The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-01-10


admits that the trust problem is I'M
solved, but urges that while searching
fH, the remedy I'VE can at least with
draw from their grasp the special
privileges they have enjoyed under a
high protective tariff" This, he adds,
is tax upon the masses for the benefit
of the few, and he concludes with the
prediction that "if the present congress
does not at the present session make
substantial reductions the people in
November will elect those pledged to
do So"
Taft Defends Administration.
The first public addresses made by
Secretary Taft since his return were
made at Boston last week. the princi-
pal one being in the evening during
| the dinner of the Merchants associa-
| ton. 1t had been rumored that on this
| occasion Taft would break away from
the Roosevelt apron strings and APP
| peal to the so called conservatives. On
| the contrary, he made a glowing de-
tense of the administration, which won
applause from the business men there
assembled. He declared that mo panic
can make wrong right and rejected
the plea that conservatism means the
condoning of lawlessness. He denied
that the policy of the administration
had been directed against capital as
such or that the president had ar
raigned the whole business community
as dishonest. Instead OF causing q
panic, he said, the policy of opposing
lawless trusts and supervising stock
| issues would tend to prevent such dis
orders in future. He was opposed to
government ownership of railroads
(which means state socialism," and
added these impressive words: But II
the abuses Of monopoly and discrim
: ination cannot be restrained, and IL the
, concentration Of power made possible
| by such abuses continues, then social
J | ism will triumph and the institution o.
d private property will perish. The
! question which you have ultimately t.
t | meet is whether we shall maintain
strict regulation Of railroads and trust
9 or shall turn the country over to tn
J. advocates Of government ownership
and state socialism" After recitini
the measures taken by the admins
tratlon Taft said that it had bee
shown that dangers from individual
ism could be regulated and abuses i
the exercise of private property coul
= be restrained and that thus a grea
conservative victory had been won an
!, the coming Of socialism had bee
stayed"
Earlier In the day he talked to &C
ministers about the Philippines. Th
story that he had fallen out with n
campaign manager, Vorys. was denies
but there was a persistent report th'
First Assistant Postmaster Gener
Hitchcock. previously known as Co
telyou conspirator. was TO become
active Taft promoter.
oeorsia's Dry New Years Day.
Throughout the state of Georg
| New Years eve was celebrated wi
| "deathwatches" in the saloons al
praise services In the churches becau
with the first stroke Of the clock aft
midnight the new prohibition law W
| to go into effect making the DEM
| rum an outcast benceforth. At {
last stroke of IL thousands OF revele
toasted the new year with their Ia
glass and left the saloons In darkne
with doors not to be again opened.
III the Baptist tabernacle the Rev. l
Broughton broke a bottle OF wills
before the assembled congregatt
| shouting whisky Ia dead In Georges
to which the people answered "Tha
I'LL Gody' But already two brewing co
panies had petitioned the courts Tor
y Injunction against the enforcement