| What *he Nation Expects of Taft I * k »t « « J * Chief TasA of the President Defined In * a National Symposium by Prominent Per- * J sons In the United States. 0000 * WHAT is the most important task before the new admin istration under President Taft? What one great thing should be achieved by the Taft admin istration? Following are some of the letters from prominent Americans received by the Christian Herald of New York in answer to its queries as to the most important task confronting President Taft: UNITED STATES SENATORS. Revival of Merchant Marine. By lion. WILLIAM I\ FRY IS. President Pro Tempore. U. 8. Senate. I know of n<> legislation more important for the consideration of congress during 'he present administration than that pro viding for the v vivid of t!> American merchant marine. Many Important Tasks. By Senator GEORGE <' Pi: UK INS of California Tho most important subjects which arc likely to I)-* brought forward are old ago pensions, public health and tuberculosis legislation, preservation of forests and conservation of natural r sourc-s, legis lation to safeguard food preparations, greater sanctity of our courts and exten sion of rural free delivery. Attend to Its Own 3usiness. By Senator A. J. MLAURIN of Missis sippi. The most important thing for the ad ministration to do is to nttc:>fl exclusively to executive business and lot congress at tend to legislating and the courts attend to adjudicating. Opening Field of Opportunity to All. By Senator PORTER J. M'CUMBER of North Dakota. While there are many problems tho proper solution of which will advance the material interests of the people, each im portant in Its own lleld of influence, there Is one in particular which tran scends all others in its scope and impor tance—the problem of opening and keep ing open the field of business opportunity lor each and every American citizen. The work of the Roosevelt administra tion In protecting; tho Industrial field against monopoly has been great. the ac complishment great, but the work Is not •completed. Any cessation of endeavor along this line would lose us all we hare gained. This work will not be completed until the rights and duties of great indus trial and other combinations have been flxed and determined in such way as to guard every field and avenue of trade and business from the control of monopolies and maintain equal opportunities for th* small and the great. A Federal Incorporation Law. By Senator JONATHAN BOURNE of Oregon. The most Important tasks before the present administration Include everything that will tend to readjust the controlling forces of society to their legitimate spheres. At present our industrialism is driving us upon the rocks of anarchy or upon the shoals of despotism, through unionism on the one hand and plutocracy •on tho other. An equitable adjustment between these '.wo forces, which should bo had and I believe can bo obtained through a federal incorporation law, ought to be the speelal task of the new administration. Enforce the Law. By Senator NORRIS BROWN of Ne braska. The most important task before the new administration under President Tuft Is to enforce tho law. Improve Inland Waterways. By Senator WILLIAM 11. MILTON of Florida. The improvement of the inland water ways is one of the most Important task* before the Taft administration. CONGRESSMEN. Develop the Navy. B> Representative RICHMOND PEAK SON HOBSON of Alabama. 1 believe the development of the Amer ican navy to meet the requirements ..f the law of self preservation and tho d. mands for peace and therefore the op portunity to Christianize tho peoples of the earth, particularly those of Asia and more especially tho Inhabitants of the empire of China, and thereby to avert the conflict toward which the withdrawal of our fleet from the Pacific is setting us— that is. the conflict between the yellow race and the white race—is a task ex ceeding in importance any other that tho new administration will have to meet. Work For Peace. By Representative RICHARD BAR TMOLT of Missouri. President Taft can make himself im mortal if during his administration ho •ihould perfect tho legal machinery by which differences between nations will bo settled by judicial decision Instead of by war A good start has been made, and tf present arbitration treaties are still further extended the era of bloody war will soon be past. Revise the Tariff. By Representative FRANCIS BURTON HARRISON of New York The most Important matters before the new administration are, flrst. a genuine, revision of tho tariff downward, in tho interest of the whole people and to in crease the revenue; second, a real parcels post system, along the lines of the par cels posts which have proved so success ful in other civilized countries; third, leg islation looking to the establishment of a real bureau of public health. BUSINESS AND LABOR. Harmonize Capital and Labor. By TIENRY CLEWS, Banker. New York. One of the most vital questions that will confront Mr. Taft will be the strained relations of labor and capital. There is no doubt in the mind of any fair man but that in the unsettled conditions that have existed during the past two years, labor has been tyrannical and uncompromising The great mass of the American public has been like corn between two mill stones, one of which was labor and the other the trusts, and as usual many were ground exceeding fine. If Mr. Taft can devise some method of procedure that will bring harmony, with Justice, between theso opposing forces, which will prove to both that tho interests of labor and capital aro identical, he will solve the greatest problem now perplex ing the American people. Build Good Country Roads. By AMZI L. BARBER. Capitalist. I think that one great thing to be achieved by the administration under Mr. Taft should bo the commencement and carrying out of a new policy upon the part of the national government by mak- Immediate Results. Mrs Hlnnesy—Jamie, phwat's thot noise? James—'Tis little Paddy Mul IlKan pokln' tt shtick Into th' ribs o' Casey's goat. Mrs. Hinnesy—All, he's ehtopped now! James—No, mother: lie's goln' yet. 1 think he won't shtop till he strikes tli' house.—Exchange. A Little Slow. "How's collections at your church, Brudder Shinn?" "Well, wt ain't nebber had to stop in de middle ol> a collection togo an' empty Ue box." Louisville Courier- Journal. ins an appropriation of. say. J20.000.000 for the building of good county roads in the. United States. This appropriation should be made annually and distributed among the several states in proportion to popu lation on condition that the several states accepting their share should provide $3 in addition to every dollar received from the national government. Restore Peace to Business. By THURLOW WEED BARNES. Author and Capitalist. The most important task before the Taft administration is to lead tho people back to sanity. For the past year the public mind has been demoralized, freak ish and dister'oered. What we need in this country is to return to the straight and safer tn< t hods of our forefath< rs. Free Press. By JOIIN MITCHELL. Vice President American Federation of Labor. The most important work of the new administration will be to preserve invio late the constitutional, traditional and in herent liberty of the people to write, speak and print their opinions, being re sponsible under the law and to a jury for what they write, say or print. Any sys tem which permits, under whatever pre text, a censorship of speech or press, ex cept in times of war. will prove destruc tive of liberty and will lead to greater evils than tho alleged wrongs which tiio denial of these rights seeks to correct. Readjust National Finances. By Hon. CHARLES 11 TREAT, A sistant Treasurer of tho United States. Tho important thing of today is to re enforce the money requiivnu nts of the treasury. The next is the readjustment of the tariff and the third monetary re form. Thoso questions must first be ad justed before we can take up other topics or duties, because prosperity must come through reassured abundance of revenue and an adequate monetary system that will not only insure contldonee as to its stability, but be expansive and safeguard ed to meet the growing needs of business. GOVERNORS OF STATES. To Preserve Highest Ideals of Govern ment. By J. O. DAVIDSON. Governor of Wis consin. The administration under President Taft should bring back the government to the control of tho people wherever they have been deprived of it. provide facilities bjr which tho people may express their de sires in the government wherever new ac tivities have been assumed and preserve for and hand over to Its successor the un blemished ideal of democracy. Keep Expenditures Within Income. By ASIITON C. SHALLKNBERGER, Governor of Nebraska. The most Important task for Mr. Taft is to keep the national expenditures with in tho nation's income and to make a re visicn and ieduction of the tariff which will be a substantial relief to ♦' Ameri can people and to induce coi» e hh and the executivo to realize that big . 'arles and excessive expenditures do not buy the best quality of public service. WELL KNOWN PEOPLE. Regulation of Child Labor. By WILLIAM ORDWAY PARTRIDGE. Sculptor. New York. The most important objects for the pres ent administration to direct its energies upon are the regulation of child labor, the extension of civil service reform and the preservation of forests and natural re sources. Uniform Divorce Law. By Mrs. DONALD M'LEAN, New York. 1 consider the uniform divorce law as important as any measure liuble to come before the new administration. Cut Out the Spoils System. By Dr. DAVID STARR JORDAN. Presi dent Lcland Stanford Junior University. The most important thing that tlie new administration can give Is to set the ex ample of clean and just executive work, cutting out the spoils system and other forms of graft just as far as may be in everything with which the government has to deal. Federal Appointments According to Sectional Sentiments. By CLARK HOWELL. Editor Atlanta Constitution. The greatest work ahead of tho pres ent federal administration Is the material ization of the pledge of Mr. Taft. as made repeatedly in his recent southern ad dresses. that in the matter of federal ap pointments all sections of tho country will be treated with due and reasonable consideration by the national administra tion and that in appointments for office selections will be made with due regard to the S'ntlment of communities *" be served. Efficient Insurance Agains* War. By HUDSON MAXIM, Inventor, Brooklyn. Tho most vital concern to the broad in terests of the American people is efficient insurance against war—such Insurance as shall be a warranty of enduring peace. There is only one thing that can give us this nappy security, and It is an efficient navy, one big enough and powerful enough to circle our shores with a wall of steel, through which no enemy can penetrate to work us harm. If we bull but a few battleships and forge but a V w guns, we must slaughter with them *nd lay cities In waste. If. on the other '.and, we build battleships enough and arm our selves with guns enough, then wo dis courage attack and prevent slaughter. There is no greater mistake than to con sider preparedness for war an enticement to war. Relations With the Orient. By FRANCIS B. LOOMIS. United States Commissioner to tho Tokyo Exposition, Former Minister to Venezuela. In foreign affairs perhaps the greatest problem which will present its. If for solu tion to the administration of Mr. Taft and one which he is himself uniquely and pre-eminently qualified to consider is tho rearrangement of our relations with tho orient. We have wisely. 1 think, adopted from time to time various meas ures. in the form of agreements, treaties and understandings, which were of a tem porary nature and which well served I purpos. inasmuch as they allayed fri tion ur.d >!: >osed of the Immediate posyi bilities of nsort to arms. No farr ' principle has been laid down, sa\ ; mat of tho open door, enun ciated by Mr. Hay, and no permanent policy has been evolved and perhaps can not be until we know what the history of tho next two or three years will bring forth. But it is very apparent to any «no who has definite knowledge of tho far eastern situation that we will have, probably within the term of the new president, to meet and solve some very delicate problems in connection with our relations with both China and Japan, and. above all. we shall probably have to de fine. onco for all. our attitude, from a racial point of view, in respect to the ori entals. Industry keeps the body healthy, the mind clear, the heart whole, the purse full.—Simmons. Cheaper. Servant—Please, sir, missus wants you to send for the plumber, 'cos she's dropped her diamond rliiß down the bath pipe. Mr. Nurlche—'Tell your mistress not to be ridiculous. I'll buy her another diamond rinjrI London Mall. Snow fell In Kurope for fortv duyi tn 1434. | President Taft's Cabinet Officials \ I * « * «i ; • # * Snappy Side Lights on the Men Who * J Will Help the Cliief Executive to Steer * * the Ship of State. & m 0 0 0 * * s By JAMES A. EDGERTON. THIS cabinet Is not provided for by the constitution, but neither is the flag. The constitution could not look after every thing. The cabinet is purely an ad visory board and sometimes scarcely that. It dei>onds on the president Some of our chief executives would listen to advice by the yard and then go ahead and do as they pleased. Others would not even listen and still do as they pleased. Yet cabinets are useful institutions. They are handy to have around as foils when the boss is trying to find out what he wants to do and as goats to take the blame If things go wrong. Every president lias had at least one cabinet and some of them two or three. Koosevelt lias had his official cabinet, his tennis cabinet and General Leonard Wood. After March -1 the country will have only one living ex-president, but no body knows how Many ex-cabiuet offi cers. Moreover, nobody cares. The average cabinet officer Is an impor tant man while on tho job, but not be fore—nor after, lie is like the Scrip tural wind—we hear the sound there of, but know not whence he cometh nor whither lie goetli. And, again, we do not care. So far as the national consciousness is concerned, very many of our cabinet members have emerged from oblivion and to oblivior have re turned. Of the cabinet 1 Jen out, though unofficially, as that to be se lected by I'resident Taft, only four members, Knox, Meyer, Hitchcock and Wilson, have what might be prop erly called national reputations. The other five are known only in spots. Great Constitutional Lawyer. Philander Chase Knox, the new sec retnry of state, is a MeKinley find and a Koosevelt development. MeKinley and Knox were in college together. At the time of his selection as attorney general Mr. Knox's appointment was widel;* criticised for the reason that be had been a corporation lawyer. Vet his chief fame in that office was gained in prosecuting the trusts, lie proved • Mv > U A A • F. H. Hitchcock. • Philander r. Knox. * "anklin MacYcaffh * that he could be as loyal to tha gov ernment at SB,OOO a year as lie had | been to private concerns af It;o,000 or more. Knox served b* . a short time with McKinley, his great work as at ! torney general occurring under Theo ! dore Roosevelt. His most notable ! achievements were galvanizing the anti-trust law into life, dissolving tin: Northern Securities merger aud nego tiating the purchase of the Pauarna canal from France. On the death of Mi l "hew Stanley Quay he was ap I i>' , be commis sioner of the general laud office, but Ballinger declined. Garfield insisted, and Mr. lia [linger at last reluctantly consulted. He held the office one year and In that time reorganized it .from top to bottom. He then resigned and returned to his law practice. When appointing Ballinger, Roosevelt remarked that they were getting a $>20,000 man for $5,000. The new sec retary of the interior was born in lowa in 1858, his father having studied law with Abraham Lincoln. The son went to Kansas and embarked In the cattle business at the age of seventeen, ne got a preparatory education In the University of Kansas and Washburn college and graduated from Williams college in 1884. He practiced law for a time at Boonesborc, 111., then went •outh and was prosecuting attor ney of a county in Alabama, returned to Chicago, where he practiced two years, then went to Seattle, Wash., his present home. There he was judge of the superior court. United States court commissioner ami mayor of Seat tie. He is author of several lawbooks Fighter of Bosses. Charles Nagel of Missouri, new sec retary of commerce and labor, is i tighter of bosses, a devotee of art and a high .ess lawyer. He i< better known arnong lawyers and educators than to the public at large, although he served as a member of the .MS souri house of representative: ■>i a member of the Republican ..a.ii n.i', committee. He is a native we ; rnr having been born in Colorado . u; i . Tex., In 1841), In the height of tlu civil war the pronounced Union sent! ments of his father, Dr. Herman N i gel, compelled him to remove from Texas to St. Louis. Here Charles Na gel soon entered the St. Louis hig'i school. Graduating from there, he took a two years' course in the St. Lonls Law school and then went to the University of Berlin, where he took n special course in law and political oconomy. Returning to St. Louis In 1573, lie was admitted to the bar auc soon had an active part in municipal affairs. He was for four yen - s presi dent of the city council of St. Louis. If Secretary James Wilsor continues to hold the agricultural portfolio until next November he will have broken the record for continuous cabinet serv ice, which is now held by Albert Gal latin, once secretary of the treasury, who served twelvo years, eight months and twenty-flve days. Secretary Wil son was appointed at the outset of the McKlnley administration. He wa born in Ayrshire, Scotland, In 1835. and at the age of seventeen was brought to this coutnry by his parents. He was educated in the public schools of lowa and at lowa college. He en gaged in farming and, entering state politics, was a member of the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth assemblies of lowa, being elected speaker of th? assembly in his last term. He served three terms In congress. In Grot Luck. "I have been looking over my finan cial operations," said Mr. Kaslgo. "I must say they are more successful than usual." "Have you been making large prof its?' "No. I don't expect anything like that." "But you say you were successful?" "Comparatively successful. During the month 1 have loaned money to five friends, and only three of them have quit speaking to me."—Washing ton Star. THE EX-PRESIDENT. Terse Comments by the Press on Roosevelt's Record. "CAPTmIN OF HIS PEOPLE." "Mighty Prophet of a Better Day," Says One Admirer—Raps From Oth ers—"Bully Copy Maker," Says a Scribe—Quips on His Huntinn Trin. Roosevelt retires without a single blot on the fair escutcheon of his sin cerity.— Baltimore American. A Hard Rap. Roosevelt was the greatest muck raker of muck rakers that ever sliced r. slanderer.—Atlanta Constitution. About to Be Discovered. As March 4 has gone one naturally wonders if darkest Africa realizes that It is about to be discovered.—Kansas City Star. Jungle Folk Worried. Reports from Africa are to the ef feet that the nervousness In the juii gles Is becoming a -ute.—Chicago Rec , ord-Herald. Notable Record. Roosevelt's record as president is a uotable one and gives him a consplcu ous place among tho world's great men.—Baltiniore American. When He Is In Africa. When Mr. Roosevelt Is dining on hip popotamus steak in Africa he will bp able to laugh to scorn the historic j possum dinner.—Kansas City Star. Picked Up Silvers. Ex-President Roosevelt has stubbed his toe many times in his distinguish ed career and got many silvers In it, nnd not a few also In the hand which swings the big stick.—Boston Globe. Roosevelt and Congress. All hands freely conce% that Mr. Roosevelt's twenty rounds with the j Sixtieth congress have been soniewhnt faster and more emphatic than a la dies' sewing circle.—Anaconda Stand I ard. Game Fighter. Never having had the opportunity to Judge of his performance as a butcher congress Is not prepared to dispute the statement that Mr. Roosevelt Is not a game butcher, but It doubtless stands ready to affirm that he Is a game fight er, at any rate.—New Orleans Times Democrat. Furious Zeal Needed. Serious faults in oar national life were waiting to be corrected when Roosevelt came into power. Doubtle.s the nation needed a man of furl\us zeal, Indomituble will and strenuous ideals to correct these things. Such a mau was found. Roosevelt went fur ther. Syracuse Post-Standard. 7 "Bully" Copy Maker. The man who writes paragraphs and humorous stuff will regret the passing of Roosevelt. His race suicide theo ries, his nature fake crusade, his An aulas club, his country life commls sion, his advice to mothers, his butting into everything in which there is hu man interest, have all made talk. T . usi' his own phrase, he has been a "bully" copy maker.—St. Louis Post- IMspatcli. Traditions Ignored. That even a portion of natural ap- j probation goes to ex-President Roose- j velt is high enough compliment, for I his methods have not been in keeping with American traditions nor with the | spirit of the American government, j The feeling has gained strength that a j bull lu a china shop is not necessarily i a bad conjunction and that some Kinds of china ought to be smashed anyway. —Cleveland Plain Denier. Fortunate In Misfortune. Mr. Roosevelt is too impulsive, errat ic and uncertain evidently to win fa- [ vor as a possible executive of a corpo- ! ration. Such au Institution must have at its head a tactful, clear headed and | able man of self control. Thai the United States should have had as chief executive a man whose Idiosyncrasies would have imperiled au average cor- i poratlon and that It should have sur vlved his ebullitions but shows how i fortunate the country has been in Its misfortunes. Doulsvl'le Courier-Jour nal. "Captain of His People." In many details of his multifarious activities Mr. Roosevelt has erred. To j err Is human. He has fallen short and ! failed. He has never faltered. As j Lincoln did before him, he has known how to meet overmastering necessity ! with opportunism, but he has not tak j en his eye from his "hoseu goal nor relaxed the irou of bis u ar miuation. ] Ills devotion to the national ideals, j his fervent patriotism, have been an j inspiration to his generation and will | be a lasting example to posterity. No president, no patriot, has ever put ! away power in a nobler spirit or with 1 a firmer will than he when he refused a re-election that would have come In spite of reiterated pledge and refus al had he not opposed to It the full ¥orco of his Influence. A great cham pion, conservator and exemplar of American democracy, Theodore Roose velt has beeu the captain of his peo ple, and In the house of the lowly as In the house of the strong he has been the mighty prophet of a better day.— Chicago Tribune. Legislator's Offer to Mothers. One dollar a babe is the price lowa ought to be willing to pay to lowa mothers Is the estimate of Dr. Ful 11am, president of the lowa State Med ical association. Dr. Pulliam Intro duced a measure the other day mak ing such u provision into the lowa house. The bill provides that If the mother presents notice of her child's birth to the county clerk within three months after birth and accompanies the notice with a physician's certifi cate she is to be given an order on the county treasurer for sl. No pro vision la made for twins or triplets. SWISS PSYCHIC GIRL' Young Wonder Who Paints Mar vels Under Inspiration. AT WORK ON FOURTH PICTURE Helen Smith Astonishes Disciples of Occultism In Geneva American Prima Donna Tells of Miss Smith's Efforts In Art—Painting of Portraits Started With the Eyes. Helen Smith, the wonderful girl psy ehlc at Geneva, who Is astonishing even those who profess to know tho mysteries of occultism and bewilder ing those who follow the philosophy of materialism, recently finished the fourth painting in the series of seven which she claims she has been inspir ed to do, and the work is exciting thc wonder of art connoisseurs who have- Been it. Miss Minnie Tracey, the prima don na, daughter of Colonel John Tracey, journalist, who at the time of hi» death was commissioner of charities in Washington, recently returned to. Paris from Geneva, where she ha» | made a triumph in the operas of -Tris tan und isode" and "Tannbanser." 1 She is a great friend of Helen Smith and spent much time with her watch ing her work upon the portrait of Cagliostro, which is Miss Smith's lat est work. Speaking of her experience. Miss Tracey said: "I called upon Miss Smith quite fre quently while in Geneva and saw the portrait of Cagliostro grow front its beginning. It was simply wonderful. | At first the outline appeared like tho features of a young man, but as Mlsa 1 Smith worked the fuce grew older and wrinkled. The color of his dress waa | changed several times during the mak ing of the picture and finally remained • rich brown. ' "You understand that Miss Smith li» *ll uneducated girl, without a knowl edge of or even an acquaintance with painting. She Is always In a trance* while doing her work and never takes anything to eat or drink on the day j she receives her 'inspiration.' As tber® j is u painting of Cagliostro in tho Louvre ut I'aris, it is proposed to bring the painting by Miss Smith to Paris to compare the likeness of ttm | subconscious work with the real por trait in the museum, i "Miss Smith's work so far has con sisted of three other paintings-a 'Cru cifixion,' which possesses such strength and origipuilty that It tnade team > come to my eyes when I looked upon It; 'Christ In Gelhsemane' and a 'Vir gin.' She has never been out of Ge neva and has been a very limited read er. Yet the historic factj she state* are always correct, and her knowledge of geography and of places Is perfect. "M. Badin, In whose store Helen acted as a shopgirl until her retnnrku j ble psychic manifestations attracted the attention of tho psycho-philoso phers, told me that Helen never vi denced great Intelligence, but that she had a remarkable memory. Whenever she became possessed with an inspi ration to pnl«t M. Radin willingly al j lowed her togo home and remain away as long as she required. "Through Mrs. James Jack ton's gen erosity she was enabled to give up her position and stay at home to develop her powers. "The painting of a picture involves much preparation, for the 'inspira tion,' or whatever It may be. directs her Just how to prepare the canvas or panel on which to paint, indicating the ; exact size, the kind of wood or ean ' vas to be used and everything to the I minutest detail. Even after every ! thing has been prepared this inspira i tional force often decides to change ! its mind and will instruct Miss Smith to commence all over again on a new plan. "She generally starts her portraits with the eyes. The room In which she pait ts Is always in a dim light, and absolute quiet must prevail. She had her first command to paint In 1006. but attributed it to some wild fancy and did not take it seriously, but a-t the inspiration recurred she followed Its instructions and finished her first work. 'The Crucifixion,' in Fooled Him. When Tommy was taking papa hi\ dinner lie stopped for a moment tn watch a workman emptying a sewer. "That." remarked Tommy Interest edly, "is the grate my brother lost a shilling down." The workman's eyes lit up. "Well, young man."he said, ~ith u show of carelessness, "you'd better get forward with that dinner before. It's cold." In about half an hour Tommy re turned to find the man still at th> same grate. "Are you quite sure It was this grate, the shilling was lost In?" said th« workman. "I am certain," replied Tommy, "be cause I saw my father get it out tendon Answers sens ! A Rolla toi© TIN SHOP Tor all kind of Tin Roofing, Spoutlne nnd General Job Work. Srovee, Heaters, fiancee. Furnaces, eto. PRICES TUB LOWEST! QlllLlTlf THE BEST,' JOHN HIXSON NO. 11# E. FBONT «T.