Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-07-29
TAFT PLEDGES HIMSELF TO CARRY |OUT THE
POLICIES OF THE ROOSEVELT ADMINISTRATION

nation which you formally tender 1
accept it with full appreciation of the
responsibility it imposes.
Republican Strength in Maintenance
Of Roosevelt Policies.
Gentlemen, the strength of the re-
publican cause In the campaign at
hand is in the fact that we represent
the policies essential to the reform of
known abuses. to the continuance of
liberty and true prosperity. and that
We are determined, as our platform
unequivocally declares, to maintain
them and carry them on. For more
than ten years this country passed
through an epoch of material develop
ment far beyond any that ever oc-
Cured in the world before In its
course, certain evils crept in. Some
prominent and influential members Of
the community. spurred by financial
success and In their hurry for great
er wealth, became unmindful of the
common rules of business honesty and
fidelity and of the limitations imposed
by law upon their action. This be-
came known. The revelations of the
breaches of trust, the disclosures as
TO rebates and determinations by rail-
ways, the accommodating evidence of
the violation of the antitrust law by
number of corporations. the over
issue of stocks and bonds on inter-
state railways for the unlawful enrich
ing Of directors and for the purpose
Of concentrating control of railways
in one management, all quickened the
conscience of the people. and brought
on a normal awakening among them
that BODIED well for the future of the
country.
What Roosevelt Has Done.
The man who formulated the ex-
preston of the popular conscience and
who led the movement for practical
reform was Theodore Roosevelt He
laid down the doctrine that the rich
violator of the law should be as
amenable to restraint and punishment
as the offender without wealth and
without influence, and ne proceeded
by recommending legislation and di-
recting executive action to make that
principle good in actual performance.
He secured the passage of the so-call-
ed rate bill, designed more effectively
to restrain excessive and fix reason
able rates, and to punish secret re-
bates and determinations which had
been general in the practice of the
railroads, and which had done much
to enable unlawful trusts to drive out
of business their competitors. II Sc
cured much closer supervision of rail-
way transactions and brought within
the operation OF the same statute ex-
press companies. sleeping car COM
panies, fast freight and refrigerator
lines, terminal railroads and pipe
lines, and forbade in future the COM
bnation OF the transportation and
shipping business under one control in
order to avoid undue discrimination.
In this work Mr.. Roosevelt has had
the support and sympathy of the re-
publican party. and its chief hope Of
success. in the present controversy
must rest on the confidence which the
people of the country have in the sin
cerity of the party's declaration in its
platform, that ii intends to continue
the policies.
Necessary to Devise some Means Of
Permanently Securing Progress
Made.
Mr.. Roosevelt has set high the
e h,,g9nae. t,,ppaIffu and
obedience to law. The railroad rate
bill was more useful possibly in the
immediate moral effect of its passage
than even In the legal effect of Its
very useful provisions. From its en-
actment dates the voluntary abandon
ment of the practice of rebates and
determinations by the railroad and
return Of their managers to obedience
to law In the fixing of tariffs. The pure
food and meat inspection laws and
the prosecutions directed by the presi-
dent under the antitrust law have
had n similar moral effect in the gen
eral business community
But we should be blind to the ordi-
nary working of human nature If we
did not recognize that the moral
standards set by President Roosevelt
will not continue to be observed by
those whom cupidlty and a desire for
financial power may tempt, unless the
requisite machinery Is introduced into
the law which shall in its practical
operation maintain these standards
and secure the country against a de-
parture from them.
CHIEF Function of Next Administration
20 CIlnch What Has Been Done.
The chief function of the next adj
ministraton In my judgment, is dis
tlnct from, and progressive develop
ment of that which has been perform
ed by President Roosevelt The chief
function of the next administration is
to complete and perfect the machin-
sry by which these standards may be
maintained, by which the lawbreakers
may be promptly restrained and pun
lshed. but which shall operate with
sufficient accuracy and dispatch TO in
terfere with legitimate business as lit
tie as possible Such machinery Is
not now adequate. Under the present
rate bill. and under all Its amend
ments. the burden OF the interstate
commerce commission In supervising
ard regulating the operation OF the
railroads of this country has grown so
heavy that It Is utterly impossible for
that tribunal to hear and dispose, In
any reasonable time, of the many
complaints. queries and issues that are
brought before Il for decision. II