Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-08-21
SECRETARY TAFT
STATES PLATFORM
WILL FOLLOW IN RoosEvELT's
FOOTSTEPS As REGARDS
TRUST AND RAILROAD POLICY

Columbus. O., Aug. 2o.-secre-
tary OF War William IL. Taft notified
the world at large last night n the
presidential mantle of Roosevelt
falls upon his shoulders there will
be no marked departure from Roose-
veltism in all that the word implies
In the administration OF the Amer
lean republic.
Wall street has looked forward
with eagorness to the speech which
The secretary delivered last night be-
fore the Buckeye Republican Club
at Memorial Hall. but IL the trusts
and the railroads expected a prom
Use of immunity from punishment
FOR past misdeeds or OF n relaxation
from the present Roosevelt policies
thev were doomed to disappoint-
mont
AGAINST PUBLIC OWNERSHIP
A striking feature OF Mr.. Taft's
address was his declaration against
government ownership OF railroads.
his reasons being:
First. Because existing govern
ment railways are not managed with
either the efficiency or economy OF
privately managed roads and the
rates charged are not as low and
therefore not as beneficial TO the
public
Second. Because it would in
volve an expenditure of certainly
$4,000, 100000 to acquire the in
terstate railways and the creation of
an enormous national debt.
Third. Because II would place IN
the hands OF a reckless executive n
power of control over business and
politics that the imagination can
hardly conceive and would expose
.our popular institutions to danger"
This declaration, however. was
coupled with a warning that stock
watering and inefnciency of service
helped TO make the movement to-
ward government ownership n for
Imidable one, and that to head off
this danger the government must ap
ply remedies which, to be effective.
must be radical
OUT FOR TARIFF REVISION
Mr. Taft came out strongly for
tarin revision, not as he frankly
confessed so much from his own
knowledge Of the subject as from
heller that all Republicans were be-
coming more and more convinced of
q need for revising the DingIey
schedules. He thought that the
time for Congressional inquiry action
was as soon as practicable after the
next Presidential election.
Mr.. raft took occasion to reply to
William Jennings Bryan as to the
salutary effect the imprisonment OF
q few trust or railroad magnates.
found guilty Of breaking the law.
would have. He also asserted that.
far from "out-Bryanlng Bryan"
President Roosevelrs policies and
views wore diametrically opposed to
the Nebraskan's The latter's sys-
tom Of remedies for present and past
evils Mr.. raft asserted. was based
ON his diatru5t Of the honesty and
courage Of his fcllow-American and
Mr. Bryan's government. he de-
clarc1 would be weak and nervelesa
hc would be "estopped by his own
expressed fear of power put in the
hands OF any individual"
KEYNOTE no HIS CAMPAIGN.
I'm briof Mr. Taffs speech was
the keynote Of hls campaign for the
presidential nomination It was the
planting of his nag to wave I'm the
face OF The enemy until he gets back
from his world-girdllng tour and
tho announcement Of the platform
on which be intends 10 stand when
fhe conflict is fully started It was
heard aud chccrcd by an immense
crowd
Secretary Taft was met at New
ark carly foo The day by q reception
committee. and spent most Of the
time after his arrival in Columbus
up to fbe time of the meeting CON
farug with his managers in the
.Ohio capital
During the afternoon the socre-
.tary called aft tbc state house and
.pald his respects to Governor Harris
and wa posed for picture with the
state executive. At o'clock Gov
eruor Harris called at the Chitteu-
den Hotel and with Secretary
TAFT leI procession which. with
ia accompaniment of brass bands
and rcd FIRE took ON thc appear
auce of % campaign movement Gov
.ornor Harris introduced Secretary
.Ta0 to thc audience which packed
Memorial Hm to- iis capacity