Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-31
TAFT AT MIDDLE BASS


Continued from First Page.)
there is a single stain upon the escutcheon
of the republican party under Theodore
Roosevelt in meeting all these new prob
lens. not only that, but in respect to our
foreign affairs, never, IN the history of the
nation has the standard, Of the United
States been higher before the nations OF
the world than it, Is today. My friends, you
can recollect that four years ago we were
told that II Theodore Roosevelt was put in
power he would &C. around this country
with a chip onf his shoulder and involve
us in war; that he was waiting for some-
body to tread on the tail of his coat in
order that he might have a fight. What
was the result? II is not necessary for me
to detail it, only to state that never before
in the history Of the world has a president
of the United States, an administration or
any emperor or monarch done more to pre-
serve the peace OF the world than has
Theodore Roosevelt at the head Of this adj
mlnistration.
DInEley Bill and Prosperity.
Under the Dingley bill Of 1897 wo went
ahead to a prosperity never before known
In this country and, indeed, never before
known in the world. The investment Of
capital and the expansion of invested
funds, the expansion of business went on
to such a great extent; wages were in
creased and the standard of living Of the
wage Garner, OF the business man and of
the farmer was improved beyond prece-
dent. But we found in the business world
that we had expanded ourselves a little
too far: that capital had become fixed in
enterprises that did not make the return
sufficient TO induce further investment;
capital became frightened and now We
ave had a halt in that prosperity. Cap
ttal is necessary, II we are going on and
not embrace socialism. and anything that
is done to brighten invested capital, any
thing which leads invested capital to doubt
the question whether a fair return would
he paid, affects injuriously both the wage
Garner and the capitalist and the farmer.
Now. what l say is. that the introduction
into power of the democratic party under
it's present leadership will create doubt OF
the future in the minds OF the people. in
the minds OF those who will invest capital.
These are not all millionaies, The capital
lists Of this country largely are the men
who contribute to the savings banks, who
contribute in many small amounts the
great funds that are subsequently invested
In plants. Now Unless you assure the capt.
tai, unless you can bring about that con-
fdence you may be certain that the return
to prosperity which is now gradually as
Stunning a definite form, will halt again.
Prosecution of trusts.
I'm this great development Of wealth., this
magnificent stride onward and expansion
OF prosperity there crept in abuses. abuses
growing from the greed and INSCRIPTIONS
" - a. -
engaged In business. They violated the
antitrust law and they violated the re-
bate law. and the railroads extended to the
Shippers. the so-called trusts" a means by
which they could drive their competitors
out Of business by secret rebates. All this
was revealed early in this administration
and MIR, Roosevelt and the republican party
took hold with a determination to stamp
It out. Now l ask you, gentlemen, heart
to heart. whether the action which Mr..
Roosevelt, whether the rate bill which the
republican party passed. whether the pure
food bill and the meat inspection bill. and
all those great measures OF a republican
congress were not an indication and a fol-
lowing OF the moral awakening of the peo-
pie in order TO make the corporations un-
derstand that they must obey the law,
We don't wish to destroy these great or
ganiEations that have a large wage fund
when they are prosperous and that add
greatly to the prosperity OF the country,
but what we wish to do Is to keep them
within that law. That Is what the republi.
can party stands for. and intends TO do.
II you give them an opportunity.
Republican Party and Labor.
but l am asked, what Is the relation OF
the republican party TO labor7 / want b
make one statement first; that never IN
the history Of the country has there been
an administration that has passed more
measures directly in the interest Of labor
than the present republican administration
Take the employers liability act. Con-
gress has passed a law now by which rail-
road men engaged in interstate railroads