Of Gea-
eral Interest.
SMILES OVER PRoGREssTyEs
Failing In of II. RS Political struc--
ure. Even with Its Extensive FIAT
form, Causes Him Considerapie
Amusement.

New York, Aug. l4.-Ex-Presiden
William Howard Taft, in a conversa'
tibn at the Hotel Alpin today Just pc
! fore departing on western Trip
which will take him to San Francisco,
said that he does not see any way Out
for the United States In Mexico. lie
chuckled as he remarked that the
situation of the ProBressives seems
to have some elements of humor IN
IT," and manifested real enthusiasm
when the topic of judicial REFORMS was
brought up.
Mr.. Taft. very brown from seven
weeks of golf at Murray Bay. Canada.
said that he had left Mrs. Taft and
other members OF his ia mily at Mon
treal. They are going West through
Canada, and will join him IL San
Francisco, but Mr.. Taft has TO so TO
Rockville, Indiana. to speak on the
Presidency" and to st. Louis and
Salt Lake to keep other engagements.
He does not fancy the trip.
TT Is work." he said rather sadly.
To a question about Mexico the ex-
President shook his head and some
thing as nearly like a frown as he
provides wrinkled his forehead.
A Bad Business.
THAT is a bad, bad business" he
commented. I'VE made serious
mistake at the outset not In failing to
recognize Huerta, but in actually de-
parting from the attitude of true neu-
trality TO work against him.
II do not know what will come of
the situation or how we can get out
of it. | welcome the participation OF
the South American Countries in at
tempting a solution, but IL there Is a
necessity for active intervention /
IL 49, - s-A
to do the whole Job. But 1t is i'm
portant and valuable to have the ac-
quiesence of the South American ma
lions in whatever steps we take.
Should 1t become necessary for us
to raise large army and send 1t to
Mexico. eventually. perhaps after
years of fighting. establishing order
there, 1t Is almost certain that the
American people would demand some
compensation. territorial or other
wise, for the blood and treasure
spent. But then we would just as
surely be accused of seeking that
from the start
Again. II we establish govern
ment there. we shall have 90 support
| it, and we will be very largely respon-
sible for whatever 1t does"
OF the two chief leaders in Mexico
| at present Mr.. Taft merely observed
| that Carranza does not seem to be
| especially grateful for the United
| States causing Huerta's downfall and
| is not encouraging any faith In him.
| Smiles Over Prodigal Progressives.
| The ex-President's smile came back
at a question on the return of the
| Proeressives TO the Republican fold
There would seem to be elements
| of humor In the situation he
| lanrhod Than he Thought nm ~
and threw back his head and laughed
some more. Finally he said:
ut is difficult to avoid the reflec-
| ton that the man who debates SO Sc
| riously whether or not he shall re-
turn to the Republicans controls only
| his own vote--and that that you. Is
! not one of great importance.
| Mr.. Taft, between chuckles, seemed
| to think that the great question of re-
turning or not returning was largely
| academic, a ma jority of the Progress
/ sives having just gone back anyway
! What do you think of the New
York Constitutional Convention"
New York Situation.
| II sincerely hope that the conven-
/ ton will do something TO simplify
and better the administration OF Jus
tfce."' said the ex-President. showing
! real iUteItSl lot ISL
| Of the laws delay can he aot rid oI
! by introducing a measure of execu-
I tive ability in the shape of single
4 head of the judicial system. There
! should be one man with power to dis
pose of the cases so that one court
! here and there would not get hope
| lessly in arrears. And much of the
delay can be overcome by having ap-
i pointive judges; however, l under
! stand that all hope of securing them
! has been given up at Albany. In
! Massachusetts and New Jersey, where
they have appointive judges. there Is
/ no such chaos aid behindness as In
| New York.
| Too Much Power In Juries.
"A good deal Of the fault is the leg