New-York tribune., 1908-02-18
MIR. TAFT AT NEW HAVEN
GREETED At BIG DINNER.
Connecticut,s GoUernor Prophesies
Secretary's Election as President.

NecretdryS ELectlOn as ITeSfa6Ht.
New Haven Feb. 13.-Secretary Taft was the
chief guest and speaker at the Lincoln Day
dinner OF the Young Mems Republican Club to-
night and he received an enthusiastic greeting.
1t was one of the largest public dinners ever
given in this city.
As the guest Of the club. which has nearly two
thousand members. Secretary Taft fulfilled one
of the first promises he made after returning
from the Philippines to make a public address,,
and the club changed the date of its customary
Lincoln banquet to the occasion of MT Tafts
visit here to attend the Yale Corporation meet
ing.
Secretary Taft came here at noon from Hart
ford where he spent Sunday; was entertained
at luncheon by Colonel Isaac Ulman. of Gov
ernor Woodruffs staff; attended the Yale Cor
poration meeting ard received visits from
friends az his hotel and then went to the Re-
publican Club house. where reception was
given him which many hundreds attended.
Governor Rollin S. Woodruff spoke to the
toast THE Political Outlook
The Governor, after cordially welcoming Mr..
Taft said it was the duty ~ his hearers to sup
port with all their might the men who had
character and the ability TO carry on this gov
ernment for the best welfare of all the people.
The question now before is, Who can be
continued MANY excellent men are mentioned
But who is the man who represents the desire
of the vast majority of the United States? Do
/ not voice you all when l say that out OF the
abundance OF splendid material that composes
the Republican party to-day Mr.. Taft to
us the best equipped man 10 lead US to a certain
victory"
The Secretary of War in his speech gave
review of the work and continuously growing
strength and solidarity of the Republican party
since the time of Abraham Lincoln, whom Mr..
Taft styled the real founder and constructor
of the party. He complimented the club on it's
strength and said that with its life. energy and
increasing numbers it evident that the
members were believers in the work of the
PARTIES which, he said, the only possible
way of running a government
A man must be party man, give up minor
differences and agree on principles II the best
results were TO be obtained He said that the
success of the Republican party lay in its abil-
itv to hold together and to educate the divided
ranks so that they might be brought within the
proper view of new issues hat arise.
He spoke of the firm beliefs of the party held
by Lincoln and the disagreement caused in its
ranks as the result of the issuing of the Eman-
cination Proclamation It was a small minority
that opposed it. he said, but this minority was
finally educated TO the fact that the majority
of the party right when they took action
which finally resulted in the passage of the
Thirteenth Amendment
The Fourteenth Amendment 70 the Constitution
was touched upon. as was the Fifteenth, and IN
speaking of the effect of this amendment. which
gives the nego the right to vote, he referred in
an enthusiastic manner to the Improvement Of
the negro during the last forty years.
He said when a study of the conditions was
~ Cd,
ton. wealth and industry was wonderful. The
negroes the speaker declared. had to seize edu-
cation when they had the chance and make
themselves useful instead of remaining chat
tells The difficulties that the negro called
upon to surnount were referred to, and several
state laws passed in the South aimed against
this class OF citizens taken UP by the
speaker who declared that he believed that ulti-
,natelv the whole land would unite in the opinion
that the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment TO
the Constitution was fully justifiabe.
The money question and the tariff were
touched upon by the speaker. AS to the latter
Secretary Taft urged slight revision. re-
examination as he called it, which might estab-
lish it on a frner basis. After speaking several
moments on the purpose and value OF the Mon
roe Doctrine, he discussed the situation in the
financial and industrial world
There is a growing danger" he said 'of
the powerful and wealthy corporations uniting
to escape the operation of the laws passed to
keen them in bounds. and the principle that this
administration sought to carry out was that
there was no one above the law. We shall not
, create an immune class, which, If do, would
make a tyrannous plutocracy. The laws Of the
statute books must be enforced against the
wealthy and powerful even if it is more difficult
than against the humble.
The revelations of the last four years have
awakened the public and the results show that
the core and heart of the American people are
right The great office of the Republican party,
believe, is guaranteed in the future and no one
shall abuse the guarantee of life, liberty and
property by standing out against the law
Mr. Taft closed with a few remarks the
Democratic party troubles, saying that they
were not united single thing. Take all
their beliefs" he said "and you have crazy
quilt that would indicate progress should
they he put in power" The division in this
party. he said was one of the worst things for
the development of the country. The people, he
said had arrived at the stage where they must
look 10 the Republican party for the preserva-
ton Of the nation. I'VE must be willing" he
added reluctant as we are to assume that re-
sponsbiity.'