The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1908-02-13
LINCOLN WOULD
GIVE APPROVAL
TO POLICIES OF THEODORE
ROOSEVELT lF HE WERE
LIVING.
EQUAL ADMINISTRATION
And Protection Of the Law Was Lin
coins Contention--Taft De-
lvers Interesting Address
at Grand Rapids.

Grand Rapids, Mich, Feb. 10, The
Lincoln club banquet tonight was a
brilliant success, vita galaxy q
Ispeakers never equalled In a Micli
gan political banquet .dore than q
900 persons occupied seats at the
4 table. The hall was elaborately deco
lrafed and as a compliment to Amhas-
sador Jusserand OF France, cne Of the
speakers, the French colors were
mingled with the American.
| President Roy M. Watkins. of the
| Young Mems Republican club, and
/ President Charles Holden, of the
Lincoln club, opened the Danquet
with greetings. Senator William
Smith was toastmaster. The speak
ers were Ambassador Jusserand, Con
gressman George Edmund Foss, Sec
retary Taft Governor Curtis Guild,
Jr, Of Massachusetts,, Director John
Barrett Of the Bureau of American
Republics at Washington.
Although all the speakers were
greeted with enthusiasm, it was Sec
retary Taft who received the greatest
outburst Of applause. 1t continued
| for several minutes before he corlq
begin his address.
Speaking upon the topic What
Would Lincoln DO Today" Secretary
Taft argued that he would approv-
the policies of both the Mckinley and
Roosevelt administrations. Taft re-
viewed many of the policies of the
days Of Lincoln to show that the Re
publican party today il consistently
| following the same lines and at the
same time keeping abreast of the con-
| ditions of today
| The speaker dWelt particularly up
on Lincoln's opposition to slavery and
insisted the policy of that time was
practically the same as that pursued
today in governing the Philippines.
He pointed to the great progress by
the Filipinos since the United States
assumed control of the islands and
expressed the option that were Lin
coin alvie today he would approve
the course adopted there. Concluding
Taft said:
Can there be any doubt where Alb
raham Lincoln would have stood in
the issues which peculiarly dis
tinguish the administration of Theo-
fore Roosevelt? | refer to the strug-
gle which he and his administration
have made for the elimination from
our business and political fabric OF
the eorrupting influence OF unlawful
business combinations and the de-
moralizing effect or disobedienee TO
the law by cur great railroad and
railroad transportation companies.
THE one thing that distinguished
Lincoln in all his life was his conten-
tion in favor of equal administration
and protection of laws. From the
soles of his feet through all that long
frame to the top of his head he was
democratic In the true sense of the
word, aud opposed 10 privilege and
class immunity.
He was not an enemy Of wealth
lswfully accumulated. He welcomed
and encouraged internal improve
rents and of course cherished pres
perity developed by business enter
rrices and combinations OF capital
but he always exalted in the consid.
eration of every issue of the rights
of the individual and especially of
the humber members of society, who
were least able to protect themselves.
Therefore we may know with a
certainty that cannot brook con,
tradiction, that in tae struggle TO
make all business lawful, to take
away from great corporate combina-
tions Illegal privileges and immunities
that official investigations have
shown in many instances to prevail,
Lincoln would have made the same
good fight which has endeared Boose-
welt to the same plain people of the
country who upheld the hands of the
martyred president through all the
great trials of bis administration
Taft's arrival from Kansas CITY
this afternoon was marked by tre-
mendous enthusiasm. When he de-
EffHitN lfOtn ilf AtaiH hf NaH
cheered by hundreds Of members Of
the newly organized Taft clrb. He
entered an auto for a trip to the Nor
ton House. but the streets were so
crowded that progress was slow.
poiicemen rode in the auto to give the
secretary safe conduct. The route
vas handsomely decorated with the
natiuual colors.
Taft's afternoon and evening we're
strenous The days activities in
cluded public reception, a reception
and speech at the convention Of the
state league Of Republican clubs. a
reception and speech under the aus
rices Of the Taft club a social dinner
Fl the home Of Philo G. Fuller. an Old
college friend Lincoln club banqret
aud address and another banquet in
the evening.
An incident OF the banquet tonight