Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-04-28
TAFT At BRIDGEPORT.
Another Visit and Address on the Ma
tionai Issues Of the Day.

Another Visit and Address on the Ma.
tionai Issues Of the Day.
Bridgeport, Ct, April 2.-Secretary
William H. Taft paid another visit to
Connecticut tonight in fulfillment of
promise made months ago and ne
was the guest at large banquet CIV
en- by the Bridgeport Republican Club
held in the State Armory. OF several
similar affairs given in his honor in
this state within a few months, this
was the largest in point of attendance,
a limit of 1900 having been placed on
the issuance of tickets. A committee
of the club met Sec. Taft in New York
and escorted him to this city, where
he was received by the club and ten
dered a reception at local hotel. Sec
rotary Taft spoke on national issues
and the only other toast at the ban
quet was given by Congressman J.
Adams Bede.
Mr.. Taft took up those questions
| which he thought would be the issues
i'll the coming campaign, anticipating,
he said, that the Democratic candidate
would be Mr.. Bryan. These issues will
be, he said, the policy of expansion be-
gun by President Mckinley. and con-
tinued by Mr.. Roosevelt; the devel-
opment and administration of depend
ent possessions; a larger navy; the re-
vision Of the tariff and discussion of
the economic questions which have
arisen during Mr.. Roosevelt's admin
istration due to the phenomenal indus
trial expansion of the country in the
last four years. Mr.. Taft also took
UP the matter of corporation control
as shown by the abolition of the re-
bate evil on railroads and the bringing
of great corporations within the pur-
view of the law. He also gave corsid-
GRAFTON briefly to the labor and negro
questions. saying of the former that he
believed the laboring man has the
same right to unite for mutual protec-
ton as capitalists have to unite for
their own interests. But he believed
both should keep within the. law.
Continuing Mr.. Taft said that the
country is approaching great con-
test. 1t may be a little early, but he
could foresee the issues, for he took
it for granted that Mr.. Bryan would
lead the ''so-called Democracy" He
said he called it "so-called Democra-
cy'' for the reason that many men like
to speak of it in the past tense as If
the party was dead one" with Mr..
Bryan as the Democratic nominee. Mr..
Taft said the chief issue would be as
to whether the Republican party is
right in carrying out the policy of
President Mckinley which was that Of
expansion forced upon the country by
fate through the Cuban war.
"If there was a new candidate" he
said, 1--WE would not hear of this issue
and the policy of the Republican par
ty in this respect would not be at
tackled"
He then took up the matter of the
Cuban war and the view Mr.. Bryan
took when confirmation of the treaty
of Paris was before the Senate. He
said that if Mr.. Bryan's contention is
that we should not have taken the
Philippines he should have joined with
Senator Hoar and Hale and with those
Democratic senators who opposed the
| terms of the treaty and who could
have prevented it's confirmation.
Mr.. Taft described the development
Of the Philippines under military adj
ministration and of the remarkable
results that have been achieved. He
told of his visits to the islands and of
the changed conditions and gave illus
trations Of what he termed the steps
of progress in the development of
form of autonomous government until
it reached the period of a national as
sembly. He also spoke of the educa-
ton of the children.
Secretary Taft argued for a large
| navy as the best way in which to as
sure the well-being of outlying pos
sessions and large navy is but one
of the requirements which has come
| with increased responsibilities of own
ership and which is certain to make as
light bond for the Philippines as that
which connects Australia and Canada
with England. Mr.. Taft eulogized
President Roosevelt and his adminis-
tration, saying that despite all the
croaking of the Democrats in the last
campaign, mo ruler, no monarch that
ever lived has contributed more to the
peace of the world than has President
Roosevelt"
or the tariff issue, Sec. Taft said
that the wonderful industrial Develop
ment of the country since the tariff |
OF 1897 went into force, has made inn
perative d revision, but revision must |
be on Republican principles and must
not be entrusted to Democratic tink-
ers. OF the economic questions, he said |
that the prosperity caused many men
to he unfaithful to their trust, but un-
der President Roosevelt railroads that
ignored the laws have been compelled
to cease rebating and that corporations
have been compelled to recognize that
they must keep within the federal stat
utes"
! 1T has been the character and the |
energy of President Roosevelt" said |
Mr.. Taft, (which have brought violat-
ors to recognition of the law"
Mr.. Taft spoke briefly of the trust |
question and then passed to that of Ia
Dor, saying that he recognized the
right of laboring men to form unions.
He believed that such unions would be
encouraged for they are accomplishing