New-York tribune., 1907-08-19
TAFT OFF ON LONG TRIP
Denies Federal EHcrOachment =
Viezcs on POzCers of States
TFrom The Tribune Bureau ]

and the people TO gain closer acquaintance
with him and the problems with which he has
to DEAL
So said Secretary Taft before leaving here az
7:15 o'clock tonight to begin his long journey
across the Pacific TO the Philippines and Japan.
through Siberia and Europe and home again
across the Atlantic reaching Washington about
December fG
The big War Secretary had finished the great
mass of work that had been before him on
his return on Thursday from his summer vaca-
ton. and found enjoying few precious
spare moments pleasure Though he had worked
with strenuosity rivalIing that Of the Presi-
dent himself. he in his characteristicaiiy
unruffied mood AS always he was jolly and
prepared to laugh heartily, but was as ever
dignified and serious
Mr.. Taft found willing to give his opinion
of many different problems that are of public
interest ard expressed himself freely. but.
unlike many public men, seldom used the per-
sonaI pronoun. and then only when IL was ab-
sOluteIy unavoidable He dislikes it, finding no
use for the "I' in going directly 10 the point
of the subject under discussion
Mr. Taft objected to any popular belief that
he is the only travelling member OF the Presi-
dents Cabinet.
II have gained inestimabIe benefit from my
JOURNEYS he said. but have not yet been
seized with the wander thirst The other mem
bers of the Cabinet have also travelled extern
siveIy Mt Root went to South America and ia
now going to Mexico Mr. Garfield has been
all over the West and SO has Mr. Wilson Mr.
Straus is on his way back from Honolulu
As Secretary OF War and in charge of Cuban.
| Philippine and Panama affairs. Mr. Taft is nat
| uraIIv much interested in what is going on out
side Of the United States. But he is even mora
deeply interested in the great problems ar home
/ PARTIES WILL, STAY
| In view of his frequent independent utterances
ON politicaI subjects Mr.. Taft asked
I whether he did not think the people were
i breaking away from strict fealty TO party
| BY no means, no. he replied. emphaticsIiy-
| AS long as this republic endures we shall be a
| party government. Each individual cannot ex-
press his will He must express his will through
/ an organization There so many different
| views among the people that parties are neces-
sary in order that the principles that appeal to
the greatest number may be adopted However.
! I believe in Independence within the party, and
/ Il correction of evils within it. If necessary
| The Secretary did not hesitate to express htz
opinion of the criticisms recently made that thN
| Executive has been encroaching on the legista-
! tive branch of the government
| The opinion prevalent in some quarters that
| there has been encrOachTnent by the Exec'1-
tive upon the legislative branch of the govern
4
! There has been no usurpation OF execut;vs
power nor any exercise OF it not intended tn,
! constitution People fail TO realize that with
| the growth OF the country the functions Of the
| executive branch have grown in Importance
| In the early days there was not the same in
! dustrial problems. The legislative branch holds
the purse strings and therefore will always be
I able TO maintain It's prerOgatives.
STATE AND FEDERAL RIGHTS
/ As for the statement that the federal gov
! ernuent is encroaching upon the prerogatives OF
the states I think that is also exaggerated.
| Where the federal government can aid IL should
| Go so and is doing But the rights of the
| states should always be maintained I do not
| believe the tine should ever como when state
lines would become less distinct Local self
! government Is necessary and should be pre-
| served. We have been IN such hurry to de-
veIop our resources that there has srOwn Up
disregard for law in this country. II rests with
the states TO stop the frequent homicides and
other crimes and evils growing out OF this dis
! regard for law
Does this disregard for law apply to the
! home, as indicated by the increasing number OF
! divorces?'
Il think not" said Mr. Taft The divorce evil
can be rerledIed largely by a more strict and
uniform divorce law among the states
| Asked about the situation IN Ohio. where hs
will make a political address tomorrow night.
Mr. Taft was silent: he was also silent when the
! subject Of the Presidency was brOached- As he
has been giving exclusive attention to army mat
ters in the last few days. completing his annual
report the question naturally arose as 10 the
efficiency of the army.
ARMY BETTER THAN EVER
1T war were declared tomorrow between the
United States and foreign power this nation
would be better prepared. as far as the efficiency
of the officers OF the is concerned. than as
any time in its history, he said
This declaration was not brought out bS any
! thought of a conflict in the immediate future,
but as expression OF pride In the army which
he has helped to make efficient
Il say this he went on. because our officers
| in the army know more about their business
| than they ever did before They are better
| trained in every practical detail of their work
| as fighting machines They are better equipped
in intelIiSence and efficiency than the officers OF
| any other army in the world The difficulty with
our army is that we have not sufficient num-
| her Of men We need more enlisted men, We
| have only fifty five thousand at present when
| We ought To have sixty-five thousand-the num-
| her of regulars provided for by Congress The
American private soldier is the best in the
world but we have not enough of him.
1t has been said that in times of peace we
| can do without so many soldiers. and that
| sbould war break out could quickly raise .
| volunteer force that would be thoroughly ef-
| fective. Those who say this contend that after
! the Civil War; when the veterans OF the Union
| army marched down Pennsylvania avenue. they
proved what could do with volunteer
force.