Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-01
PRESIDENT TAFT
ISSUES WARNING
TO REPUBLICANS
LEADERS TOLD THEY MUST
RESPECT PEOPLE
EXECUTIVE SOUNDS cAVEAT IN
SPEECH AT YALE
Perpetrates Joke at Expense of
Democratic Cabinet Member and
Then Prescrlbes the Duty
of Congressman
tBy Associated Press.1

AI EW HAVEN, Conn.,, June oO-
| ~ President Taft paused in the
~ course of an after-dinner speech
to 1900 graduates of Yale, gathered at
the annual alumni dinner today, to
issue a serious note of warning to
congress and to the leaders of the
Republican party.
Mr.. Taft spoke extemporaneously.
party failed to live up to it's promises
and to the expectations of the people,
it would be relegated to the position
of a minority soon.
The president spoke extemporaneous
and his utterances as to the Republican
duty seemed the result of a sudden
impulse rather than of studied prepara-
ton. He made no effort to explain
his warning. The Yale men caught
his meaning and the significance of
the remarks coming while the tariff de-
bate is in progress and they stood and
cheered for several minutes.
Mr.. Taft had been speaking of Sec
retary of War Dickinson, a Democrat
upon whom Yale today conferred an
humor, he taunted the Democracy as
to it's present condition, and this led
him into the declarations as to his own
party.
Went South of Line
"You went south of the Mason and
Dixon line" he said, ito get the secre-
tary of war to give a degree to; 1t is
well that you did, because he is going
to build the Panama canal, and other
universities will follow where you got
in early.
"One Of the difficulties that has con-
fronted Brother Dickinson out in Chi
cago, where he has a temporary resi-
dence. was a discussion as to what
constituted an orthodox Democrat,
and whether he really ought to be
counted as a Democrat If he allowed
himself to go into a Republican
cabinet.
"Wen, when YOU come to discuss
what is Democrat these days, you are
presented with very much the same
difficulty that I have before me now
in giving certain rules for the con-
struction of the pure-food law as to
what whisky it.
"'rhey say there is straight whisky,
and then there is 'rectihed' whisky, and
then there is Imitation whisky.
"Now. I speak with a good deal of
hesitancy in saying whether my friend
Dickinson is a straight Democrat or a
'rectified Democrat. l would not dare
TO say in his presence that he was an
imitation Democrat.
Democratic Differences
In suggesting differences among
Democrats 1 am far from ignoring diff
ficulties on our side. I remember in
1904 that Charles Francis Adams gave
what l may call a perfectly good
Adams reason for the election of the
Democratic candidate over the Repub-
lican candidate.
HE said that one of the essentials
of a successful free government was an
able, patriotic and efficient opposition.
and that as the Democratic party had
utterly failed in reaching that Ideal he
was in favor of putting the Republican
party in that place
Now I venture to say that while that
may not be the reason which shall
move the American people. ii is true
that if the Republican party does nor
live up to it's promises and what the
people expect of it, it will be relegated
to position like that of his majesty's
opposition. And therefore I may say
by way of caveat that we have troubles
of our own"
The president attended a meeting of
the Yale corporation, spoke at the mid
day dinner of the alumni presided over
meeting held for arranging a memo
rial for Yale men who died on both
sides in the Civil War; stood for nearly
two hours with President Hadley at
the commencement reception, and
rushed tonight from a meeting of
skull and Bones to his private car to
leave for Washington.
The commencement was notable.
President Hadley announced the re-
ceipt during the year of gifts amount
ing to $1,000,000.