The sun., 1908-02-11
ROOSEVELT STILL TAFT'S IDOL
SAYS ADMINISTRATION HAS NET
A GREAT NATIONAL NEED.

he had finished breakfast, at . o'clock. the
lobby Of the Midland Hotel and the rooms
Cf the Missouri Republican Club were filed
with men and women waiting to see him.
They came from many parts Of Missouri
particularly the Fourteenth district. which
elected Taft delegates on Saturday. and
they poured in from Kansas. Oklahoma.
Nebraska and Iowa. There were even a
few from Illinois. but they were travellers
who went TO the reception as a mark Of
respect for the Secretary.
The first delegation to be received by the
Secretary was made up Of army officers
stationed in Kansas City and Leavenworth.
They met the Secretary in his rooms.
Al 10 o'clock Mr.. Taft went to the Repub-
hcan club rooms on the ground hoor Of the
hotel. Then the public was admitted. and
II came with a rush. The receiving line
included Romer B. Mann. r. b. Middle
brook, H. B. Topping. president Of ths
commercial Club; w. s. Dickey. chairman
If the Republican State central COMMITTEES;
Mayor II. NJ. Beardsley and Lawrence NJ
Jones.
Bishop Z. r. Atwill was the first ma a in
troduoed to Secretary Taft in the public
reception. and the Rev E. B. WOodruf Of
st. Georges Episcopal Church was next.
Then followed Jacob +. Gmelich. State
Treasurer. In Mr.. Gmelich's wake was a
white haired man from Kansas. John
NlcDonough.
The people kept coming so rapidly that
the little conversations were broken into
and interrupted many times. John Swan
ger, Secretary OF State, and W. W. Wilder,
State Auditor, tried to say few words,
snd they said them but very few r. o.
Stauber Of st. Joseph, a leader in the Fourth
Congressional district. was there too. Mr..
Stauber was the first president OF the Young
k1a=ar - haA 4aauNe
10 expect a moments pause but there were
too many behind waiting to see the Sec
rstary. John c. Mckinley, Lieutenant
Governor Of Missouri, was next In line:
He had just time to tell Mr.. Taft how glad
he was, and he too went ahead.
But there came man too big 90 be iostlod
by the throng-J. +. DunWoody Of Joplin.
miller. Mr.. Taft's smile broadened when
70 see you, Dmwoody," the Secretary cried.
My, my, wasn't that a hot trip we took
that day. IL certainly boiled pounds on
me-"
Mr.. Dunwoody was with Secretary Taft
on his trip to Oklahoma last August.
The dinner in Secretary Taft's nonor
began at Q o'clock. but every one who
was 10 be a guest was at the hall at $50
+. +. +. McJimsey. president OF the Young
Republicans Of Missouri was toastmaster.
Twelve hundred guests were at the tables,
and more than eight thousand occupied
seats in the galleries. The streets about
Convention Hall were filed with crowds
who could not find places inside.
With the exception of Mr.. Taft'S speech
none occupied more than ten or fifteen
minutes. The toasts were: Missouri,
John d. McNeely, ST. Joseph; The Repub-
lcan Party" Judge Selden p. Spencer,
st. Louis; The 1903 Contest in Missouri"
senator j. Fl. Grimes, Cassville; we Have
Put Our Hands to the Plough" Herbert S.
Hadley.
In his address Secretary Taft said among
other things:
During the present Adminstra ton the
Republican party has been called again
10 meet a great national need and 10 save
the country from growing danger.
in the enormous industrial develops
rnent and the Accumulation OF apital. due
10 the combination in corporate form OF
the wealth OF the country there have arisen
abuses which have threatened to under
mine our whole business fabric.
The intense desire for gain. stimulated
by the prospect Of enormous profits, pro-
duced a reckless spirit with reference TO
the methods Of acquisition. Official investi-
cations have disclosed lack of business
integrity on the part Of some men charged
in a Gduciary capacity with the custody
and management OF great accumulations
of capital.
'Other Of the investigations showed the
eagerness with which certain industrial
combinations gave and accepted rebates.
The fact that the Interstate Commerce law
was violated with perfect impInity beca me
known TO the public at large and convc-
ton seized the people that there were many
engaged in the management of corporate
wealth who regarded the sta atuJes of their
country as dead letters and themselves
ss privileged class. Their cOrrupting
influence in politics and IN respect Of state
and national legislation was naturally
becoming greater and greater as their
wealth grew and their association spread.
We were passing into region OF AN
irresponsible plu 2cracy.
sDIIFinU the last fOtlr Yea there has bpnn
q great moral awakening to this danger
among the people and a popular dema nd
that the lawbreakers-nO matt eT how
wealthy or high or powerful their pos ition
shall be made 70 s,ifo".
Under the leadership Of Theodore ROOse-
welt the Republican party has not faltered
in its determination to meet the require
ments of this situation and To enact such
legislation as may be necessary 10 bring
to a CLOSE this period of illegitimate corpo-
rate immunity.
AT the instance of the President Con-
gress was called upon to pass an amend
ment 10 the Interstate Commerce law,
known as the Rate bill.
What has been the effect Of the rate
bill! Every one who knows anything about
the management of railroads knows that
there mas been n revolution in respect TO
their obedience TO the law. No longer are
Eo-called privileges granted to the rail
roads and no longer are secret rebates eX
tended to build up the monopoly of the
GuSJS.
The railroads are operating within the
law. and the railroad directors and officers
and stockholders ought TO rise up and call
blessed the men who are responsible for
the passage of the rate bill.
1T may be that it has not reduced rates
where it was expected. l, may be that
l. has not furnished local relief as II was
hoped at various points, but it. has put the
railroad business In this country on an
honest basis and eliminated from the opera
fion of the railroads privilege and dis
elimination and has enabled railroad men
10 look their fellows in the face without a
consciousness that they are conducting
q business IN violation Of law.
"It has put every railroad man IN the
country on his good behavior and created
a complete change of attitude on the part
of him aud OF his suhordinates in respect
TO the statutes Of his country"
EITEL FRIEDRICH VISITS PARIS.