New-York tribune., 1908-07-29
nR. TAFT-s ACCEPTANCE.

Mr. Taft's speech of acceptance proclaims the
purpose of his administration if he is elected
President 1t will be to ''clinch the pohcles "i
President Roosevelt. He is in hearty sympathy
with the Presidents efforts to arouse the pup
lie conscience and TO correct the abuses that
have grown up with the substitution OF COT
porate organization for individual control of
industry He reprobates those evils as keehl!
as the President himself and no great law
breaker can EXPECT TO find less thorny course
under the next Republican administration than
under the present one. But Mr.. Taft sees IhaC
the work of arousing the public conscience has
been accomplished. and that the duty ol 'he
next administration will he to perfect tIe ma
cbinerv for carrying out the national policy OF
regulation promptly. smoothly and Win 'he
least destructive effect on business. MI hoose-
velt's function was to awaken the puDiic mhu "
the necessity of checking serious abuses ana 10
set In motion the machinery for their correcuoh'
Mr.. Taft's will be TO develop that machinery
TO see that it is exactly adapted to its purpose
and completely performs its work
The work of initiation is over and pubic reg
ulation in its broad outlines has been created
The patient filling in of It's details remains 10
he ACCOMPLISHED as the operation OF eAlSlihs
laws reveals defects-some of which Mr. 1aIt
points out in his speech-or as conditions SO
change as TO call for notifications to meet
is progressive in spirit; his administration VIII
he progressive. for progress does not consist
merely Of innovations The greater part OF 1t IS
the natient working out Of details, the laoorious
LAYING of stone stone. Mr. Tart conceiFes
this 10 be the function of the coming admins
tration and the Judgment of the nation VIII
coincide with his. No one wants turning pack
from the path along which Mr.. Roosevelt mas
directed the steps of the country, but every one
inI ~ inst H.
structiye work-of q subordinate and ancll-
larry character. Mr. Taft calls it-as the Re-
nuhIican candidate outlines IN his speech OF
acceptance The Republic needs the "clinchlng
of the Roosevelt policies by such sober sane
hroad-minded, courageous statesman as MI
Taft and withaI bv a man thoroughly in sym
natbv with the Presidents aims and Informed
by the same moral purposes
The difference between Mr.. Taft and Mr..
Rrvan stands out very clearly on reading the
Republican candidates speech. Mr.. Bryan, too,
rr,ts himself forward as the logical exponent of
RooseveItism But Mr.. Bryan advocates no
.,clinching" of the Roosevelt policies. He Is Tor
hurrying the country on into new and untried
fields &c governmental experimentation Mr.
Taft is for progress as history always makes IT,
for history is never in a hurry Mr. Bryan IS
for progress as agitatorS and visionarles Wouid
ALWAYS have ii. without breathing space Tor
humanity on the run TO per1ecIlon. MI d. an
is for the destruction Of anything that does not
harmonic with his view of what should ne
Destruction is the quickest way Mr.. Tart IS
for removing Objectionable qualities and turn
ing serviceabIe elements TO the use of mankind
Mr. Bryan would destroy the trusts. 1t Is the
simplest and most expeditions way Mr. Iaft
would compel them to cease from doing harm
and set them to doing good. Mr.. Taft would
make haste slowly. Mr. Bryan has only con-
tempt for that ancient summary OF the results
of all human experience.
This, we think. is a fair description of Mr.
rraft's attitude upon the great economic CUES
tfons which occupy the public mind of the day.
and it is not possible at this time TO go into de-
fails In no part of his speech, however, does
he appear to greater advantage than in his manly
stand regarding labor and unionism. The rights
of union labor are fully recognized by him, but
the abuses of organization come in for meas
ure of outspoken condemnation which Is IN re-
freshinc contrast to Mr.. BTyans timid trucking
to Mr. Gompers. The weaknesses of the Demo-
cratic platform are keenly and effectively anal
wed especially its equivocal utterance upon III
functions and its dangerous doctrine regarding
trial bv iurv in contempt cases. All in ALL it IS
an admirable speech, and 1t will prove an ef-
fective factor in the campaign.