The San Francisco call., 1908-07-19
TAFT TO DECLINE
CORPORATION AID
Says No Contributions Viii Be
Accepted and Law Will
Be Observed
Does Not Believe That Vote of
Any Class Can Be DeIiv-
cred by Leaders

HOT SPRINGS.Vs-. July 1s-"The na-
Donal republican committee Will accept
10 contributions from corporations,
said Judge William H. Taft, presiden-
today, and In an interview he also re-
terred 10 labor, prohibition and other
questions
Taft said that not only would the law
OF New York state providing for the
publicity OF campaign funds be Obeyed
~ the national republican committee,
but the federal law prohibiting such
contributions by corporations in con-
nection with the election OF president,
vice president, representatives or SEN
stors would be obeyed without regard
70 any question OF validity that might
srise In respect 10 any provisions OF
that law
Answering questions as 10 the appli-
cation OF the national law 10 contribu-
lions for the election OF presidential
electors. Taft declared that the law
would be obeyed exactly as Il was
passed BY congress.
As 70 the right Of a labor leader 10
attempt 70 influence the votes OF mem
hers OF the organization OF which he is
the head, TAFT. at first laughing, said
tnat that was a question Of proprtety
upon which he was not sufficiently in
formed 10 discuss When asked as 70
his idea OF the power OF the leader OF q
labor organization 70 throw It's vote 70
one party or another. he declared that
IN his opinion II could be predicted that
there Is no so called class OF the Ameri-
can electorate whose votes would be
delivered BY its leaders.
he said that after eliminating mem
hers OF both political parties from a
labor organization the expression OF z
leader might indicate how the remain
ing uncertain quantity might vote in
as Is the case generally in dealing with
any SO called class Of citizens, before
expression could be given OF the nature
y their vote il would be necessary 10
eliminate the members OF one or the
other political parties The question
calling forth this statement referred 70
President samuel Gompers OF the
American federation OF labor, but Mr..
Taft avoided making any personal
reference 10 Gompers OF any leader OF
organized labor
asked whether he would have any
new remedy 70 offer for the so called
trust problem in his speech Of accept
Ence. he replied that he did not know
o. anything new that he could add 70
e Question that had been so widely dis
cussed. and stated that he would have
nothing 20 say on the matter outside Of
what he had said az various times in
his public utterances- Taft's atten-
l-on was calleo TO-DAY 70 assertions OF
some journalists representing the
liquor interests that he is opposed 10
prohibition He explained that he had
1ever publicly discussed the ethical
side Of prohibition. and he took the
VieW. as he understood Mr.. Bryan had
5one thar the prohibition issue was not
involved in the national campaign.
From what had come 10 his attention
lu respect 70 the representations OF
rHeze journals he inferred thar rfew
had based their statements on speeches
1e had made in which he criticised the
action Of some state legislatures in
passing prohibition and other laws
without providing the machinery for
enforcing them