Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-08-23
FORAKER REPLIES.
The Ohio Senator Makes a Speech
Discussing Taft's Opinions.

Georgetown, O.--In his first address
after the Columbus speech of Secretary
of War Taft Senator Foraker, before
the Chautauqua assembly here, dis
cussed his fellow townsman's opin-
ions, from which he differed in many
particulars. In the course of his
speech Mr.. Foraker said:
"The objection to comforting the rate
making power upon the interstate
commerce commission is not, in my
opinion, answered by Secretary Taft
He makes no answer to the suggestion
that the three powers Of government
the legislative, the executive and the
judicial, are all conferred on the COM
mission, and that this Commingling of
these powers Is unprecedented and in
violation of both the spirit and the
letter Of the constitution.
Il have contended that, so far as l
have yet been informed, there has been
io' lowering of rotss since tho Hepburn
law was passed whereby the shippers
of Ohio have been benefited, except
only such as would have been made, in
all probability, If the Hepburn law had
never been passed. On the contrary,
since the Hepburn rate law was passed
the majority of their rates have been
advanced. Very few, If any, have been
lowered
"Inasmuch as the secretary enter
tains the views he so expresses as to
the difficulty of convictions in such
cases, and inasmuch as the interstate
commerce commissioners, for precise
ly the same reason given by the sec
retary, recommended the abolition of
punishment by Imprisonment as part
of the Elkins law, the charge Of the
secretary, made by implication at least
that the Elkins law, especially in the
matter of abolishing Imprisonment,
was a railroad measure Is without the
slightest excuse or Justification. No
body has ever claimed that the Elkins
law was perfect. But while he seeks
to disparage the Elkins law, yet he
admits that all prosecutions down un-
til this time have been under it be
cause these prosecutions were for Of
fences committed prior to the Hepburn
rate law and then says that criminal
prosecutions will continue to be
made under the Elkins law, but as
amended by the new rate bill
in more than 100 prosecutions the
Elkins law, as originally enacted has
been found a quick, decisive, efficient
and inexpensive remedy"
Referring to tariff revision, Senator
Foraker said:
What | contend for is that before
any such revision is entered upon the
people shall be heard on the subject,
and have a chance to consult them in
the presidential campaign of next
year"
Senator Foraker called on the sec
retary to say what in his opinion the
chief executive should do about the
defiant nullification of the war amend
ments of the constitution, involved in
such statutes as that passed in Georgia
in favor of doing all in our power for
the 100000 brown people in the Phil
ippines who were until recently entire
strangers and open enemies. Bat how
about the 100000 black people in
America, not one of whom ever drew
disloyal breath, who are openly and
defantly being denied their constitu-
tional rights of citizenship? Is there
no power to prevent such an offence
against human rights and such an
overthrow of our organic law?
But l would know also what the
views of an aspirant to the presidency
may be about the new rebellion that
has broken out in some of the southern
states, notably North Carolina and
Alabama, in the form of an open de-
dance of the authority of the United
States courts. Is this spirit to be
checked or restrained, or is it to be
allowed to feed upon itself and grow
strong to the point of menacing our
lnstitutions?"