Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-29
TAFT AT CIVIC FORUM
WAR SECRETARY ANSWERS
MANY oUERIEA

Taft. candidate for the presidential NOM
ination. was cross-examined on every
thing from my policies" to woman suf-
frage by a typical civic forum audience in
Carnegie Hall last night after he had nm
ished q speech on "The Laws Delays"
Some OF the questions were calculated
to make an aspirant to the White House
sidestep, but the hair apparent. with
smile which indicated he was having as
good time as anybody there. answered
questions as fast as they were shot at
him. He made a new high record for
the number Of questions answered, and
he had cleaned up every one OF them
when he stopped speaking.
Robert Erskine Ely read of the Ques-
tons to Mr.. Taft. who stood in the mid
die of the stage. The first was:
Does not the present war about In
functions indicate that there are certain
powers which should be taken out OF the
hands of the courts and placed in the
hands Of the executive"
Courts Should Retain Powers.
Il answer. no." said Mr.. Taft. THE
present war about injunctions. IL there Is
war. does not indicate there is any
power which should be taken from the
courts and given to the executive"
Are the republican leaders willing to
admit that there Is direct connection be-
tween the high tariff and high prices Of
the necessities Of life?"
THE republican leaders are not willing
to admit anything that reflects on the
policy they uphold" Mr.. Taft said with
related to my subject I answer no."
rs it possible under the present Con-
stitution to deal with the great present
ut is possible under the Constitution to
deal with all Of the questions that arise
in this country" replied Mr.. Taft.
laughter from the crowd: Which has
caused the greatest restraint OF trade,
MY Policies or the Big Trusts
meant by that said Mr. Taft when the
laughter stopped. Theodore Roose-
veIt:s policies have brought about a great
restraint Of illegal trade. The great COM
binations Of capital which have been con-
Quoted in violation Of the antitrust law
legal trade"
The mention OF the name Of Theodore
Roosevelt was loudly applauded. The
next question was a poser:
Are YOU aware the high tarin breeds
industrial combinations? If so. how can
you be a stand-patter and how can You
remain a member Of an administration
that assails Industry
Believes in Tariff Revision.
1.-THE theory of protection" replied Mr..
Taft lis that it, don't know about the
word breds, I suppose that is used with
sinister significance-is that trial corpora
lions. II don't believe come within the
term stand patter,' for l believe in re-
vision of the tariff. 1t certainly does en-
courage great industries. I want 1t re-
vised. however, on the protective theory.
How can / be member OF an administra-
ton that assails Industrial enterprise? l
suppose I would feel awfully embarrassed
to belong to such an administration.
"At present that is not one of the things
that is responsible for my nervous strain
and Mr.. Taft and his audience laughed.
do you believe that a large army and
navy make for peace?'
when we take part in the councils OF
nations and assert our rights. our words
should be backed by sufficient force to
make them dignified."
IF elected what would you do about
child labor?''
'Tm very strongly in favor Of statutes
which are constitutional to restrain child
labor in factories or In any places where
labor interferes with the child's growth or
opportunity for education" replied Mr..
Taft.
Isn't 1t true that true public sentiment
must dominate the courts. and didn't
public sentiment dominate IN the otdhu-
ard Oil trial?''
Judges were men before they were
Judges said Mr.. Taft. ut is natural that
public opinion. where 1t has long been
apparent should have an influence on
the construction of statutes. l certainly
will not express an opinion about the
standard Oil case while 1t is still In the
courts"
Efforts for the Unemployed.
IF YOU were elected. what would you
do for the unemployed?" was one ques-
ton.
II should have it understood" said Mr..
Taft, that there are many places in the
west and on the farms where men who
are unemployed can get work. ! would
provide facilities for informing the I'M
employed in one section Of a demand for
laborers in other sections, so that supply
and demand could be brought together"
Twill you say. word in regard to the
voting of women?'' was the last question.
Il don't know that we should take such
a. radical step until we are sure that all
of those who are benefited are I'm favor
of 1t, There should be a substantial ma
iority call from the women for suffrage.
Mr.. Taft was introduced by Isaac N
Seligman as the man who. he believed,
would be the next President. This was
loudly applauded. Mr.. Taft said the pres
ent tendency to curtail the powers Of the
Judge and exalt the jury was a mistake.
He favored giving more power to judges.
He said the English practice or render
ing a decision as soon as the argument
was finished was good one.