Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-16
CLOSED BOOK TO TAFT
What Happened Prior to Elec-
ton Is Forgotten.
PRESIDENT OF THE PEOPLE
Next Chief Executive Attends Civic
Federation Dinner.
SPEAKS OF CAPITAL AND LABOR
Rallies to Support of ''That Battered
"Old Instrument the Consti-
tution-Sherman Law.
SPEAKS OF CAPITAL AND LABOR

NEW YORK December 16-The annual
sessions OF the National Civic Federation
in this city were brought to close last
night with a brilliant banquet which
grouped together at one Of the fivescore
Of individual tables the next President
and Mrs. Taft Samuel Gompers. president
of the American Federation of Labor:
August Belmont A. B. Garretson. chief
of the Brotherhood of Railway Con-
ductors: Melville E. ingalls,. formerly pres
ident of the Big Four railroad; President
Seth Low OF the federation and Mrs. Low;
former Judge and Mrs. Alton b. Parker
and Mrs. Andrew Carnegie.
At other tables about the banquet hall
of the Hotel Astor sat employers and
employees of many corporations. John d.
Rockefeller. ir., and Frank r. Kellogg,
who has been prosecuting the govern
ments inquiry into the Standard Oil
Company. were near neighbors. though
not at the same table Andrew Carnegie
and John Mitchell sat side by side.
The notable throng of men and women
brought together by the fedora ton led
Mr.. Taft. who was the principal speaker
of the evening. to remark that he had
been sitting with company with which 1t
hardly would have been we'll for him to
associate prior to the election. lie then
declared. amid cheers. that all that had
IthIIH'beu ueIOFc lHc eIetuOH WAS az d
closed book to him. and he would be the
President OF all the people.
Last Of Eight Speakers.
Mr.. Taft was the last OF eight speak
ers. Those who preceded him were Mr.
Low. who acted as POSTMASTER. and
Messrs. Mitchell. Gornpers. Carnegie Bel
mont, Ingalls, and Garretson. Mr. Taft
spoke entirely xtemporaneously, and
briefly
Much had been said during the evening
concerning the problem Of the twilight
zone where, state jurisdiction ends and
federal authority begins
The Sherman antitrust Law also had
been attacked by Mr.. ingalls,, who as
sailed 1t as an antiquated measure which
should be entirely driven from the stat
ute books. Mr.. Taft came to the rescue of
the Sherman law, and said that while he
bei1eved with others that certain amend
ments were necessary. he would be op-
posed to any attempt at its repeal AS
to the twilight zone and it's problems.
Mr. Taft declared the country had got
afonE very we'll under the Constitution
and he believed 1t would find that instru-
ment all-wise and Indispensable.
Mixture Entirely Safe.
1t is great pleasure to be here to-
night" said Mr.. Taft. Looking about
me. l see some who, before election, it
would not have been well for me to as
sociate with. but with the mixture that
Is here tonight the association is entirely
safe l am a great believer in 1.-THE eff
cheney of the National Civic Federation.
l believe that most of our differences and
our controversies are really the result of
m1sunderstandings which would entirely
disappear II the contending forces cbuld
be- brought together. When we do come
together we usually find that we agree on
most points and differ as to few
T1me was when everybody who en-
pioyed labor was opposed to labor unions.
Time was when these organizatio were
regarded as a menace. That time now
has largely passed away. and the man
who today objects to the organization of
labor should be relegated to the last CEN
fury Labor unions have done marvels
for labor. and in the future will do more
They will avoid that reduction to a dead
'eFeI or all Workingmen, whether earnest
and energetic or shiftless in their work
Leadership and Reward.
Labor unions will encourage working
men not to a level down. but to level
up. and will exemplify that those who
lead in energy will have the leadership
and reward
Time was, too, when those who labor
with their hands violently opposed the
introduction of machinery as menace
sion and understanding that controversy
has passed away and ceases to be a con-
tention between the employer and the en-
ployed. Trade agreements, which have
been the constant subjects of disagree
ments in tie past. have now come to be
regarded as making for peace
Mr.. Taft declared that he believed that
laborers. on the one hand, and capitalists
on the other have equal rights CT Or
ganization for the protection of their own
interests. He believed that in this way
and through these organizations they
could meet on level ground, neither at
arms length nor one at the mercy of the
other.
Battered Old Constitution.
Il feel delicacy.'' said Mr.. Taft, amid
laughter. lin discussing some of the sub
jects that have been touched upon here
tonight. for | am sworn. or will be sworn
soon To uphold tie Constitution of the
United States. But l feel really must
rally to the support of that battered old
instrument which has been so widely dis
cussed. I: is true that it is ancient of
origin. but we have gotten along pretty
we'll under it.
I'VE have differed at times about the
meaning of some of its provisions. but We
still have a most efficient government.