The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-04-11
Tells Kentuckians of the Mis-
taken Ideas of the Com
moner in an Interesting Ad-
dress Last Night.
AMPLE NAVY is ONE OF
THINGS ADVOCATED.
Claimed That United States
Needs a Navy Which Will
Prevent War and Says the
Democrats Think So Too.

Louisville, Ky, April 11.-Secre tary
of War Taft ended an eventful and
busy five hours i'll Louisville by d
speech last night at the Hopkins the
atre.
Secretary Taft upon entering Hop
kins theatre for his principal address
was Introduced by Col. Morris B. Bel
knap. Secretary Taft in opening his
address said:
We have before us said the sec
retary, "a campaign presenting many
serious issues. Some others are not
so important, but are being kept alive
by the gentleman who, l presume, will
head the democratic column.
Il am glad to note that there ap-
pears TO be a number of democrats
disguised as followers of Mr.. Bryan
in the house. l hope they will stay
and hear little sound doctrine"
Taft Discusses Colonies.
The secretary then launched into a
discussion of the policies of the Nc,
kinley and Roosevelt administrations
in regard to the acquisition and gov.
ernment of the Philippines and other
colonies acquired as a result of the
Spanish-American war.
At the beginning of his remarks he
criticised Mr.. Bryan for attacking the
administration policies in the Phil
ippines, after he had been largely re
spOnsibe for the signing of the treaty
of Paris and the consequent assump
tiOn by the United States of the bur
How those burdens are being borne
and the steadily increasing success in
grasping with the colonial problems
occupied a considerable portion of Mr.
Tatt'S address. He painted a picture
of increasing prosperity and eduCa
tiOnal advancement in the islands un
der American rule and closed with ar
expression of his conviction as
strong as his hope that when the FIJI
ipinOs are able to walk alone congress
will grant them absolute self-govern
ment. He CharaCt erized the policy o.
the United States toward Cuba anc
Porto Rico as the most "altruistic cv
er attempted, much less carried into
effect by a government
Turning from the colonies to the
need they emphasize Tor an ample ma
w. the secretary said: The complais
ant ones and the timid ones shrinl
from large navy with the cry it will
provoke a war. We need navy tC
prevent a war Even the democrats
are firm adherents of principle tha'
alone renders the maintenance of al
ample navy imperative. And tha
principle is the Monroe doctrine. which
is just as strong as our navy and army
and no stronger. We do not need ;
large standing army, but we need ar
efficient one and one considerabl.
more numerous than at present
Secretary Taft, in support of his con
tentiOn for a progressive naval pro
gram and a sufficient army, cites thu
Venezuelan incident in which Secretar,
Olney sent his famous note to the Eng
liSh Foreign Office. At the time tht
ultimatum was sent. the secretary de
clared, that had England chosen to e
to war the United States would hav,
been caught with but one modern gul
mounted on coast defense
Turning to the tariff. Secretary Taf
recounted the history of the Wilson
and Dingley bills. The former h,
characterized as mOngrel. under tn,
latter he said We enjoyed a prOsperit,
uneQualed in history. But of late.
! he continued. there has come TO pas
4 period Of industrial depression re
sulting from economic causes. II ha
I become apparent therefore, that som,
OF the schedules are not high enough
and others are too high. and that I'll
tariff should be revised. 1t has beel
suggested by some that revision shoult
be undertaken by a special session o
congress Immediately following the Nc
yember election: others favor the uu
dertaking of the task after the inau
guration OF the next president. Bot
these suggestions are of weight an,
one or the other should be followed
The main thing. however. is that tn
/ tariff should be revised as soon as pos
sible. that il should be revised accord
ing TO protective -inciples, and tha
the work be done quickly. - as to dis
! turb commerce as little as possible -