The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-24
TAFT ON "PARLOR SOCIALISTS"
SHOWS TO COLLEGE MEN THEIR
PLACE IN POLITICS.
Learn the Polling Place In Your Ward, Get
TO know the Men Who Control. Take a
Lesson From the saloon Keeper VINO
Works Early and Late, BE Partisan

w hANuN ~ 49,
Lesson From the SaIOOn Keeper who
Works Early and Late, he Partisan"
NEW HAVEN, April 23,-Secretary William
H. Taft, Yale, rs, got a rousing reception
tonight from professors, students ana
citizens who flied Hendrie Hall to over
flowing to zeal him talk on "The Duty OF
the Citizen viewed from the Standpoint OF
the Recent College Graduate" Secretary
Taft will speak tomorrow night on Inc
Dutyof the Citizen Viewed from the Stand
point of the Judge on the Bench. these
lectures are in the Dodge course. He VIII
speak again on April 80 and May /.
Mr.. Taft called attention to the beatitic
appreciation of his own importance in the
mind of the college senior and the rude
awakening he getswhen he runs agains tthe
world.
"The effect Of the training Of the college
graduate in political economy" he said,
"deyelopes a certainty and severity OF
view. so that the young college man just
going into politics is apt to think the Govern
ment is being stupidity run.
Il remember my father happened to be
in the public service and he did not follow
my ideas at all.
Then there is another emotional class
who note abuses and yearn for radical
changes; who seek to be governed by the
law of love only. These become morbid,
| and finally find their only happiness IN the
contemplation of human misery as addl-
tional argument to advance their views
When this is the result OF unfair oondi-
tons we ought to have sympathy. When
we see this in the college graduate whose
Judgment does not entitle him ever to nave
been educated, when we see the college
graduate become a parlor socialist, we can
have little sympathy with him.
The right Of property has played as i'm
portant a part in the development OF the
world as the right of personal liberty Inc
institution of private property led 10 the
accumulation Of capital, without which we
should still be in darkness, with gorging as
the principal pleasure of life. Capital has
given increased opportunities to man 10
enjoy the results of his labor.
Assuming that the college graduate is
possessed of political sanity, his first step
in active politi les should be to learn the
polling place in his ward.
If information was sought from the
average college graduate as to the polling
place in his ward. or where the primaries
were to be held. his ignorance would be
discoura ging.
The first step is the selection of a party
A tendency now is toward Independence
in yoting-that is. to vote for the best man
if he can be found. In the selection of a
party-Republican, Democratic or Mug
wump-a Young man may yield to parenta
influence or may be influenced by some
principle at stake when he casts his first
vote or by the ~peCuniary interests involved
but much can be said In favor OF party
regularity.
pie must be carried onby parties. Although
the independent voter as a mass may be a
powerful factor in politics, as an individual
he PLAYS but little part, If a man goes into
public life he will be chary of separating
from the party with which he Is affiliated,
for thereby he loses any chance OF prom
nence. Life is all a series of compromises
and all the good cannot be accomplished In
a breath"
Mr., Taft then told the young college mer
to get acquainted with the important mer
in their ward and from them TO get a line Oh
the local situation.
Get acquainted" he said, not only
with the we'll TO do in your ward, but witt
the artisans, with the saloonkeepers, who
ever are the controlling factors, although
thew NAV not be elevating to associate
with. There are many earnest, hard work
ing saloonkeepers. They are up early II
the morning and they stay up late at night.
Here the audience broke into laughtel
that stopped the speaker. When the
aughter ceased the Secretary said:
II see YOU are familiar with the habiti
of the sa~loonkeeper. In the city he i
the proprietor Of the social clubs OF hi
~neiehborhood. But the college graduate Ii
not made Of sugar. II he is to exert any
influence he must convince the peopl'
of his ward tina he does not feel allow
thom, that he controls only one vote, a
they control only one vote each, and h
must stand on an exact equality with
them. :.
aThe college graduate has as much t.
learn from the w%orkingmen as they have
10 learn from him. He will then CEASE
being a diletteanti critic and, OF necessity
will 90 among the humblest and find wha
is needed.
Politics ought not to be distasteful no
degrading. The ideal condition is for tn
office to seek the man, but politics are no
ideal but practical. The cases are rar
where a man is drafted against his will t
: take a public Office.
There is no objection to a man seekln
|. a position if he thinks he can conscientious
FIJI the bill"
Mr.. Taft alluded to machine dominatio
in municipal politics and held to the vie,
that college graduates must organize
they wanted to control such machines
He said the college graduate must kee
continually at work, for the professions
machine politician is a very busy man an
/ never slows down.