Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-09-15
comns0s a pie!iteal RooseIehs'
lulagy Of Taft.
APPRECIATION WAS EXPECTED
Roosevelt Could Hardly Do Otherwise
Than Support Taft After Selecting
Latter A. Administration Can
didate.

pAt< MI, ~ ~
plying to President ROoscvclts let
ter commenting Mr.. Tat, w. J. Bry-
an today issued the following:
ut was expected, OF course. that
, President Roosevelt would support
Mr. Taft. He could hardly do less
in view OF the fact that he selected
him as the administration candidate
and supported him with all the intlu-
ence that administration could bring
to bear. The Presidents letter, how
ever, may be objected to AS irrrl2'
want, immatcrial and not the b 81
evidence. If Mr.. Taft were dead 1t
would be interesting to know from
Mr. Roosevelt what he knew Of Mr..
Taft'S opinions ar. work, but as Mr..
TAFT Is alive and abb to- speak for
himself, II is hardly necessary Tor
Mr. Roosevelt to tell us what Mr..
Taft will do.
Republican Platform Indefinite.
INT. Taft is running upon plat
fern which was so unsatisfactory
that he had to amend ii in several
, important particulars and even as
am cnded, it gives the public no deh-7
mite idea as to what Mr.. Taft stands
for. Mr., Taft in his speeches prom
/ Uses to make some more. Those he
; has already made have not thrown
any light upon the situation. but IL
is hoped he will yet define his po-
sition with sufficient clcarness to en-
hn 90 kpnu what ne
stands for. 1t is not sufficient for
the President 10 say that Mr.. Tart
is a friend of labor. That is sub
ject upon which the laboring man
is entitled to an opinion and Mr.
Taft's friendship is to be determined
not by the Presidents endorsement
!bu. bv the measures which Mr.. Taft
advocates.
Mr. TAFT and Labor.
Mr.. Taft believes that the labor
organization should come under the
operation of the antitrust law. thus
dealing with the men who belong
to the labor organization as l. they
were merchandise. for the antitrust
law deals with the monopoly OF the
products Of labor.
"Mr Taft is Opposed to trial ns
Jury in cases of indirect contempt.
thus denying to the laboring man
safeguard which is guaranteed 10
every man tried in a criminal court.
!Nr Taft does not agree with the
laboring man in regard to the use
lof the injunction in labor disputes
mo words of praise from the Presl-
dent can change Mr.. Tatts attitude
lon this question or make that atti-
tude more acceptable to the wage
cavners.
As to trusts.
!, Mr.. Tafts position on the trust
question is not changed by the Pres
ident.s endorsement. The President
himself has not succeeded n putting
any trust magnates in the peniter-
iary and only a few Of tn" trusts
have been disturbed. II N 1T Is
mo more successful than the Presi-
dent in his attacks on the trusts. nc
will! not satisfy the expectations d
1.-THE public. There are NOR. trusts
Than there were when the President
was nominated.
Mr.. Taft favors a weakening rath-
or than a strengthening Of the anti
thrust law. for he has advocated an
amendment that will limit the oper-
alton of the law to unreasonable re-
s;raint of trade.
On the tariff question " TAFT
has failed to express himself with
cicarnCss. The Republican platform
avoids the word reduction II only
promises revision and Mr.. Taft has
construed that TO mean that soTe
schedules will he lowered and some
raised. but there Is no intimation
that the average will Dc lower or
higher than IL Is now.
endorsement Not Conclusive.
And in regard TO all the questions
which are a, Issue Mr.. Taft must
make his poaiiion known. He can
mo, rely upon the Presidents endorse
msnt An endorsement on a note Is
not necessarily proof that the maker
is sood u Mr.. Taft had reform
record Of his own he would not neeh
to W. crIorScd by the President. anu
the Presidents endorsement Is o..
no ya'sc unless the President VIII
aerec 10 STAY in washington and sec