Albuquerque citizen., 1908-01-02
DID NOT TAKE EVEN
FRIENDS INTO CONFIDENCE
Biz Secretary Defined His Party
Stand on Matters of Vital Inter-
eS. Single Hdnded--N0t too
Radical But Firm and
Logical.

Washington, d. c., Jan. 2.--Sec-
retary Tafts recent speech in Boston
met the expedition of his friends.
The president was especially pleas
ed and so expressed himself today.
He had no more knowledge of what
Secretary Taft intended to say than
had the general public, but he did
know Taft. 1t was not any one thing
that Secretary Taft said that gave
such entire satisfaction to his friends
as the general tone and spirit of his
address.
There was no suggestion of COM
promise, no indication that the storm
of protest against the administrator
policies, which has come from re-
dictionaries, had frightened Taft in
the slightest degree. Ii was the hope
of Secretary Tafts warmest friends
that in this. his first speech as a
presidential candidate after his re-
turn from trip around the world,
he would so express himself that
the entire country might see exact
ly what he stands for, what are his
policies and the character of admin
istration that may be expected from
him after he has been nominated
and elected.
Advisers less interested in Mr..
Taft than in certain special interests
had suggested that in view of the
recent currency stringency and pres
ent business depression he should
touch lightly upon the question of
reforms and make his speech as in
nocuous as the reactionaries them
selves could desire.
Taft Decided for Himself.
The secretary took neither his
warm friends nor his self constituted
advisers into his confidence regard
ing what he would say. This in
creased sentiment tn-his favor among
the latter and sorely disappointed
| those who would have had him less
frank and less emphatic.
1t Is already conceded by politi-
clans that the speech will help Taft
| greatly throughout the country.
There is in it the note of courage
Gus defiance to the giant combina-
tions, both financial and industrial,
that have fought the Roosevelt poll
cieS from their inception. In addi-
/ tion to this there is the assurance
that honest business men and hon
est corporations need have no fear
of Taft. but that dishonesty will be
punished by him.
| 1t has been said in criticism of
Mr.. Taft's speech that there was too
much about the present administra-
tion In 1t. and too little of Taft him
self. The whole issue upon which
the ante-eonvention fight is being
waged is the continuance of the
| Roosevelt policies-not all of them
possibly, but those which deal with
| dishonest business methods and the
| defiance of law by individuals and
combinations 1t is impossible to
define or to discuss that issue with
out constant reference to what the
present administration has done and
what 1t is still attempting to do.
The Others are Quiet.
The frank utterances Of the secre-
tary OF war make it imperative that
! other presidential aspirants shall
take the people into their confidence.
II is inconceivable that Governor
| Hughes could go before the people of
! the nation as he did before the peo-
| pie OF New York when he became a
| candidate for governor without Civ
| ing the public some idea of the gem
! eral policies for which he will stand.
{ To this day the people do not know
! whether Governor Hughes is for tar
| IN revision or Is a stand patter"
If the governor Of New York has any
views on the control OF corporations
| which do am interstate business or
views on the railroads which are sub
| 1ect TO Interstate commerce laws, he
! has not made them known. Everyone
| knows how Foraker stands. He is
| openly and aggreSsively against the
! Roosevelt policies. But the position
| Of Fairbanks is as uncertain and
| peIpltAlHB as Indt or hughes. can
| non has a reputation as a stand pat
| ter" on the tariff and in spots has
| been a refOrmer But he always
| made an ugly face when he took the
! doses the White House gave him. and
| he has not seen fit to make any dec
! laraions Of faith since he came out
| in the field Of presidential aspirants.
Knox made a speech at Pittsburg
| before the railroad rate law amend
| ing the old interstate commerce act
was introduced which gave the people
| much promise OF a champion. He
! took his seat IN the senate and so
acted, that confidence was we'll nigh
| destroyed. Now he is going to made a
speech In Michigan, which his friends
| say Will place him in a correct light
! before the public. The Pennsylvania
senator claims much credit for the
! achievements OF the Roosevelt ad-
ministrauon He wants TO fall heir
| to part Of the Roosevelt following.
| BY his colleagues he is classified as
| a conservative and by the people at
| large he Is practically unknown ex-
| cept as a lawyer who served the
government while attorney general
! with the same fidelity he had served
! his other clients, the steel corpora
! lions and the Pennsylvania railroad.
la Toilette More Radical
La Toilette OF Wisconsin has de-
clared himself on all questions before
. 10 II a l.,