Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-26
|AFT DEFENDS
TIE PRESIDENT
Secretary OF War Delivers P0-
litical Address, Opening Cam
paign In Vermont Today
HOT SHOT FOR THE DEMOCRATS
Attacks on Presidents Record Shown
to Have Been Due to Lack of Any
Real Issue Upon Which to Make a
Stand Taft Given Enthusiastic
Reception.

STAND ART StVen GhtnuSid6e''
/ Reception.
| Montpelier, VT Aug. 26.--Secretar,
| of War William II. Taft addressed tht
| republican rally in the armory her;
! this afternoon. The meeting was the
| formal opening of the campaign in this
part of the state. Secretary Taft, who
was accorded an enthusiastic recep.
! ton. spoke in part as follows:
Secretary Taft briefly reviewed the
| issues and history of the parties, and
discussed the platforms of each. In
u review Of the administration oi
| Roosevelt. to which the greater por-
/ tion of the speech was devoted. the
secretary eulogized the presiden,
| highly. saying:
Unable really to attack the record
of the republican party, unable really
| to take any grounds which make a
| combatable issue with the republicans
on main questions. the democrats now
seek to attack the president. and to
charge him with violations of the con-
stitution. with a headstrong disposition
to rule or ruin, with tendency to in
volve the country in foreign wars, with
being. in other words an unsafe man
In all my experience | never have met
man in authority who has less pride
of opinions and judgment than he has
formed in respect to d situation pres
sented to him. for action than has
y,
man who was so amenable to reason,
30 anxious to reach IL just conclusion.
and so willing to sacrifice a previously
formed opinion as the present presl-
dent of the United States. He weighs
every argument brought before him,
and ii by reason of the limpid char
ncter OF his nature. which leads him
to speak as he thinks, he gives instant
expression OF an opinion which suhse-
Quent facts show him to be erroneous.
he changes as only man can change
who is an earnes. seeker for the truth,
with the sncerest desire to do righ,
He is not tyrant. but he Is leader.
He does believe In a strenuous life
No man ever sat in the presidential
chair. more anxious to avoid war
or conflict with foreign nations than
he. His impulsiveness Of manner and
his quickness of thought and speech
coexist with real conservatism of ac>
tion that makes 1t as certain as 1t was
under Mckinley that no policy will be
followed needlessly exposing the in
terests Of the country to the peril of
war; All. but it is said, wait until he
has free hand after the election.
10 VI IN tic Pr. Hsytn
1t is difficult to answer such a gratuit-
Gus suggestion. founded as 1t must be
on the assumption that man like
Roosevelt, whose candor and honesty
are SO patent that he almost thinks
aloud. has been playing part for
three years and is only waiting success
at the election to throw off the mask.
1t is too ridiculous for discussion
But now, what specific thing is
Roosevelt accused of? First. it is
charged that he influences legislation
and transgreses the line which under
our constitutional system. should exist
between the executive and legislative
branches. That 1t Is unconstitutiona
for the president to confer with MEM
bers OF the house and senate and seek
to influence them with respect to leg
islation is a new doctrine in this re-
public. In the first place, the con-
stitution gives him the express power
and right to communicate with con-
gress in giving his views with respect
to legislation. In the second place, he
is made a co-ordinating factor In the
legislative branch of the government.
for he has the power to veto any act
passed by both houses and it can not
become law unless it is repassed by
both houses. by two-thirds vote in
each house. Now. then. is it possible
that in conversation with members of
each house he may not repeat rec
made In his communities
ton to the house in writing or that in
view of their joint responsibility for
legislation he may not advise with
them at any time and convince them,
IL he may, of the wisdom or unwisdom
Of proposed legislation. Criticism
founded upon such proposition is ev-
idence of the weakness of the position
of our adversaries."
This brings me to the criticism of
the president, that he has departed
from his former high ideals in the
natter of politics. No charge is more
that this He is as much N
.ayor of clean methods, he is as much |
opposed to spoils system, he believes
II honesty and efficiency in the admin !
stration of the government and In the |
of the civil service law, !
IS completely as he ever did or ever |
proposed to do. He is doing everything |
n his power to maintain his ideals. |
We're he to take the course marked out |
is a proper one in such criticisms /
md ostracize. so far as conference +
With him is. CONCERNED, the members of |
lis party whom the mugwumps do
lot approve, he would divide his party,
ie his hands and destroy utterly his
,ower for usefulness to the country"
Taft briefly discussed tbs recent ser
ice pension order and l.. Panama
ase, defending the president from the
harges of usurpation of power, and
buse of the constitution. Taking up
he action of Roosevelt In appointing
he coal strike arbitration board he
sked; Would Judge Parker have done
no Same fhinp2 think nOf RecallSe