Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-07-23

our commercial agents In foreign lands.
They are there to look after the com
mercial interests OF the United States.
For years they had been little more
than political footballs. AS some one
suggested a man was sent abroad as our
consul sometimes because he was
not wanted at home. The administra-
ton cooperating with Congress has
taken this important class Of public
officials entirely out of politics. It has
lifted It to n higher plane. 1t has in
creased its potency. IT has created a
system of inspection by means of
inspection by means of which tho
State department is enabled to keep
in close touch with the most remote
consulate. Thus the cfno icncy OF the
service has been greatly enhanced, the
consuls have been placed in effect UNI
der the civil service. Candidates arc
required abroad in a manner compati-
bic with their Importance. And while
all these matters have been claiming
our attention vast enterprises have
been undertaken and arc being prose-
cuted to a successful termination. At
Panama We are constructing the 18TH
priscs Of the twentieth century. Not
only arc We succeeding whore other ma
lions failed but We arc so doing the
work as to give the world an object
lesson of what may bc done in the
tropics In the Far West we have
been engaged in an enterprise second
only to that of the Panama canal in
inheritance and difficulty. Under tho
reclamation service authorized by
Congress we are constructing a vast
system of irrigation there which will
convert millions of acres belonging 10
the great American desert into as
beautiful and fertile farming coun-
try as can anywhere be found. We are
formulating n great system of inland
waterways for the benefit of our vast
and ever increasing commerce. The
great central proposition of this
scheme of internal Improvement is
ship canal from the Great Lakes to
the Gulf of Mexico.
HAVE ENFORCED THE LAW.
While all thcsc undertakings have
engrossed the attention of the govern
ment we have not for moment lost
sight of tho fact that this is a gov
eminent of law; that there can be no
real permanent prosperity that is not
based upon high respect for and obed-
icnce to the law of tho land. No one can
DENY that In the midst of our great ma
terial prosperity abuses had crept IN.
The greatest work of our present admin
istration has been the awakening of the
people to their responsibilities as citizens
of the republic and citizens Of their re-
spective States This work of correcting
abuses has been in tho interest of all
classes and all conditions of men. No one
was more interested in abollshing rebates
than the railroads themselves. The cur
rency panic of last fall resulted in 10
small degree from the failure of the
bankers OF New York to obey the plain
precepts of the law. And our business
world is on a moro solid foundation to-
day because of the great work of the
administration in enforcing the law.
TAFT A MAN OF STRENGTH.
The speaker then declared that the sec
ond reason why the Republican party
might appeal successfully to the voters
Of the country AT the approaching cleo
ton was the fact that It had the best
candidate for tho presidency. He then
paid an earnest tribute to Mr. Taft,
whom he knows we'll and whom he de-
clared to be the best equipped presiden-
tial candidate 10y natural ability. and by
training and experience that We have had
since Washington. He had shown himself
capable of dealing with great problems.
He was man of keen insight and com
prehensive grasp. He has the courage o!
his convictions. He Is frf nix and honest
| He is democratic In all his ways and he
will give the American people an able
| and progressive administration.
Congressman Foster In closing Insisted
! that every Nermontcr who desired tc
show his preference for TAFT and Sher-
man should go to the polls on election
day and vote for Prouty and Meade By
so doing they would give encouragement
| to their brethren in those other States
where the result Is probably not in doub
but where the conflict is more intense.
The rally was a success from ever,
| standpoint and great credit Is due to the
| committee for their untiring efforts ant
| careful attention to details.