The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-24
OPENED BY TAFT.
Ohio State Republican Conven-
tiOn Meets at Columbus.
With 1,lOO Delegates Present
to Name State Ticket.
A KEY NOTE SPEECH.
Is Made by Secretary of War as
Temporary Chairman.
Discusses Railroad Legislation
and Treasury Deficit.

publicans of Ohio were represented by
more than LOO delegates when the
state convention to nominate governor
and other state officers was called to
order this afternoon, while the big
auditorium was well filed with others
who had been attracted by the fact
that Secretary of War Taft as tenn
porary chairman was to deliver the
opening speech in this years political
campaign. The preliminaries OF or
ganizaton were speedily gone through.
John DIalloy being chosen temporary
secretary and William F. Goss ser
geant at arms.
Secretary Taft said in part:
Fellow Republicans of Ohio:
Congratulate you on the prosperous
political calm in which you meet. The
tremendous victory of last fall so
stunned our ancient enemy the Dem
ocratic party, that it as a party is
hardly even now showing signs of life
When president like Theodore
Roosevelt, a consistent and orthodox
Republican is welcomed with bursts
of enthusiastic admiration in Texas,
ana IN the Democratic Iroquois club
of Chicago, we may we'll liken the
present to the era of political good
feeling which prevailed early in the
last century"
The secretary rapidly ssketched the
attitude of the Republican party on
the currency question since 1895, re-
ferred to the Spanish war and its re-
suits and then said.
I'm the campaign of 1904 the Demo
cratic managers ignored the fact that
it ever had been in favor of free silver
ana sought to make the choice of issue
the personality of Theodore RoOseyelt-
Against him, they charged Imperial
ism, militarism, usurpation of power,
violations of the constitution. a dan
gerOUs foreign policy OF intermeddHng
and an attempt to introduce d per-
sUnal government
This the secretary said brought in
review the action of the president in
various matters which he pointed out,
notably the recognition of the republic
of Panama. the settlement of the an
thracite coal strike. the bringing of
the Northern Securities suit, and his
Philippine policy.
TT made manifest the secretary
continued, the consistent attitude OF
Mr. Roosevelt in that he was neither
plutocrat nor a 'mobocrat.
How Democrats Were Left.
THE managers of the Democratic
party" he said, in the last campaign
had begun, as friends of certain Wall
streets interests but as the campaign
shaped itself even the kings of the
street refused to put their money on a
beaten horse and withdrew from the
contest. leaving the poor Democratic
leaders wallawing in the slough of
despOnds into which their pusillani-
nous course had led them"
Secretary Taft then referred to the
Democratic charges of corruption
against the president and the chairman
of the Republican national committee
and to the outburst of indignat denia1''
from the president which the secretary
said should serve as a lesson to those
tempted to calumny at a campaigns s
end
The secretary said that the interstate
e1r,r71771a~qn a W n
but that inequality and injustice re-
nained. Discussing the proposed rem
edial bill as it passed the house of
TepTeSentatiV the secretary said it
attempts to give more power to the
railroad commission so that its order
when made shall be effective until set
aside by judicial hearing. 1t does not
as yet, he said. provide for a general
fixing of a table of rates by the COM
mission but only calls for a. fixing of
a maximum rate upon complaint of
with respect with specified instance OF
injustice. It seems q moderate meas
ure, calculated TO give the added power
to the commission necessary to effec-
fiveness is remedying specific wrongs in
rates without creating an all powerful
tribunal which shall in advance take
away from railways the power of rate
making and of elastiealIy responding &c
varying conditions. It viii not thus
paralyze individual effort in meeting
the changing demands Of trade. We car
certainly trust our law givers to re-
spOnd to the popular demand and tC
regulate the railways so far as they
ought to be regulated, without interfer-
ing with tia control, over their OWr
property and with that motive for eff
41ciency and economic management
which are still required to make sue
cessful the enormous business of rail
way transportation in America. This
question must be settled by the Re
publicans.
The Treasury Deficit.
Secretary Taft discussed the deficit
in the revenues and said the Republi-
cans must provide a suitable means OF
avoiding a real and permanent short
age of cash if next year witnesses J
repetition of the deficit In this cOnnec-
lion, he said:
1T may be that congress will succeed
in cutting down here and there so as
to reduce the deficit, but the experience
of this last session in which the greatest
effort to eCOnOmize was made, gives lit
tie hone that if the revenues continue
al the same figure as last year, the ap-
propriations may be cut down to point
where no deficit would exist. Are tbs
people in favor of cutting down the
naval or army estimator I think hear
No from one end of the country tC
the other. Certainly the Democratic
party heard that no in no uncertain
tones.
shall we cut down the pensions? Nc
party has the hardihood to suggest that
There remain two alternatives, either
to impose additional internal taxes OF
TO readjust and revise the tariff. We
Rave repealed the war taxes which af-
TcTded a large revenue and the eight
years of the present Dingley tariff have
seen in this country pro sperity neTes
Fefore witnessed in the civilized world
If the deficit continues in serious
amount, then in one way or the other
afther our taxation on imports or ouI
Internal revenue system must be