New-York tribune., 1908-04-19
TAFT ON MORAL THROB
PRAISES M4G4ZINE MEN.
Gircs Them Credit of Reforms at
.Sphinr Club Dinner.


.,,.ed 10 be- the demonstration for Secretary
taft the guest of honor. was remarkable. The
so,,r hundred diners cheered every mention of his
-srne cheered Secretary Taft himself and his ut
,s-snces vigorously and then. with very few ex-
esr1ions sgnifed by raising their hands that they
n,,ld vote for the Republican Presidential candi-
ss,e it being strongly intmated that the latter
-,r,ld be the Secretary OF War.
secretary Taft in his speech told OF the elevating
,eYence Of literature. the progress of modern
times and the Improvement OF the conditions under
which the poor Of to-day live, taking occasion to
Ill attention 10 the futility of the socialist theory
,7,h regard to the abolition of the inequality in
she distribution Of wealth. But there had been a
s,eat moral awakening, Mr.. Taft said. and it had
s-o,sed the interest of the people The people he
.si5 wanted 10 be that the government was
r-es+er than corporate wealth and that there was
me law for rich and poor. This moral movement
TIE Secretary added, was sti in progress and
going ahead.
Secretary Taft after some facetious philosophiz-
ing on the subject OF the Sphinx reviewed the his
,orv OF early journalism, commenting on the hard
lo of members of the profession in the seventeenth
and eighteenth centuries compared with those OF
to-day Yet" he said. there ere certain char
scteristics present day journalism that seem to
have survived from its beginning. In this
ton he said.
,ury ago and that ot to-day finds counterpart and
analogy. in regard TO most Of those things which
IN rofnt Of real living. the man of little means
f1e Sq t TO tie comforts they 10y than they ever
were before in the history OF the world
And 50. generally, were 10 characterize
the progress which has been made in modern time
he saoLq I Iss5 s5eG ,,f efsT Upon Upon me lRGTessea
men and women and children of little means for
rational comforts and rational entertainment than
IN any other one particular.
Nothing makes more strongly for moral eIeva-
ton and righteousness than such comforts and
r. vice and vicious pursuits that the heart break
Ing monorony Of a squalid life is apt TO produce.
tons Of morality and reflect with great accuracy
The popular changes in this regard. In the last
four years there has come a note OF warning to
ire people Of the United States that. prosperous
'rdust-isi expansion, great as has been the in
crease OF comfort and convenience Of living OF all
e dseharEs Of certain fidelity trusts in the con,
certain enormous business operations a clearly
distinct element OF dishonesty, illegaIity and dis
checked by public condemnation and protest there
il grave danger that the moral foundations of the
dation and disaster follow.
articles written the subject have left no doubt
where they stand in respect 10 this moral awak-
FOR the preaching Of a crusade against the man.
The question which now presents itself Is how
fsT real moral progress in our civilization and
widespread popular desire for better things. Can
il be made TO operate on the principle of the
ratchet wheel by which step forward shall
be secured and there be reaction or retrogres-
ECE. IRIS perhaps, Is 100 muCn to nope Tor, be-
cause progress in the world is generally the re-
su!Iart q action and reaction and is rather the
The danger is that the exuberance and enthusi-
esn ot such movement may carry the best men
people VIII ultimately draw back. and the energy
and vitality Of such a movement will be partially
For instance. those who think that the moral
movement hy which ali poverty shall be Abolished
and al riches divided up are really looking toward
socialism as solution Of the present inequality in
l-F cl7- -tLtloI q "eaItA .
human nature that has not taken place and is not
likely 10 take place in many generations and
operative success upon the complete elimination of
se-fshness. enlightened or otherwise rom the
ne!a2ers oI human soGieLy "heh attempted are
The moral awakening however has been of the
utmost benefit 10 this country, and can be made
II certainly has aroused the interest OF
tie people in government and legislation, and has
made them properly suspicious and properly watch
ful Of the doings Of their representatives 1t has
given 10 the young, high minded; inteIIlgent men men
n the movement and 10 be Of those who make for
righteousness IN government.
He then reviewed the various ways in which this
moral awakening was mauifes;ing itself through
our the country.
The first enthusiasm for Mr.. Taft shown
during The speech Of Robert rockingham, presi-
dent of the Sphinx Club, which is organization
Of advertising men. He spoke Of the War Secre-
tary's great service 10 the FIlpinos and OF his
on the rights and obligations of corporations
which the POSTMASTER said the Secretary had
preached saney. President rockingham said
A. 10 period have We been more in need of lead
ers q giant mould than to-day-thOrOughy tested
leaders who can lead Leaders who are close enough
70 the people 10 be with them, and yet so identi-
resize il is their own awakened conscience that is
;eea-Hg them; leaders who fully appreciate our our
ca problems. and yet see an answer that Is prac-
tl9al; leaders VINO never know gimidity' no matter
Thank Cod, the times have not left US in poverty
q leaders OF that stature Not since the Ciyil War
has this country developed IN its public life such
q purpose as some few Of those who now loom
Ieassurlnsly upon our national horizon Whatever
This club is political, and voice no mem
6ers political preference. Yet tonight l can say
eear-heade4 and sound hearted business men our
alignment in personal appreciation Of the great
leader who IS present is unanimous
TIE APPLAUSE and cheers which greeted this last
remark we're tremendous Before Secretary Taft
arose 70 speak the diners drank toast to the
President Of the United States while all those
present, including the women in the boxes stood
snd sang the Star spaneled Banner"
" 4 Elroy told Of the shrinking modesty' OF
magazine advertising managers some Of whom be-
Neved they elected President Roosevelt because
they printed the Republican platform IN the last
national campaign.
Secretary Taft, he said. was the least OF mys-
tery q any man in the United States. notwith-
standing that the sphinx represented something
mysterious.
William Be-ri Of The Brooklyn Standard
Union" let the members Of the Sphinx CIup IN OF
secret; il was the secret, he said, OF secretary
Tsft's great popularity which, Mr. Berri sald' ne
bac discovered was his captivating smile
NJ Berri who is delegate TO the Repuolcah
kkuoraI Convention said: Il have got TO rerIleln-
b. that We have favorite son in New York, out'
On the other hand / tell you I have heard the
Secretary Of War well spoken Of
Nov" he added, how many OF you' hepuD-
Acsns or Denlocrats-snd many Democrats VIII &c
so-are going 10 vote the Republican ticket THIS
fgE2"
MOI ,nar tu-n-+hirds Of the ll2 right hands OF