The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1907-09-05
TAFT TALKS TO
C0L0RAD0ANS
BIG WAR SECRETARY COMES TO
DENVER AND is GIVEN A Rous.
ING WELCOME.
SAYS BRYAN is AFRAID
STANDS UP FOR ROOSEVELT AND
OUTLINES POLICY HE WOULD
PURSUE AS PRESIDENT.

Denver-Secretary William H. Taft
delivered a speech from the steps of
the capital building at o'clock Thurs
day afternoon before a gathering that
might have better been measured by
the acre.
Rain was descending gently when
the party appeared. An adjournment
to the Broadway theater was discussed
but frowned upon as meaning too
much delay. So the program was COM
menced, and soon the rain ceased. 1t
was an attentive crowd, but not par
ticularly demonstrative.
While the rain was falling Taft had
been introduced, and as there were
many umbrellas up he climbed up on a
large table so as to be plainly seen.
Mr.. Walsh and Mr.. Vivian took turns
holding an umbrella over his bare head
until the sun came forth.
Just as Taft arose to speak little ten
year-old Margaret De Seller of ISL
South Logan avenue ran forward and
presented him with a boquet Her
family used to live in Cincinnati and
all of its members are personal friends
of the Taft family.
Governor Buchtel introduced Secre-
tary Taft, who said:
Secretary Taft's Speech.
Ladies and Gentlemen: 1 thought
Colorado was in need Of irrigation.
This seems to indicate that all that
work has been In vain, and also no
necessity for such reclamation.
1T is great pleasure to be here in
this great state of Colorado. 1t is a
great pleasure to encounter the fresh
hospitality that seems to expand as
one goes west in this country until you
reach this city near the high peaks Of
the Rockies.
You have in Colorado-we all have
throughout this country-the greatest
prosperity that any country in the
world has ever known. This condition
of enormous wealth-the accumulation
of wealth in the hands of individuals
has never before been seen in the his
tory of the world.
while everybody is comfortable the
people have arisen with revelations of
dishonesty in business, in politics, and
have insisted that the agents of po-
litical life, and the men in the business
of politics, especially those enjoying
public franchises, should live honestly
and carry on their business with a
high degree of integrity.
Avenue Of Greatest Abuse.
Nov, perhaps, that avenue in which
the greatest abuse has been proved to
the public has been proved in respect
to the management of the great inter
state railways of this country.
This abuse appears as far back as
1887, and in order to overcome it the
old interstate commerce law of that
year was passed. 1t created commits.
sion to determine whether the rates
were reasonable. When it issued an
order the railway company made its en-
forcement impossible. except by going
into court and by the commission g
proving in court the right to make the
order. AS a consequence the railway
companies laughed att the power OF
that commission. Mr.. Roosevelt in 1904
realizing the weakness of that commits
sion, recommended to Congress that
the commission should have the power
to fix rates-and that an order, when
made, should be effective.
Barred From Coal Business.
"a great many railroad companies
engaged in the coal business. and in
other business, and those who had to
depend on transportation. like their
competitors in the coal business. found
the railway companies generally could
not be trusted to furnish them trans
portation, except at the high rate the
MI CT hot
the little profits that they made were
substantially taken by the railroad
companies in the coal business. The
new law provides that after May, 1908
the railroad companies shall not have
anything to do with any other business
than transportation.
Nov the railroad companies op
posed this new law with great deal OF
vehemence, and great deal of energy
and they had three arguments against
1t.
1.-THE first argument was that 1t was
socialistic. Second, that this commits
sion was not able to fix rates; that il
required skill and only skilled men
could fix the rates. the managers
of the railroads. The trouble was that
the argument proved too much. Only
certain individuals could fix the rates
and they were the individuals on whom
1t would be an injustice and Partially
and discrimination to allow the com
mission to fix the rates-this was a,
the bottom of the whole trouble. Oh
course, II the commission did not give
that, the public or Congress would have
said 1t was unconstitutional, on the
ground that a constitutionally dele
gated power can not be delegated, but
there is an exception to that rule, and
that is that II the original power car
not be enjoyed without delegating it
then there Is an implication under the
original grant that it is to be dele
gated.
I'm other words, Congress itseli
could not fix rates. Therefore, II that
power is to be enjoyed at all, 1t Is fol-
the commission to determine what II