our people were idle, and distress and poverty stalked throughout the land for several years; and yet that law which brought such dire results was conservative indeed as compared with the radical legislation which the Democratic programme of today proposes to give us.

Mr. Taft, without any ostentation or undue publicity, insisted that the various departments of the Government should be administered with the greatest possible economy and efficiency; and, without any reflection whatever upon any previous administration, it can be said, that not in the history of our Government have its affairs been administered with such efficiency and economy as during the three years of this administration. Every department of the Government has shown improvements, and Mr. Taft and his friends can be particularly proud of the fact that the annual deficit of the Post Office Department which has reached as high as $17,000,000 has been turned into a surplus. At a comparatively moderate expenditure too, has been conducted the 13th Census on a wider scale than ever before. It may be that Democratic parsimony may yet cripple this great work, but, so far as has been possible, it has been done better and at a less comparative cost than ever before. Millions of dollars have been saved to the people in the various departments, better service has been rendered, and if Mr. Taft continues in office and if his recommendations are adopted, our Government will maintain a high mark of efficiency at the lowest possible cost.

Under Mr. Taft's administration have been established postal savings banks which are already such a general success that they need here nothing more than a mere mention.

While the Panama Canal was begun under a previous administration, yet Mr. Taft has, both as Secretary of War in that administration and since as President, made it a matter of personal investigation and solicitude, advancing the work with all possible speed and care; and it is to be hoped that at the opening of the Grand Canal of America, in the near future, he who has done so much toward its perfect completion may be the present Chief Executive, to join with a proud people in the celebration of this great and magnificent work.

Under President Taft have been admitted the new States of New Mexico and Arizona. Under President Taft the treaty with Japan has been negotiated, bringing us in closer relationship and friendship with that sturdy little nation. Treaties with

southern countries have also been negotiated and now await action by the Senate, but of all the treaties which have been successfully negotiated, or which are pending, those which will add perhaps the greatest luster to all the accomplishments of the Taft Administration, are the Arbitration Treaties with Great Britain and France, notwithstanding the recent action of the Senate amending them, and similar negotiations on the same lines which are now going on with other Powers. This is the greatest advance toward universal peace that has been made since the formation of the Government, and should international disarmament, which now seems but a dream, become a realization, and should all forms of war give way to arbitrated forms of peace, then the historians of the future will have to grant to President Taft the initiative of the actual negotiations which led to such happy, permanent results.

Perhaps in no instance has Mr. Taft shown his responsibility, his diplomacy and the exercise of his always judicial temperament in greater measure than when the Democratic House threatened to involve us with Russia in a too hasty abrogation of the so called passport treaty. The President insisted that it should be done with due regard for the courtesies between nations and though it was finally accomplished positively and firmly, yet it was done in a manner to which not even Russia herself could make objection. With the same tact and diplomacy has President Taft dealt with the so-called Mexican question. He has simply seen to it that we were prepared for action if action should become necessary, without our being unduly involved where life and property might be endangered. The President has also, by his good offices, been successful in maintaining peace in Cuba without friction or strife.

Although without the deserved credit, Mr. Taft has provided, as far as lay in his power, for the attainment of various conservation policies. Sentiment in this direction was aroused by his predecessor; but legislation was demanded, and Mr. Taft has recommended a definite programme and policy. In short, as we look over the acts and endeavors of President Taft we may truly say that in every department of the Government, in every phase of legislation both enacted and proposed, in every departure of our national existence made necessary by any changed conditions, Mr. Taft has been at all times the most progressive leader that we have had in public life since the Constitution was adopted and a Gov

ernment established. He has not brought about the impossible, he has not accomplished as much as he would have, had the present House of Representatives been Republican. We are on the eve of a presidential campaign where the opposing party will, from political reasons, do all in its power to embarrass the Chief Executive; but Mr. Taft has gone on unflinchingly, and has already sent to Congress most important messages during the present session, which have been and will probably continue to be entirely ignored by the Democratic majority in the House. Mr. Taft has a broad mind and a clean conscience and a large heart-with a firm courage back of all. If he has made mistakes he has the courage to acknowledge them and to profit by experience. In fact, President Taft believes in and practices the good that comes from experience, not experiment. He believes in his country and countrymen. He believes in the Constitution. He preaches law and order, justice and peace, and he always practices by act and endeavor what he preaches.

Mr. Taft has been and would continue to be a safe Presidentsafe in time of trouble whether it be foreign or domestic, civil or industrial. He has been and would continue to be the President and the Servant of the whole people, regardless of section, race, or party. At a great personal discomfort and inconvenience he has gone among the people of nearly every State, has silently listened to their petitions, and has tried, as far as in him lay, to respond to every want. No honest individual, no honest firm, no honest corporation need fear that its business will be in any way jeopardized by any act of President Taft's but he will continue to enforce the law against the malefactor, whether it be an attempt to defraud through the mails, or to create and maintain an oppressive monopoly in trade. He will uphold Republican policies and American institutions. He will not sign any bill that will deprive an American laborer of a day's work or rob the market of a single American farmer. He believes in adequate protection to every American industry, and he will oppose any duty that tends to create or maintain a situation in production or price making unjust either to the consumer or to the would-be competitor.

Mr. Taft has particularly at heart the welfare of labor in all branches of industry. Not only would he give the workers of our country every opportunity to earn a livelihood and maintain a high standard of living, but he would surround them with every appliance of safety and sanitation that would contribute to their

well-being, comfort and efficiency. This was emphasized by his recent message advocating compensation for injuries.

Mr. Taft has made a great President. He has had most perplexing problems to solve, most difficult tasks to perform. He has met every situation with calmness and serenity unusual with a man of affairs; he has exhibited a patience and courage almost superhuman; and he has gained the respect and admiration not only of the people of our own country but also of all nations.

We can make no mistake in renominating and reëlecting President Taft. Around his standard every Republican and many Democrats can rally, sinking for the time minor differences in regard to detail, and advocating without stint the great Republican policies that have made our people the first on earth.

Peace-progress-prosperity-will be the watchwords; and under the continued progressive leadership of our wise, experienced, honest, sincere President, we shall continue to lead the nations of the earth in every phase of human activity and endeavor.

Was.B. Martinley

Editorial

REPUBLICANS FOR TAFT.

(Wilmington Evening Journal.)

REPUBLICAN sentiment in Delaware is overwhelmingly in favor of the renomination and reëlection of President Taft. In fairness to Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, however, it must be admitted there is some sentiment in his favor. It is so slight at this time, however, as to be practically negligible. The great body of the Republican electorate is in favor of Taft. Therefore it seems to be a foregone conclusion that the Republican State Convention, guided by the will of that electorate, will send to the National Convention delegates favorable to Taft.

It also may be said that the Taft sentiment here is not confined to Republicans. There are many independent Democrats who have become tired of the incompetency and unwisdom of their National and State leaders and the policies they represent. Those independents have been impressed profoundly by the ability and the dignity President Taft has displayed as the nation's Chief Executive. Nine out of ten of the independents express themselves in favor of President Taft.

Nor can it be denied successfully that President Taft has done many things that commend him to the American people. He has thrown about the highest office in the land that dignity that properly belongs to it and that at times has been sacrificed that the incumbent might make plays to the gallery in unseemly efforts to popularize himself personally at the expense of the office. Of President Taft's administration it may be said it has been progressive in the best and truest sense. The establishment of postal savings banks, the earnest advocacy of the parcels post and the substitution of scientific tariff revision for the give-and-take and haphazard system of former years without sacrificing the beneficent protective principle embodied in our