The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-08-20
SECRETARY rAFr's PLATFORM.

Will contribute the most TO the FeSullS'
SECRETARY TAFT's PLATFORM.
Nc man who has figured in American
political history has enjoyed a higher
degree of the public confidence than
Secretary Taft. Among the statesmen
who have made their impress On the
nations great affairs, Secretary Taft is
one of the foremost, and the prominent
part he has played in the national gov
eminent for several years is a tribute
President Roosevelt, who has not yet
made a mistake in selecting h men,
bers of his Cabinet. President Roose-
welt seems to have the Napoleonic fac
ulty in that respect. Napoleon was a
consummate judge of mems characters
and abilities.
Secretary Taft is going to the Philip
pines on a very important mission, and
last night, at Columbus, o., he made
a calm and logical exposition of the
policies of the national administration
in respect to the railroads and trusts
and the evils that have grown so pro-
digious in our commercial and in
dustrial life. Secretary Taft answers
the lies and threats and menaces of
the railroad gamblers and stock jobbers
by the assertion of the purpose of the
government to inflexibly enforce the
law against those railroads and trusts
that persistently violate it. Instead of
yielding to the outcries of these inter-
ests the administration will ask Con-
gress for more law to reach and punish
violators, and also a law to forbid stock
watering and overcapitalization.
The humbug that the policy of the
government in dealing with guilty cor
porations caused the depression of the
stock market and may precipitate a
financial panic is treated by Secretary
Taft with the contempt it deserves.
This general squeal by the interests
that have beer rioting in law break
ing and in dishonesty appropriating
the wealth of the nation was to be ex-
pected. 1t has not intimidated the ad-
ministration n the robust Secretary
disposes of it in a few words. He also
declares for contemplated measures to
curtail the opportunities for building
up enormous fortunes by craft and
cunning and dishonest methods, and to
break up these fortunes when they have
been accumulated. He favors a gradu-
ated inheritance tax as well as a gradu-
ated income tax, which shall at once
effect that purpose and at the same
time compel the owners of swollen
wealth to contribute adequately to tax
alton.
Secretary Taft is in favor Of tariff re-
form. Ohio is a tariff protection State,
and the ~Secretary's views have been
held up against him by Foraker. But
what he says in his address at Column
bus will meet the appreciation of all
thinking men. The tariff schedule needs
to be reformed in it's rates. and p
cially to strike at the trusts. But the
revision should be made in a business
way after a careful investigation, and
accordingly the Secretary would have
it done after the Presidential election,
when the question can be measurably
freed from partisan politics.
The address by Secretary Taft may
be regarded as his platform, as well as
an outline of the policies of the Roose-
welt administration, which he so we'll
represents. There can be no mistake
in regard to his position on the great
questions now uppermost in our ma
tional affairs. He has spoken with the
frankness and rugged sense and hon
esty that so eminently characterize the
man., and his address leaves a deep
impression on the minds of his country
men.