Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-07-10


OF War Taft tonight, before a meeting Of
North Carolina republicans on the eve OF
their state conventions delivered a speech
that was generally regarded rs the opening
gun Of the congressional campaign OF 1906.
The speech dealt with current political
questions. II opened with advice to The
rank and file of the party In North Caro-
| lima and the south particularly, and re-
ferred to the achievements of the party in
the session of congress just closed The
opera house was packed to the overlooking
by throng eager to hear the secretary Of
war and hundreds of persons were turned
away because OF the limited size OF the
hall.
Secretary Taft's speech.
Secretary TAFT in opening said that when
he was invited to address this meeting
the committee advised him shat the poll
teal situation was such that II a proper
effort was made at the coming election it
would bS possible to carry the state for
the republican party" The secretary said:
l believe that nothing that could happen
in the politics in this country would work
greater advantage to the country at large,
and to the south in particular, than the
breaking up Of what has been properly
in partisan spirit for l am not one of
those who think that this result would
necessarily increase the PROFANITY OF the
continuance in power of the republican
party. The solidity Of the south has. in
measure, furnished its own antidote in
restraining many voters in the north who
might have left the republican party but
for what they regard as the injustice and
danger of southern political conditions.
The south has been kept solid by the
specter of negro domination and by
stirring up racial prejudices and arousing
unfOunded alarm over an impossible return
of reconstruction days. said the secretary.
The question which should address itself
to the great business interests of the south,
the secretary stated is how much longer
1.-THE spectre of things past" is to hold
them to a political allegiance that does
them no good in national politics and de-
prives their communities of 1.-THE inestima-
BILE benefit of the presence in local policies
Of two parties, each Of which, If It does
wrong, has a real chance OF being pun
ished for its misconduct"
Mr. Taft contended that If the southern
people had kept up with the times; had
they at the ballot box expressed their senti-
ments on the living issues of the day. In
stead of allowing themselves to be fright
ened by a spectre and a shadow of the
past, their political Importance as COM
munities and the significance of their Views
upon, measures and men would have been
vastly enhanced"
Inc iNfubi'N~'ii ke'ia's " 49, -
lima" he declared, would be much
stronger as a voting party II all the fed
eral offices were filed by democrats
As long as the republican party
in the southern states shall represent little
save a factional chase for federal Offices
business men and men of substance In the
community have no desire to enter and in
the result Of which they have no inter-
est. we may expect the present political
conditions of Che s9it9eto continue"
Issues of Coming Campaign.
Turning to the issues Involved in the
coming congressional, campaign. the sec
rotary pointed out that in November, 1904,
the republican party was continued in
power. Theodore Roosevelt. he said, had
for more than three years and a half dis
charged >,the duties of president. During
that period Mr.. Roosevelt" he added, had
again and again, by word and by act, man
Tested to the people his determination. to
pursue the middle, just and impartial
course by which the rich and poor should
enjoy the equal protection and suffer the
equal and just enforcement Of the laws.
He recognized this the platform Of the
republican party. He incurred the hostil-
! ity of important financial interests by his
action in directing the prosecution to a
successful issue of the so-caled Northern
| Securities suit, which prevented merger
for the purpose of suppressing competi-
tion of two great lines of railway I'm
violation of the so-calIed antitrust law"
The secretary then said the republican
platform and Mr.. Roosevelt pledged the
! further enforcement of the antitrust law
and the interstate commerce law to prevent
discrimination against the shipping public
Il ~ aV,N
monopoly.
Continuing, he said that only a year and
four months have elapsed since Mr.. Roose-
welt took the oath of office after his cleo
ton in 1904 land yet in that short time
| of his term of Office the republican party
| in congress Of the United States, inspired
\ by Mr. Roosevelt's recommendations has
| adopted a railroad rate BILL which greatly
! increased the power OF the Interstate
! Commerce commission, and which, taken
/ together with previous legislation before
/ his election, will certainly have much to
do in the abolition Of violations Of unjust
determinations and abuses"
Promises and Performance.
| The secretary said the democratic leaders
are now indignant that the republican
party, in carrying out the promises of its
platform in putting into practice the pRn-
| ciples which they with superb compla-
/ cency claim are really covered by demo-
/ cratic patent" He declared that the demo-
cratic leaders have been for years declar-
/ ing against corporations, but have insti-
tuted no legislative steps in all this time
/ to restrain abuses lie said:
/ ask you TO compare democratic prom
/ Uses with republican performances, Incl
dentaily, ponder thow much would have
/ been done II Mr.. Parker had been elected
and acted on his theory that the common
/ law supplied all that was necessary for
the suppression of trusts and the abolition
of rebates. IL may be noted also that while
/ Mr. Bryan has been most emphatic and
eloquent in his description and enunctatiOn
OF trusts and abuses of corporate organ
] ization ana wealth, his suggested reme-
/ dies for their prompt suppression have
! been very vague, unless indeed his proposal
/ that the government buy or condemn all
/ interstate railroads, with their immense
mileage, and maintain and operate thcm
| is TO be regarded as an immediate ready,
practical and feasible remedy. In view
Z OF this it Is not a matter for any surprise
/ that the great combinations and OrganiZa-
tons that have increased their profits and
power by evil and oppressive methods
should fear and dislike Mr.. Roosevelt and
his acts in the present much more than
/ they do Mr., Bryan and the indefinite dan
gers with which he threatens them In the
Z future Evils are 10 be Suppressed by