The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-08-26
SECRETARY TAFT
LAUDS PRESIDENT
Makes Eloquent Address
Today in Montpelier, VT.
DEFENDS ADMINISTRATION
Declares Criticisms of Political Enemies
to Be "Fatuity of Sham
PretenseS"
DEFENDS ADMINISTRATION


MONTPELIER. Vt. Aug. 26-William
H Taft. Secretary of War. today ad-
dressed a large Republican gathering
here In part he said:
The modern government of a people
of eighty millions, reaching from the
Atlantic 10 the Pacific and from Canada
to Mexico. is very complicated. 1t was
the Jefersonian doctrine, which l fear
that some Of his professed followers
have forgotten. that the less the govern
ment had to do. the less government
there was. the better for the people.
But in the progress of civilization
there are so many functions which il
is impossible for private business enter
prise to maintain and undertake that
even the most orthodox JeffersOnian
must now admit that the legitimate
functions OF the modern government
constitute II a very complex machine
Government of the People.
The difficulties Of its management
are greatly increased If instead of leav-
ing the control to one man. as in Rus
STA, or to a small group of men, as in
the ancient aTistocracy, we commit its
control to all males over the age Of
twenty-one and call IT a popular gov
eminent The tremendous advantage of
a popular government, assuming gov
eminent is devised TO secure the great
est good TO the greatest number is that
experience has shown that individuals
and classes Of men, assuming they have
reasonable intelligence, are better able
to look after their own interests and
10 secure the protection of their rights
of person and property, if they are
given a voice in the government. than
where this duty IS left to some one
else.
"A useful party cannot be formed I'M
less those who are members of II. with
a sense of responsibility for the sue
cessful and unobstructed continuance Of
the government, yield their views on
the less important and less essential
principles and unite with respect to the
main policies for which IL is to become
responsible, because the resultant solid
ar1ty Is necessary TO secure unity Of ac-
ton.
Strength in Party Unity.
The sense Of responsibility for the
successful operation Of the government
must furnish a power Of cohesion which
shall prevent the breaking off from II
Of a sufficient number Of its represen-
lives and members to make its arm
nerveless and TO take away from il Its
power of affirmative action. The party
which is apt 20 be the more efficient
party. therefore. IS that in which the
members are more nearly united on the
great principles of governmental ac-
ton.
After referring TO the success Of the
Spanish war and declaring it due to the
Republican party, Mr. Taft said upon
the money question:
The Republican party has taken steps
TO secure the gold dollar as the stand
ard Of value in this country II has
been aided In maintaining this standard
BY the uneXampled prosperity that has
prevailed In the country for the last
seven years. Should the pendulum swii Z
the other way. should a financial crisis
come, should we have reproduced the
conditions which existed from 1893 to
1896. IL might easily become tremendous
strain upon the Government to main
tain the parity Of the silver dollar with
the gold. and there might then arise
again the issue which was successfully
fought by the Republican party In 1896
namely, whether we should let go the
gold standard and, by accepting the
standard Of silver. cut our va rdstick in
two and effect a disastrous Reputation.
The Gold Standard.
1T is impossible for a party in power
to fOreclose the money question and es-
tablish a gold standard in such a way
that a financial crisis with a laundering
and repudiating party could not again
destroy the monetary basis Of business
and overwhelm US with a sea OF trouble
IF there ever was a time in the his
tory of this country when we have
right 70 be proud Of our people. II was
when the campaign OF education I'm 1896
wrested from the clutches of the dem
agoEue and the wild silver fanatic the
control OF the finances of the Govern
ment. A different result would have
led US into a depth Of woe from which
IL would have required decades Of years
for us 70 recover.
The Republican party has not
changed its platform at all. II stands
now for what IL stood in 1S93 and FOR
what II stood IN 1900. 1t has adopted
policies with respect 10 those matters
that grew ont OF the Spanish war which
IL announced through its administration
before the national convention of 1900
which were affirmed by that convention.
and which were affirmed by the conven-
ton which met in Chicago last June.
"On the other hand, the Democratic
party upon the great issue OF 1896 and
OF 1900, to wit, the money question. now
says nothing. while its candidate an
nounces that that question has been set
tied. although against his vote, and that
the gold standard has been irreVOcably
established by the Republican admins
trations OF the last eight years.
Stands by Roosevelt.
Concerning many OF the issues of the
campaign which are under discussion.
absence from the country has made me
unfamiliar with their details. but when
Theodore Roosevelt is attacked for be
Ing 4 stronghcaded tyrant, obstinate in
his pride OF opinion and failure 70 lis
ten 70 argument, I am In a position TO
know q what 1 speak. In all my ex-
perience I never have met a man In
authority who has less pride Of opinion
in the judgments that he has formed I'm
respect 70 situations presented 70 him
for action than has Theodore Roosevelt.
Il have never met a man VINO was so
amenable % reason, so anxious 70 reach
q Just conclusion. and 80 willing 70
sacrifice a previously formed opinion as
the present President OF the United
States He has wonderful quickness or
apprehension and keenness Of perceP-
ton He weighs every argument which
IN hpproHf hafara him and ~ nv TgaED a