The San Francisco call., 1908-03-24
PAUL MORTON FOR
TAFT AND NAVY
Former Secretary Talks About
Politics, Prosperity and
the Big Fleet

Paul Morton, president of the Equit-
able life assurance society, formerly
secretary of the navy, arrived in this
city yesterday and registered at the
Fairmont hotel. Primarily Morton
comes in the interest of the society
whose affairs he directs Since the
fire the Equitable has invested SO, co..
600 in this city and the assurance was
given yesterday by Morton that IL the
company prospers more monsy will be
put into the development of the city.
There was a tone of enthusiasm in
his voice when he said yesterday:
The political situation is all right
Taft will be nominated before the con-
vention meets. The democrats will
probably nominate Bryan or Johnson"
Mr.. Morton is a Roosevelt republican.
He has said that there Is little differ
ence between a Cleveland democrat
and Roosevelt republican. Up to
the free silver campaign of 1896 he
was a democrat. Raised on a Nebraska
farm, he has high regard for William
Jennings Bryan personally, although
he has been unable to follow his
policies.
He first came into contact with Pres
ident Roosevelt through his father. j.
Sterling Morton. who was in Cleve-
lands cabinet in 1893 and 1894. Roose-
welt was then a civil service commits
sioner. In 1904 he was invited by
Roosevelt to take a position in the
cabinet as secretary of the navy. Up
to that time he had been engaged In
the railroad business and had acted
as secol.d vice president OF the Santa
Fe railroad.
After eleven months work in the navy
department. Mr.. Morton, in 1905. re-
turned to business. During tie criti-
cal period Of the Equit BILE Life's s.
tory in 1905, and the consequent re-
construction Of the society by T. f.
Ryan, Mr.. Morton became the chair
man of the board of directors. He is
still acting In that capacity.
RAILROAD REGULATION
He is a believer in the federal reg
ulation of railroads. He said in re-.
gard to this subject:
The railroads should be regulated by the fed
eral government. 1t Is far better to have one
central power directing along constant policies
and certain lines than to have As states die
tating what ought to be done, each in its own
way The percentage OF railroad business con-
fined within the states is very small. 1t does
not exceed is per cent of the railroad total.
This fraction might very easily aud most prop
erly be overlooked in the legislation enacted
by congress TO affect the whole body
Mr.. Morton is on record In several
proved navy for the protection Of our
world commerce. The navy he has
often said, is the policeman and watch
man by night of our foreign trade He
believes in making our navy the most
formidable in the world. He said:
am glad the feet is soon to be here. am
one of those who believe that there is lust as
much righteousness in the fleet cruising along
the Pacific coast now and then as there Is for
Its maneuvering In the Atlantic or In the Carib-
bean sea- The day will probably come when
there will be both Pacific and an Atlantic
feet.
He was asked If he thought 1t ad-
visable to send the fleet home by way
of japan. His answer was:
There is no reason why our neet should not
go back to the eastern coast via the Suez
canal, visiting all of the great countries en-
route.
DEFENDS THE FLEET
In reference to the controversy raised
as to the efficiency OF the fleet by the
statements Of Henry ReuterdahI. the