New-York tribune., 1906-08-27
FORAKER ON HISREC0RD
EXPLAINS RATES STAND.
Opposes Partial Endorsement Of
Members of Congress.


Interview to-day. discussed the political situa-
tion In Ohio devoting considerable attention TO
the probable action of the approaching Repub-
lican convention I'm that state with respect TO
those Representatives and Senators who had
differed from the President i'm some matter OF
legislation.
'I am sorry 70 learn he said, that the Re
publicans of Ohio are having some sharp con-
troversdes, but the subjects Of difference do not
seem to me very important. / cannot think.
therefore. that there is likely to be any serious
injury dons TO the party. whatever may happen
to individuals.
80 far as indorsing is concerned. that is
not important TO anybody except myself. and
shall try TO accept with equanimity whatever
may be the action of the convention.
1T is true opposed the Presidents policy
embodied in the Hepburn bill, but not. as it is
commonly stated in the newspapers, because
was opposed TO governmental regulation and
supervision Of railroads. fo= the record will show
that have done as much in that behalf as any
other Ohio man in Congress. but because /
thought the Hepburn bill unwise, unjust and
unconstitutional.
MY contention was that under existing law.
which 1 helped enact having been member OF
the subcommittee that framed it. especially II
amended as it should be. every serious wrong
of every kind practised by the railroads can be
remedied, and that all evil practices can be
broken up as nearly as any law will enable US
TO break them UP.
POSITION ALREADY JUSTIFIED"
Everything 1 said in that respect has been al
ready fully justified and vindicated by the many
successes the Attorney General has met with in
the numerous prosecutions he has instituted dur
ing the last nine months, until which tlme-lOng
after the debate commenced-no one seemed to
realize, not even the governments own officials.
the excellence of the laws we already had.
"Dxising laws have been found. according to
the judgments rendered in these proceedings. to
apply to every kind of rebate or discrimination
between individuals or localities. no matter
under what form or guise prectised. that any,
body has yet complained about.
when somebody finds some evil practice that
existing laws do not forbid and provide an ex-
peditious remedy against and heavy punishment
for, may change my mind as TO the correctness
of my actions-as 10 whether IT wise or not
but not until then
This is great subject, full of troublesome
questions both of law and cf policy. that cannot
be properly discussed in an interview.
Excepting the Rate bin supported the Presi-
dent as to every other measure he urged upon
Congress except only joint statehood for Arizona
and New Mexico. opposed that except on con-
dition they should be allowed TO determine by
vote I'm each territory whether they wanted Joint
statehood 1 think the great majority of the
people were opposed TO tho idea OF the President
forcing Joint statehood on these territories
against their protest.
WILL MAKE NO COMPLAINT
"But, however this may be. as to myself I shall
not make any request OF the convention nor any
complaint as 70 its action. whatever that may
be; but cannot forbear suggesting in this con-
nectton that if the convention should try 70
conform to the rule prescribed by Mr.. Burton of
indOrsing Iass cordially than the President
those who may have differed from the President
as to some matter-no matter how honestly-it
would have some hard problems to solve
For instance. If Senator Dick is to be indorsed
less cordially than the President because he did
not agree with the President about the Philip
pine Tariff bill. what is the convention TO do as
to General Kefer and the six other distinguished
Ohio Republican members of Congress who
Joined with that sturdy old veteran in opposing
and voting against the President as to that
measure-one OF them, Mr. Nevin, who repre-
sents the district in which the convention will
be held? Are they also TO be partially rebused'
by indorsing them less cordially than the Presi-
dent and their colleagues who voted with the
President?
And how about Mr.. Burton himself? Would
he not be hoist with his own petard'? Does
he not now and then kick over the traces and
differ from the President and from his party?
Is ne TO be indorsed less cordially than the
President because he has opposed the Presi-
dents policy of increasing the navy? Is not the
navy, to speak. the apple Of the Presidents
eye-the biggest OF his big sticks-and are not
the people with the President as 70 his naval
policy by an overwhelming majority?
Take another case The President and Sec
retary Taft mads known to Congress at the last
session that unless we restricted them to Amer
lea they would so abroad TO purchase supplies
and materials to be used in the construction Of
the Panama Canal when they could buy cheaper
abroad, thus saving money on the purchase and
as they were 20 be used IN Panama and not
brought into the United States. saving the tariff
duty besides
"I think may safely say that with q great
majority OF the American people this proposition
was not popular. Certainly, 70 Republicans
generally IL seemed inconsistent with all we
have been oontending for with respect 20 pro-
tective tariff.
THE idea OF constructing the most majestic
work in progress in all the world. the greatest
ever undertaken by any nation purely Amer
lean enterprise, to be built by Americans and
paid for by American money, and going abroad
to buy materials and supplies. thus giving pa
tronage to foreign manufacturers and giving
employment to foreign labor instead OF buying
in America. from Americans. and giving all these
advantages to our own people, seemed so unpa-
triotic and. under the circumstances. so inde-
fensible. that Congress adopted resolution pro-
hbting 1t except in cases. II there should be
any SUCH where the President might deem il
necessary to do so to escape e3toPtiOn
"In the Senate this resolution received the
supporter every Republican In the House IL
D