Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-05-29
lspeciaI TO The rimeg.Dlspntcb. !

NEW YORK. May 2S.-WilIam
howard TAFT. IL Is generally ac-
cepted. wi!l bc named by preslacn,
Harding AS CHIEF Justice OF the Su-
ife'ne '"ur, to succeed the late Jus.
''ce White. In the Hight OF that fact.
pecui'aF Interest attaches To Mr..
iaftS views on the past success and
the pcrinancnca OF our form OF gov
'rhiHcnt and It's capacity for mcctint:
IN" new problems changing condi-
ions have brought before the people
81 INC united states as outlined I'm his
tndrcas under the auspices OF tho
lanes stokes Foundation here.
shall wc admit tina, our govern
mont is failure? Shall %c admit
mat In the l2j years OF it, life IL has
l'ot hha useful operation? That we
must do II We are TO admit the
premise tina representative govern
n"nt is a failure. because there is no
other government ia tho world that
is so strictly REPRESENTATIVE as is the
government OF Ia" United Siatcy un-
Ger the Federal Constitution
ours Is the oldest popular rov.rn-
rnent IN the world and Ia today tho
strongest ana most conservative. It
Is not AN ol!garchy or an nr!stocrncy
under tho ruise az Republican forms.
and X never w;tr. The pcopl" do rule
nnd nave always ruled In the United
states. They have thcir viii. but
they have 1t after n wholesome delay
ana elaboration which :hcv have
wisely forced themselves to tlko un-
der the restrictions OF u constitution.
which originally adopted by however
Small u popular vote. they have fully
approved by 100 years OF acqu.cscnce.
Mnkcs for Prrmnnrnry md Strength.
ut IL this voluntary welf-rnstraint
'hnt has made their Eovcrnrucnt
permanent and strong. II Is a fun
damentnl error to seek quicl action
IN making needed changes Of policy
or IN Refreshing wrongs. Nations
i've long time. and year or I've
years are shor. period ia tho lilo.
Most wrong can 70" endured for
slime without catastrophe. Reforms
that AT" abiding are achieved stcr by
step. II IL better % endure wrongs
than 10 effect disastrous changes In
which tho proposed remedy may be
worse than the evil"
Commen.inr on tho fact that the
rovernmcn' ~ tho Statos 's more a.
rect than that of tho national gov.
eminent. SIR. Taft said:
while the comparison Is not jus,
In some rcspcrts because tho Acids o,
jurisdiction auc Tho Gim~ultira pro-
scn;cd are different. still va may
Justly inquire whether tho E'clc-a!
government with its purely repre-
sentative character has not served MI
the p"oplc hotter has not responded
- their real and deliberate moods as
satisfactorily IN Tho l"nr--un ana has
rot given a more crTcicn, aHmuis-
trat'or and more even handed trs-
too thnn tho state vernmcnt"
Conreding that representative gov
eminent IL not SO much respected az
II was century ago anywhere In
the world. Mr.. Taft asks:
Demand for EuunIIty of Conditions.
what are reasona FOR ;h!s' Are
they such that we should seek 10
change q 10 another form? There
has come into tho minds OF many. Il
desire. no; for liberty and equality
II opportunlty. but a demand for
equality 81 condition. II g. a pro-
test against the operation and WORK
inr ont OF the right OF propcrtr,
against the inequalities OF wealth
and comfort In society.
"Rcttcrmcnt In tho condition OF all
tho people. due, In part. To personal
liberty and greater equality oI oppor-
tunlty. has created In the minds o.
"a Considerable number ii desire for
wider equality OF comfort and l.v-
ms and prompts the demand that
government shall bring about an
economic, as distinguished from po-
!itica!. reform.
Congress and Assemblies Impotcnt.
Neither Congress nor State
Legislature has II within It's power
10 work such economic changes. even
though they were possible.
All this Is dissatisfaction. not with
government or otherwise, but with
the existing social order.
Again. and on the other hand the
Intelligent and wcll-to-do, and those
VINO feel that they are the leaders of
the best public opinion, look upon
those who represent US in Congress
and the Legislatures as having fai-
len below that degree OF character,
education, intelligence. ability. dis