The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-03
SECRETARY TAFT
Is Criticised for Remarks About Gen.
 Grant.


 New York special to N. O. Times Deni-
 ocrat.
 Secretary Taft.s remarks refecting on the memory of Gen. U. s. Grant In his Memorial Day address at Grants tomb. when he referred to Grants drinking proclivities. have caused vide spread discussion. That the Secretary's comments were out of place is the gen. ersl impression. Much sharp criticism of the Secretary was indulged In by men and women.
 Following are some expressions oD- tained today in reference to the mat ter.
 James R. Siliiman, Treasurer of the Memorial Committee, G. A. R.: Tt was an abomfnable speech for Secre- sary laft to make. ala surs 1t an not be otherwise than very hurtful to him in the approaching campaign" George E. Dewey. Commander of John A. Dix Post. c. A. R.: T think Sec retary Taft's speech was an outrage. Viewed in any light, I can not believe but that 1t was wrong. There Is no question about it. It Is difficult to re- concile how he, Secretary Taft could have acted in such wretched taste"
 Dr. Daniel Simmons. of Brooklyn, one of the speakers at the dinner given by the Grant Post following the exer- StoC1 ah lilC lOulDs I IIllnh lI WAS fns delicate and absolutely unnecessary for Secretary Taft to have expressed him. self as he did. He may have had some reason for raking over the past of a hero whose memory Is hallowed in this country. but if so he did not make his reason clear to his auditors I have no doubt that General Frederick D. Grant and his wife felt very badly while Secretary Taft was speaking I stood beside them and observed that they were hurt by the attack !"
 Judge Roger A. Pryor: 'n think it was a shocking speech for Secretary Taft to have made. I would have thought 1t incredible had not Secre- tary Taft delivered it in public, but since he did can not think but that he may have been under the influence of intoxicants himself. I did not think that Secretary Taft was possessed of 50 little tact :"
 Prominent Southern women, who are members of the Daughters of the Con. federacy, were unanimous today In ex- pressing their disapproyaI of Secretary Taft's remarks. Those interviewed spoke as follows:
 Mrs. Henry NJ. Day: We of the South always regarded General Grant very highly and don't think there IS any truth in Secretary Taft's remarks. Even if Grant had been addicted to drink, as Mir. Taft said. I think 1t was most inopportune moment to speak of 1t. and 1t seems 10 me that he will lose many friends and supporters by his ifl-timed remarks
 Mrs. Russell NJ. Leeds: "T have al- ways thought that if you can say noth- ing good about a person. 1t is better to remain silent That's exactly how I feel about the speech that Mir. Taft made at Grants tomb on Saturday."
 Mrs. John Billups: 'T think that the Secretary's remarks were entirely uncalled for and very much out of place"
 Mrs John Dinwiddie: 'Tf General Grant was addicted to drink 1t should be forgotten. Such things could very easily have been overlooked, and 1t does no good to talk about them. But. of course, Mir. Taft Is like a king and can do nothing wrong. At least that is what his supporters tell us"
 Mrs. W. w. Childs (the authoress): Secretary Taft's remark about Gem eral Grant being a drunkard showed exceedingly bad taste. Every man has his failings and Mir. Taft might better have stayed at home than to have ex- pressed himself as he did. I think that his indiscretion will do much to lessen his popularity"
 The World publishes the following from Senator J B. Foraker at Wash ington on the Taft matter.
 ITO the Editor of The World-For obvious reasons I do not care to crit icise what Secretary Taft thought 1t appropriate to say at General Grants tomb, beyond the single remark that while General Grant may have had some weaknesses 1t is evident that Sec retary Taft has his weaknesses also"