The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-03-26
TAFT 1T THEHIJa
Secretary Says Gig federal
Power is a Menace.
HE ATTENDS A BANQUET
Warns Legislature Against More Gen.
tralizat'on at Washington and Bust
ness Men at Banquet Hear plea For
Merchant Marine.

Merchant Marine.
Trenton y. j., March 24-Secretary
Of War William H. TAFT and Baron
Takahira. the japanese ambassador.
were the guests Of the New Jersey
legislature and Of the Trenton cham Der
OF commerce at n banquet
The legislature convened two hours
ahead OF time in order to give audience
TO the distinguished visitors. and the
chamber was crowded. The guests re
eeived cordial welcome.
Before the legislature Taft said he
did not believe in more centralized
government at Washington.
Il tremble 10 think wLat this GOV
ernment would be II everything were
centralized on the Potomac" he de
clared
Il fear for so much power central
lied at Washington as many advo-
cate" commenced the secretary. and
the Legislators cheered 10 the echo.
The states must not lose their sense
or esponsibility. lest the movement in
favor OF minimizing the state power
shall gain in strength"
Seats for the chamber Of commerce
dinner were at a premium. Taft spoke
on the foreign policy OF the United
States.
He was introduced by former Mayor
Frank 5. katzenbach. toastmasrer. as
the leading Republican now likely to
be hit by the presidential nomination. ."
and the great crowd cheered the words
uproariously
After reviewing the great progress
as a world power made by the United
States In the last ten years. Secretary
Tart mace a plea for greater mer.
chant marine and an army and navy
commensurate with our responsible
ties and our opportunities.
Ought We not In the six years be.
tween the present and the completion
OF the canal TO adopt n policy which
shall give us n merchant marine 20
justify our expenditure OF this enor
nous sum OF money on commercial as
we'll as naval and war strategic
grounds?" he asked.
rs IL not OF the utmost Importance
that. in order that our influence may
be felt we should maintain a navy
and army commensurate with our re
sources. with our coast line. with the
extent Of our country and our popula-
ton?
Il do not say this In any lingo
spirit
mo one hates war or the prospect
OF Il more than I do.
But / am confident that the main.
tenance Of our navy commensurate
with our resources and the reorganiza.
ton OF our army in such a way as to
permit its speedy expansion under
stress will be most useful to secure
the continuation of the peace under
which we shall thrive and attain the
highest aims of popular government"
Secretary Taft in addressing the
Legislature. dealt with the duties of
legislatures. and discussed the relation
OF the states to the federal govern.
ment. He spoke first OF the tendency to
ignore the federal constitution in the
enacting of state laws. and said II was
a further failing of legislators to pass
laws that connot be enforced Speak
ing of legislatures respecting corpora,
tions, he said:
81 think ii sometimes takes greater
courage to grant a franchise than II
does to deny such a franchise. when
the franchise really operates to the
benefit of the public by enabling
corporation legitimately to earn
profit and not put in such a position as
to make It essential that the corpora.
tion should defraud somebody in order
that It should carry on its business
with a profit"
Concluding. Secretary Taft said the
development OF the country had made
some federal matters relatively more
important than state matters. when
compared with conditions of 10G years
ago. but said this did not mean a sur
render of the states rights.