Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-09-23
An Interesting Interview.

the bOStOH Herald AS d CdiIi pdiSH
utterance it is to be ranked with his
most carefully prepared speeches and
letters. The interviewer was Ernest
G. Walker, a young man hailing from
Maine who has made good in
journalistic work at the national
capital Mr. Walker is the Kennebec
Journals representative at the
national capital, and during each ses-
sion of Congress sends this paper two
or three special letters weekly, deal
ing particularly with Maine men and
interests at the national capital. be-
ing particularly we'll qualified, since
he is a Maine man himself. to give our
readers timely and accurate informa-
ton on these subjects. Mr.. Walker is
now the head correspondent of the
Boston Herald at Washington and in
this capacity went to Cincinnati to in
terview Judge Taft.
Judge Taft told Mr. Walker that in
his opinion the campaign is narrow
ing down to two issues-the return OF
prosperity and the clinching of the
Roosevelt policies With regard to the
first he said: Il am confident from
the statements of business men that
Mr. Bryan's election would imperil the
return of better times. We are
trembling on the edge of change up
OF down" Talking about the second,
he remarked that-Mr. Roosevelt haV-
ing thoroughly stirred up the public
conscience-the task that remains Is
constructive and economic rather than
moral. I'VE have to work out the de-
tails of making the moral standards
effective" he said. we must do this
with proper regard for legitimate
business and by enabling those ell
gagged in legitimate business to know
the legal limitations upon business
methods
Taft, as reported by interviewer
| Walker. says he is not politician but
being in-he's going to see the thing
| through. He doesn't know how long
| he'll be on the stump. When one
steps into the water, he's likely to
want to stay till the bell rings He
| thinks party opinion on tariff revision.
has been crystaliZing since he spoke IN
| Maine in 1906. Republican success
| in this campaign" he says, means
| thorough revision of the tariff on care
full lines-with due regard to all legitl-
| mate interests. and without the de-
struction of the existing business sys-
TEN of this country. No, the charge
of our Democratic friends that we
would revise the tariff upward is ill
founded | have been advised by men
who know that a few schedules should
| he raised One is the pottery
roads he says:-
my idea is that we must treat the
railroads fairly. | said that in my
Sandusky speech. We want to make
the laws so that the railroads can car
nv on their business efficiently, serve
the public we'll. earn fair profit ana
| vet keep within the laws 1t has been
| most demOraliZing to the railroads TO
| have been outside the law for a num-
| her of wears | am glad to think now
| that substantial ly all the railroad
managers are rejoicing because they
| are about to conduct their business
| xinlatiDn the statutes.
am in favor of regulation, not govern
ment ownership and operation. Sy
the former it is possible to encourage
| proper repairs, new construction, sun
keen within the law and avoid undue
discrimina ton. But | believe that IL
is necessary to revise the govern
mental machinery for doing TINS Inc
Interstate commerce commission mas
too many functions now. It's func-
tions are alike executive, quasi 1udlclal
and those of prosecutor. These ough'
to be divided.
With regard to the liability of en-
Movers for injuries to the men in thelr
! service he sayS:-
INV own Judgment is that ultimate
ly both railroads and employees, aho
in states all public corporations VIII
see the wisdom of having an of1lcia
board of arbitration which snail nS
the compensation to injured employees
within certain limits established u!
law. very like the foreign com
pensation laws The great advantage
would be that it would relieve tht
courts OF a class of cases now burdeli'
ing them with long trials. 1t Woui'
bring compensation quickly 10 thos'
who need it badly. OF course So'
cannot deprive employees OF the rlgh
to enter suit and have jury trlai. pu
the massage of such law would lea'
to the voluntary settlement OF many
cases. just as it has in othe'
countries.
It's the confident expectation OF In
teryiewer Walker that the Repuoiica'
candidate on the stump is going u
make the West sit up and pay atteh
) tion Mr.. Taft is not one whit afraio'
no reports. He is sure OF himsei
and his cause. 1t promises TO pe
: man battle. Indications from al