Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-08-22
TAFT TALKS IN OHIO
Secretary Of War Delivers an
Address at Columbus,
ADVOCATES TARIFF REVISION
Declares Il Would Be Unwise for Re-
publican Party to Fall to Pledge
Itself to That Policy.

Taft, secretary of the war department,
made what he was pleased to term his
political confessions Of faith at
Memorial hall Monday night. The
auditorium, which has a seating C a
pacity of over 5000, was packed to
the doors and several thousands Of
people were unable to gain admittance.
The secretary spoke under the III
pices Of the Buckeye Republican club
and the address was notable from the
fact that 1t is regarded as the plat
form upon which he will make his
campaign for the Republican nomina-
tion for president.
Mr.. Taft made no formal announce
ment Of his candidacy but he vas in
troduced by Governor Harris as the
next president, which was the signal
for a prolonged outburst of applause.
Special interest was manifested in
Secretary Taft's utterances on the
tariff. He reiterated his previous
declarations in favor of revision and
declared that it would be both unwise
and unsafe for the Republican party
to fail to pledge itself to revise the
Dingley bill as soon after the next
presidential election as possible.
Amendment of the new rate law so
as to extend the powers Of the inter
state commerce commission, prevent
oyercapitalization of railroad corpora
lions, control the personnel of direc-
torates and permit agreements as to
rates between competing lines formed
part of the plans which he outlined as
belonging to the policy of the Repub-
lican party.
William j.. Bryan's theories and po-
litical predictions came in for some
hard raps during Mr.. Taft's speech.
He paid special attention to the pro-
posals for government ownership Of
railroads and the initiative and refer
endum in national affairs. He scored
the initiative Inc referendum as i'm
fairs and denounced government own
ership of the railroads as too expen-
sive, both in acquiring and maintain
ing the roads, and as giving too much
power to any INSCRIPTIONS official who
might get into power.
Secuted Bryan's Claims.
He secuted Bryan's claims as the
originator of the Roosevelt policies,
and declared that while President
Roosevelt's policies are based on the
belief in firm government and the
honest of nan in the face of the
money power" Mr.. Bryan's govern
ment would be a weakling hindered by
the very distrust in which it was born
and able to accomplish nothing and to
meet no crisis.
Rigid enforcement of the antitrust
law and amendment to make the pro-
visions of that law more clear were
advocated by the speaker. He at
tackled swollen fortunes" as danger
Gus to the community and to the ma
ton at large and offered remedies to
reduce them, both by state and nation
al legislation. He expressed favor for
a graduated inheritance tax, to be
adopted by congress, particularly in
case lHe puDllc revenues ueeQ luCreaS-
ing or readjustment.
In closing. Mr.. Taft declared his I'M
bounded admiration for President
Roosevelt and the work he has &C
complished, and expressed satisfaction
at the strength Of position the Repub-
lican party had gained through the
leadership of the present national ex.
ecutive.
Mr.. Taft also declared in favor of
Imprisonment of individuals RESPONSE
BILE for violations of the antitrust law
and for the giving or accepting of re-
bates as more effective than fines. His
defense of President Ro%osevelt's poll
cies evoked enthusiastic applause.
Secretary Taft arrived in Columbus
Monday morning and conferred with
Governor Harris and A. l. Voris re-
garding his presidential campaign.
Business houses We're decorated in his
honor and everywhere he was re-
ceived with enthusiastic demonstra-
tions. In the afternoon he held a re-
ception. He will go from here to Gin,
cinnati.