Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-07-12
&Eec. Taft Begins the COMPRESSION
al Campaign Of 1908 at
Greensboro, N. @.
SOUTH IN ITS OWN WAY
Its Congressional and Political Leaders
Persist in Voting against Their
Constitucnts' Best Interests-
Republicans Should Not
Hold Federal Office.

Greensboro, N. c.. July s.-sccretary
fDf War Taft tonight, before a meeting
tpf North Carolina republicans ON the
eeve of their state convention, deliver
FED a speech that was generally antci-
(pated as the opening gun of the con-
tgressional campaign CT 1906
Secretary Taft in opening said that
twhen he was invited to address this
Injecting the committee advised him
l"that the political situation was such
that If a proper effort was made at
1.-THE coming election it would be posi-
bic to carry the state Cor the Republic
can party" The secretary added: Il
fbelieve that nothing could happen in
the politics of this country, would work
kgreater advantage to the country at
llarge. and to the South in particular,
than the breaking up of what has been
popularity known IS the Solid South
say this in no partisan spirit for am
mot one of those who think that this
jresult would necessarily increase the
probability of the continuance in power
lof the Republican party. The solidity
}of the South has In a measure furnish
ed its own antidotc in restraining many
voters in the North who might have
left the Republican party but for what
they regard as the injustice and dan
sger of southern political conditions.
THE South has been kept solid by
the spectre of negro domination and
by stirring up racial prciudces and
arousing unfounded alarm over an i'm
possible return Of reconstruction days"
ssaid the secretary.
ONE PARTY OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
| During the past decade. Mr. Taft point
I'D out, period of unprecedented pros
berity has come for the fair southern
Estates. under the .circumstan he
said, ut is not to be expected that the sem
Ielble business men of tho South do not
perceive the tremendous disadvantage UNI
der which the southern States labor in
Nhaving only one party with any voice
Hn their State governments. as in being
Eherded together always as the hide bound
support of the Democratic party of the
country. no matter what fallacies 1t may
adopt in its platform nor what candidate
It may put before the country.
The question which should address itself
Ito the great business interests of the
l6outh the secretary stated. is how much
longer 1.-The spectre of things past is to
hold them to political allegiance that
does them good in national politics.
bnd deprves their communities Of the
local politics of two parties, each Of
which, if It does wrong has real chance
pf being punished for its misconduct
VOTE TARIFF A ROBBERY.
He said that although much of the
wealth of the South is dependent upon d
protective tariff, its representatives in a
national convention vote unhest1tatng-
ly for the proposition that Il protective
tariff Is a. robbery of the many for the
benefit Of u few that although a great
majority of the southern people are
strongly in favor of maintaining the flag
in the Philippines until the sacred trust
imposed by circumstances shall have been
highly and fully discharged they never
rheless permit the Democratic party, in
the case after northern votes, to formu-
late the false cry of neutrality-suspicious.
IN which they have no sympathy what
lever and On which they were twice led
ito humiliatng national defeat
Again. continued the secretary, mo
part of this country is so vitality inter-
ested in the construction of great
waterway to connect the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans across the isthmus OF
Panama as the South. It was indis-
kpensable to this enterprise that the treaty
made with Panama by President Roose-
NtIl ana secretary hay should be
promptly confirmed. and yet the ma 1ority
OF the representation of the South in the
Sebate attempted to defeat the treaty"
The secretary said the peace and pros
perlty OF the islands of the Caribbean
sea and of the countries of South and
Central America are of the utmost i'm
portance Of the South, vet "mereIy for
the purpose OF embarra ssing the admin
1stration,' party caucus of senators
OF the United States was called to bind
every member of the party to vote
against tho ratification of the Dominican
treaty.
The Republican party OF North Caro-.
lima. he declared, would be much strong.
er as n voting party If all the fedora
Officers were filed by democrats. "As
long, he added 'as the Republican
party in the Southern States shall rem
resent little save a factonal chase fol
federal offices In which business mer
and men of substance in the communit,
have no desire to enter and in the result
OF which they have no interest we ma,
expect to present political conditions o
the South to continue"
THE WORK OF ROOSEVELT.
Turning to the ISSUES involved In tn,
coming congressional campaign the sec
Tetary pointed out that in November
1904 the Republican party was continued
In power. Theodore Roosevelt he said
had for more than three years and hal
discharged the duties OF President. Dur
Elng that period Mr.. Roosevelt" he add
cd. had again and again. by word an,
10y act, manifested to the people his de
Termination to pursue the middle, JUS
and impartial course by which the ricl
and poor should enjoy the equal protec
ton and suffer the equal and Just en-
fofcement of the laws. He recognized thi
as the platform OF the Republican party
Eede incurred the hostility of importan
Financial interests by his action in al
Erecting the prosecution to a successfu
tissue Of the so-called Northern securi
ties suit, which prevented a merger 10
the purpose Of suppressing competitor
Of two great lines OF railroad In viola
jtion OF the so-called antitrust law"
ENFORCING ANTITRUST LAW.
Tho secretary then said the republica
(platform and Mr.. Roosevelt pledged tn
further enforcement OF the antitrust la,
land the interstate commerce law to pre-
went discrimination against the shippin
lDuhlio and tn prevent oDpresaive combin n