New-York tribune., 1908-07-19
NO CORPORATION AID
TAFT ON CONTRIBUTIONS.
Both State and Federal Lazcs To Be
Obeyed IN Campaign.

Hot Springs. Va. July 1s.-"The Republican,
National Committee will accept contributions
from corporations. said Judge William H. TAFT.
Republican candidate for the Presidency. to-day.
and in an interview he. also referred to labor.
prohibition and other questions. Mr.. Taft said
that not only would the law of New York State
providing for the publicity Of campaign contrt-
buttons be obeyed by the National Republican
Committee. but the federal law prohibiting such
contributions by corporations In connection with
the election OF President. vice-Presiient. Repre-
sentatives or Senators. would be followed. with
out regard to any question of validity that
might arise in respect to any provisions OF that
law Answering questions as to the application
Of the national law to contributions for the eec-
ton OF Presidential electors. Mr.. Taft declared
that the law would be obeyed exactly as 1t was
passed by Congress
AS to the right OF a labor leader to attempt to
influence the votes of members of the organiza-
tion of which he is at the head. Mr.. Taft at
first laughingly said that that was a question OF
propriety upon which he was not sufficiently
informed TO discuss When asked as to his idea
of the power of the leader OF a labor organization
to throw its vote to one party or another. he
declared that in his opinion IL could be pred
icated that there Is no so-caled class OF the
American electorate whose votes could be deiv-
cred by its leaders
He said that after eliminating members Of
both political parties from a labor organization
the expression of leader might Indicate how
the remaining uncertain quantity might vote in
the election, but he declared that, as Is the case
generally in dealing with any so-called class Of
citizens, before expression could be- given OF
the nature of their vote it would be necessary to
eliminate all members of one the other OF tho
political parties The question calling forth this
statement referred to President Samuel Com
pers of the American Federation OF Labor. but
Mr. Taft avoided making any personal refer
ence to Mr.. Ciompers any other leader of or
ganized labor
Asked whether he would have any new remedy
to offer for the so-called trust problem In HIS
speech of acceptance. he replied that he did not
know of anything new that he could add to q
question that had been widely discussed. and
stated that he would have nothing to say on
that point outside of what he had said at va
rous times In his public utterances.
Mr.. Taft's attention called to-day to as
sertions of some journals representing the liquor
interests that he Is opposed to prohibition He
explained that he had never publicly discussed
the ethical side of prohibition, and he took the
view as he understood Mr.. Bryan had done.
that the prohibition issue not involved in
the national campaign From what had CONS
to his attention In respect to the representa-
had based their statements speeches he had
made in which he criticised the action of some
state legislatures in passing prohibition and
other laws without providing the machinery f1r
enforcing them
Frank 3. Kellogg. who has had charge Of the
prosecution of corporations for violations Of the
Sherman antitrust law for the Department. OF
Justice, will return here on Monday to further
discuss with Mr. Taft the features OF HIS speech
I'm relation to the regulation of the so-called
trusts.
Judge Taft has made a very thorough revision
of his speech but will consider its language fur
ther and consult with some of his friends befors
placing his stamp OF approval upon it,
A glee club from Lynchburg. Va. serenaded
Judge Taft to-nIghA Later Judge and Mrs.
Taft Joined I'm waltz. but when a woman
present began appIauding they left the ball
room with evident embarrassment
Arthur I. vorys started for homo Tonight
Senator Bourne. who arrived here late last
night did not meet Mr. Taft to-day.