The Washington herald., 1907-08-20
TUESDAY. AUGUST %. 1901
secretary Taft.s sneech-


Secretary Taft's judicial temperament
Is displayed to advantage in the lucid
and dispassionate review Of national is
sues contained IN his Columbus speech.
Though identifying himelf completely
with what have come TO be known as the
Rooseveltian policies Mr.. Taft discusses
them with a certain detachment of view
that absolves him in a measure from the
accusation that he is mere reflection of
the mind Of his chief We ind nothing
in the speech, for example, indicating
belief In the necessity of a progressive
expansion of Federal power through
constructive Interpretation. nor is there
a word about the possibility of invoking
the pOst-rOad clause of the Constitution
TO justify regulation of intrastate rail-
roads. on the contrary, there occurs
this paragraph, which Will sound to
many ears the reverse of Rooseveltian:
Il do not think that in order 70 accomplish a
good which the Federal government, with its
greater resources and wider geographical reach. can
bring about more quickly ana efficiently. the con-
stituticnal limits upon Federal action should be
biUUud OIt. OF an undlUbtcd Federal power should
be expanded hy doubtful construction into a field
Millll ieatf utl0lle' I'd tie 0ialt.
Mr.. Tart has undertaken TO qualify
some of the details of future Roosevelt
tan policies as. for instance, the Pres
ident's plan for limiting fortunes by
progressive Inheritance tax Mr. Taft
does not think it wise TO impose fixed
limitations on the accumulations of
captains of legitimate industry. and ap-
pears inclined TO leave with the States
the remedy for swollen wealth, by con-
trolling the descent Of property He
does not see the need Of immediate Fed
eral legislation for that purpose. but
would favor it in any national emer-
gency requiring the levy Of additional
taxation The Bryan plan for regulating
trusts by means of Federal licenses.
which has been favored by some admin
istration officials. though not formally
adopted by Mr.. Roosevelt. is distinctly
disapproved by Mr.. Taft, who regards If
as of dubious value, and as probably
tending TO hamper legitimate business.
Mr. Taft's whole discussion Of the rail-
road and trust question is judicious and
informing. and cannot fall to have an
important influence upon public senti-
ment. No one can fan 70 note the tenn
peramentaI difference between the Roose-
welt and Taft methods of approaching
these topics, of which the Iegal-minded
Secretary has an easy mastery.
Perhaps the most notable feature Of
Mr. Taft's speech is his analysis Of the
fundamental autagonism Of the political
principles represented respectively by
Roosevelt and Bryan. two men fire.
quently spoken of as standing on com
mon ground. AS TO specific projects OF
legislation. it is true. or as TO particular
remedies for economic wrongs. they do
in fact occupy common territory, and
Mr.. Taft himself viii be found 10 have
given his assent to several remedial
proposals which Bryan supports. The
antagonism begins with the trust ques-
ton, as to which Taft and Roosevelt
stand for constructive policy Of regu-
lation that would recognize the Iegiti-
macy of great combinations Of capital.
while Bryan would extrpate the trusts
root and branch. But the difference Is
even deeper and more radical than ap-
pears in their respective attitudes on the
trust question. II concerns the whole
theory and framework Of our government
Mr.. Roosevelt has faith I'm the main
tenance of an honest. courageous. and
efficient popular legislature" and believes
that The people can select individuals
who may be trusted as public officers.
executive, legislative, and judicial. to
WELD. without abuse, and in the interest
OF the people. the powers needed to con-
duct an efficient government"
On the other hand, Mr.. Bryan's whole
system Of remedies is based on his dis
trust Of the honesty, courage. and i'm
partiality Of the Individual as an agent
on behalf Of the people to carry on any
part Of the government, and rests on the
proposition that our present system of
representative government is a failure
He would have government ownership Of
railways, because he is confident regula-
ton viii fail. He favors the initiative
and referendum because of a distrust Of
the honesty and capacity of legislators.
He would reduce the power Of the courts
because he has little faith in the in
tegrity of the judiciary. Mr. Roosevelt
believes in the necessity for a strong
government that can compel obedience TO
the law Mr.. Bryan's government would
be nerveless and Ineffective to suppress
the evils of which he complains. Thus
does Secretary Taft contrast the under
lying principles Of the two opposing
forces in American politics. It is a most
suggestive contrast, illustrative Of polit-
ical tendencies moving TO common ends
by radically dissimilar means-the new
Jefersonian school opposed to the new
HamiltOnian school.
AR. Taft repeats his weII-known views