Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-02-22
WASHINGTON ADDRESS
DELIVERED BY Taft
President-Elect Speaks at Exer-
cises at University of
Pennsylvania
TALKS OF LEARNED PROFESSION
Writers Have Great Influence, Minis
ters Are Strongest Force, sut Law
yers Appear to Make Best Politicians
is concensus of Taft's Opinion -
Other Washington Day observanoes.

Other Washington Day observances.
Philadelphia, Pa, Feb. 22.-Hon.
William III. Taft, president elect of the
United States, today was the principal
speaker at the exercises in the Uni
versity OF Pennsylvania conlmemora-
tive Of the birth of Washington.
The president elect was the central
figure in the celebration by the Uni
8versity Of Pennsylvania, Of The 177th
anniversary OF the birth Of George
washington. The exercises took place
In the old academy Of music. irto which
1900 persons were crowded. Taft was
cordially received, the great audience
rising az he appeared on the Stage. and
cheering him until long after he had
taken his seat. Following the ceremony
OF comforting the degrees, Taft pre-
scented to G, G. Harrison, provost Of the
university, a cane used by benjamin
Franklin. The walking stick had been
given Franklin by General Lafayette.
Mr., Taft chose for the subject Of
his address the Present Relations Of
the Learned Professions to Political
Government" He discussed ut con-
siderable length the influence which the
learned prefessiohs. in this day, have
upon national and municipal govern
ment. He outlined luminously the part
each Of the important professions plays
An government by the people and
compared their influence, one with an
other. IN brief part, he said:
1T Ii the duty of every citizen to
give as much attention as he can to
the public veal and to take as much
Interest as he can in political mat
.t rs. Americans generally have recog-
mixed these daties, and we find active
lin political life. men representing all
professions, all branches of business
and all trades. ] propose this morn
ing to invite your attention to the
present relation of each Of the learned
professions to politics and govern
sment.
Ministry Best Profession.
'sThe first PROFESSION is that of the
ministry. Time was when the minister
of the community was the highest au-
thorfty as to what the law should be
and how it ought to be enforced; but
the spread of education and indepen-
dent thinking, the wide diffusio ion OF
knowledge by the press, the disappear
ance of the simple village lifes have
contributed radically to change the
position and influence of the ministry
IN the community. t
"During the administration Df MI:
Roosevelt, and under the influence OF
certain revelations Of business I'M
morality, the conscience of the whole
country was shocked and then nerved
to the peint of demanding that a bet
ter order OF affairs be introduced: In
this movement, the ministers Of the
yarfeus churches have recognized the
call upen them to assist, and they
have been heard in accents naucf more
enective than ever before IN half a
century The greatest agency toiay IN
skeep1ng us advised Of the centllt1ens
among oriental races is the establish
11,esst of foreign missions. The leaders
of these missionary branches ef the
churches are becoming some Of our
most learned statesmen In respect OF
10uT DIG 0p6TS OTl01ltd1 Il sk'SAASaSS.
Teachers and Politics.
s Judge Taft, discussing teachers. SAID
that atheir relation to politics and
government is Of the utmost mper-
fanee. the indirect" He pointed cut
that the professional teacher may ex-
ercise great Indirect political influence
nv the enceura cement that he ought
to give to the young man Of college
20 and life in the study and PURSUIT
OF politics.
Writers Have Great Influence.
III rro the writer. in whatever capacitv
ne may labor, Judge Taft attr buleo
great influence either for good 'H lef
had. Referring to the newspaper press
ha SAID; /; TITS power Of public dns'tfus-
tion is very greatj but when II pahoe.s
to the yulgarest taste for sensat' enssa-
s.n and becomes entirely irrespei1slble
a q. influence for good, its perncious
+.ndancy is obviated only by the power
oS the people to protec. ene :n. aa
against ityby a safe discrlm1natioii .a a.d
= healthy skepticisn. The ciose ,,s: rs.a-
tton between journalism ana poa.ics .
no one who has been IN the sis he9'.
degree familiar with the course u
popular government, edh +hr,,
1,n1nst color sometimes given III, =
s4a,1ndfced editors and correspondents
has an Injurious effect, but fortui.as',ly y
s1,ch Injustice is generally relhe'iieu.
Judge Taft paid high tribute ~ .la
nrofession of medicine, because u, na.' @
contributed to the preservation =, ...o
snealth of all the people. He pointer oo.
that the profession had peeh esaiee'
by BY its great discoveries and by ITS as as
s;stance in the expansion of our gov
arnment in the tropics and in the con-
sfruction of the Panama canal,
After mentioning the great goou' ~
actual results, accomplished oy many
technical professions. Judge lai. eoh IN
.'sidered In extent the profession " ~
law, which. he said. rs IN a Miae 41s sd .a;d
,.,sa a' rrofession of government. He said
A.. ,.vvers often were selected 70
9oeAAt- ,,o,,o~nnental work, because