The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-14
ONLY TWO WAYS.
More Power to Commerce Commission
or Government Ownership.

Detroit, FeD. I4.-Secretary of War
| William H. Taft was the guest yester-
day afternoon of the Michigan Retail
| Lumber Dealers association and talked
for half an hour at the luncheon which
was rendered him by the association
upon THE Moral Awakening Recently
From Business Methods Which Permit
1llegality and Fraud.
The address was the elimination of
busy six hours in Detroit.
Throughout his stay in the city the
secretary's every appearance on the
street was the signal for cheers and en-
thusiasm. More than 500 men were
gathered about the tables in the ban
quet room of Harmonic hall to greet
Secretary Taft, who arrived with sew
eral hundred more men and women.
Former United States Senator Thomas
w. Palmer presided as toastmaster.
Governor Warner while voicing the
states welcome to the secretary brought
a tremendous outburst of enthusiasm.
More than 800 men were gathered about
the tables in the banquet room of Har-
monte hall to greet Secretary Taft, who
arrived with several hundred more men
and women. Former United States
Senator Thomas W. Palmer presided
as POSTMASTER.
Governor Warner while voicing the
satte's welcome to the secretary brought
a tremendous outburst of enthusiasm
when he declared that he was con-
vinced that so or 80 per cent of the peo-
pie of Michigan are for Mr.. Taft's NOM
inatfon for the presidency on the Re
publican ticket. The governor then sug-
gested Governor Guild for the nomtna-
tion of vice president on the ticket with
Secretary Taft.
Ambassador Jusserand was given a
laundering welcome when he was pre-
sented by Toastmaster Palmer for a
short address. The ambassador after
declaring that because of his position
he naturally can not meddle In Ameri-
can politics eulogized the American
presidents of the past and present and
said that it was his wish and hope that
the country when it elected another
president would add another glorious
name to the already glorious list of
names. "I do not know who he shall
be-" said Ambassador Jusserand, but
it seems that you know"
Applause interrupted him for several
Secretary Taft spoke Of the revela-
tions of the insurance investigation and
then of the evils of over issue of stocks
and bonds which, he said, was obtain
ing money under false pretenses. TAX
ing up the question of railroad discrin1-
inatiou and recent legislation to prevent
rebating, he said:
THE truth is, gentlemen, that we
have not quite enough regulation OF
railways. other powers ought to be
conferred on the interstate commerce
commission. It is said the interstate
commerce commission is not a safe way
in which to control the railroads of the
country. 1t is the only way in which
we can control them. We must see that
we secure strong men to sit upon that
commission, who can prove by their
administration that 1t is the proper
way
''It is that or go to government own
ership, with all the state socialism
which it involves and I have no doubt
that government ownership of the rail-
ways with the tremendous concentra-
ton of power it would involve, would
endanger the republic We have enough
concentration of power in Washington
now. To increase it SO that the execu-
tive should control the enormous body
of civil servants which would neces-
sarily follow would result in making
president more powerful than any king
who lives today.
'I. believe 1t is possible to enforce the
present antitrust law, but we need
new law more specific, to bring all cap
ital within it's provisions I think that
today the violation OF the law is by no
means so fashionable as it was for
merly.'
Secretary Taft left at $50 o'clock for
West Point, N Y, where he will at
tend the graduation exercises at the
Military academy.