The Washington herald., 1909-01-15


Augusta, Ca, jan. I4-speaking before
a delegation from Anderson. s c, here
this afternoon, Judge Taft had something
10 say about his faith in the Constitution
OF the United States. About 10 OF An
dersOn's business men, nearly al OF
them Democrats. were in the delegation,
and they met the President-elect on the
versnda OF his cottage. They had come
10 Augusta TO pay their respects.
Here is what Mr.. Taft had to say on
the subject OF the Constitution:
we. IN a sense. are the most conserva-
tive people in the world That is be-
cause We know a good thing when we
see It, AID We propose TO keep It. There
may be changes and amendments neces-
sary in the law TO effect reforms that
have impressed their necessity on Us
during the last ten years Doubtless there
are
NO Change Wished.
But. I think. certainly in the Soutn,
and generally through the country. we
do not wish 10 destroy that government
or so change it as to make It different
from that which our fathers and fore
fathers contemplated in the formation
and maintenance Of TIE Constitution.
I know that sometimes the Coustitu-
ton seems 10 be in the way Of direct
effectiveness
The division under our system, by
which the central government IS limited
20 certain things and the state govern
ments carry on other things. sometimes
seems 10 vcrk against the rapid carrying
out Of some Of the reforms. as, for in
stance, the conservation OF our natural
resources. and. perhaps, the regulation OF
railroads and the suppression Of those
abuses which have crept IA With our mar
EelOus progress in the combinations Of
capital
simple and Clear.
And yet gentlemen, that Constitution.
simple, clear, and comprehensive. has in
the PAST been capable Of such fair con
struetion as to meet IL. a marvellous way
the development and emergencies Of cur
country. which could not have been an
ucipated by those who framed it in any
detail at all. and I an very certain that
TIE same Constitution viii meet the emer-
gencies that may come in the future.
What We look to in the South is 10
have the support Of these institutions
from the people who believe in them, and
who are willing TO maintain them. and
tight for them. il il IS necessary"
= Before he got down TO the Constitution.
Ar Taft referred 20 the political com
plexion Of the delegation He said: Now.
you have said you are Democrats. Wei.
I suppose you are. most Of you. but I
haven't anything against you on that
ground
MuSt Have Parties.
We must have parties in this country.
Il IS not possible TO have S00ooOe0 Of peo-
pie, with 100000 voters. and carry on a
government. unless We have parties which
shall form machine. 50 70 speak. for
reducing the varying views Of the 1900
600 electorate, or majority of that cleo
torate, TO a resultant force which shall
effect and carry out the public viii
We have got to subordinate 4 good
many Of our views IN order to make \
common ground which shall be manifest
in the carrying on Of the government.
We wish TO avoid as far as we can that
division into little groups which is seen
IN many Of the foreign countries where
they attempt constitutional government.
and which results in a lack of consistent
policy. because there is no majority re-
sponsible TO carry on the government. We
have avoided this thus far in this coun-
Try. and hope that We nav.
All that We can hope for. all that we
ought 10 ask Is that the people in all
sections shall make Up their minds in
an independent way, and then vote for
the principles that they favor. Thar re-
suit is all that any patriotic citizen can
ask
Count on People.
Whether It brings about The sucoass ~
one party OF another, We can generally
count on the intelligence. the patriotism.
and the foresight Of the majority of
American people. whichever party tag
they bear. as a party to carry on |
good government. a government in which
We shall uphold the institutions left to us
by our fathers. maintaining freedom and
liberty, and the institutions Of private
property and those other guarantees con-
tanned in our Constitution
J. l. Sharard, mayor Of Anderson
spoke for the delegation The delegation
invited Nr. Taft to include Anderson in
the itinerary Of his proposed Southern
trip.
Half dozen veterans or the Confederate
army from McDufHe County also called
at the Taft cottage to-day. They wanted /
a law passed by Congress that would
return 10 the State the money collected
under the old cotton tax" Mr.. Taft
admitted that he wasn't familiar with
this old cotton tax and he. suggested I
that they put their recommendations in /
writing One OF the veterans proudly
conhded 10 Mr. Taft that he is the father /
OF nineteen children. He has married /
four times When the President-elert I
asked the old man how many grand and I
great grandchildren he had, he threw I'D 4
bis hands IN confusion.
Good land, san he said. 7 give it