New-York tribune., 1909-03-10
PURPOSE OF MR.. TAFT
MR.. DICKINSON EXPLAINS.
Concise Reply to Chicago Criticism
Made at Iroquois Dinner.

Chicago. March 9-Jacob NJ. Dickinson, to be
Secretary of War In President Taft's Cabinet aP-
peared before the Iroquois Club. Democrauc
organization, tonight. and made his first 1or-
NAL address since his appointment
Mr.. Dickinson's presence before this BODY was
objected 10 last week by former Mayor EDWARD
F Dune on the ground Of Inconsistency III
his remarks the Secretary explained MS status
as a Democrat and told the club members WhaI
sentiments toward the South moved the Presl-
dent to appoint him.
Secretary Dickinson said:
When I accepted the compliment OF d a. a.
well dinner by my friends Of the Iroquols CLuo' C
l understood that il had no political
was in no sense an Endorsement OF my going INTO
the Cabinet Of President Taft, and that II Vas
merely expression of personal sOOu VIZ VIZ -,
had anticipated that II would oIIehu aHy L. i, -
Der of the club, l would have taken my IeaNe 0I
nv we'll wishers in an informal way NheH u
was brought to my notice that oDlecl4on Idu
been made, at once requested tnat the 80 -
be pretermitted, but that dld not meet VIZ ~
approval Of those who had underIdhSL -
shall not now let the objection OF aoSehteeo;
however distinguished, mar my eHJoy 49, iLsiIt -
this generous testimonial OF your frlenosInP.
AS publicity has been given TO a protest ndue
on political grounds, feel tnat IL VII LLot y
indeicate for me to refer TO my own status
For nearly forty years, and much OF thdt 14lile
with great activity, I have been in the ranks OF
the Democratic party. I have never sought or
II the reward OF office. nor any other DeHeIIs.
direct or indirect Like many southern men. r. !
nn account Of local conditions did not actively
oppose il. II is an abnormal condition "hen
almost all those who represent the property ana
best citizenship OF ten contiguous 2ta1eS t1 -
together politically. II is certain that all OF
them do not think alike all such questions
and that differences OF opinion Would !edd 70
opposite party affiliaton in the Southern states.
In the other states, but for constant ana
powerful COmpaCting force.
MISFORTUNE TO THE SOUTH.
II IS misfortune to the South. misfortune
{ to fho who that ineXOTdble COnOlIlODS
were such that differences on all other questions
have been subordinated TO one question When
such action Of those best qualified 10 represent
their people extended throughout so long a
period and constantly, II would be Ike IN
IInv-ise or IInpatriotic Whether OF not these
conditions Will operate in the future as they
have in the past do not claim the wlSqoIn 70
predict. All lovers Of our country should unite
in the hope that this may not be true-not so
much account Of the political result as on
account Of the conditions themselves. which are
a constant menace 10 the South. and in reflex
action operate with unhappy effects upon the
on account Of the causes 10 which I have re-
ferred. all Of the Southern states at the last
election cast their electoral votes against Pres
ident Taft as they have hitherto done with
respect 10 other Republican Presidential candi-
dates. Therefore. politically there was no bond
between him and the Southern states He IS
now. after the battle has been fought. entering
upon the duties of his Office, as President OF the
entire country. He has been much in the South
and for years has counted very many southern
men within the closest circle Of friendship HIS
Jurisdiction as judge extended over the states
Of Kentucky and Tennessee. Through a long
period he was in close association with the peO-
DIE there visited their homes intimately, was
always an earnest student of everything AFFECT
ing the general welfare Of the country, and
came 70 know more about the Southern people
and the causes controlling their social and polt-
ical action than any man or the Nortn VINO mas
bcen called to high national office Moved by
no obligations TO the South but by strong friend
ship and sympathy for the Southern people and
still by patriotic love for the entire coun-
trv u hose welfare Is necessarily bound UP with
that Of the South he determined to invite into
his Cabinet a Southern man. thereby giving
assurance to the Southern people that although
their solid electoral vote was against him he
wanted them to feel that they were IN close re
Iations with his administration and would be
in no sense allen to It
PRESIDENT TAFT'S PURPOSE
II he had selected for this purpose a Southern
Republican. however we'll qualified to discharge
the duties nf the office. II would not have full
allied the purpose he had in mind. If he had
selected Democrat who had voted for him.
there would have been room for carping criti-
cisrn to say. however unjustly, that the appoint
ment had been rendered and accepted as re-
ward for such support; and besides such an
appointment might have lacked that Igament
with the Southern people winch would exist
batUaen them and who had not left the
party am confident that the great purpose Of
the President was TO establish the relationship
7 have indicated. II would bclittle the broad
1a+riotfsr, which inspired him 10 assume that
his purpose was to achieve political results Hav-
ing known me for a long time and intimately.
opnions he valued. he came TO the conclusion
that NV qualifications and my relations to the
Southern people were such as 10 JUSTIFY putting
me in his Cabinet.
Having accepted the position shall bring to
the discharge Of the duties Of the office my best
EFFORTS and shall. OF course carry out his pol
icies I cannot conceive that any duty can arise
In connection with that office that viii be in
ror1ratible with any views I have hitherto
tertaincd Certainly If such occasion should
arise I would not embarrass th5t President by
holding a position the duties of which l could
not heartily discharge.
That the purpose operating in his mind was
broad magnanimous and patriotic, no one can
question. The wisdom both of the purpose and
of his selection is to be tried by time ! have
every assurance. from letters and expressions in
the public press that his action ir appointing
me and my action in accepting are approved by
the South and having the approval Of the South
err Democratic statsS whose Judgment was
especially appealed to ir this matter by the
President. I bear with ecuanimity any crit
| cisn that may come from individual Demo-
Gratis elsewhere
CINCINNATI