The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-03-08

Iinordlnate power OF the great combi
nations of wealth is curbej, and espe-
cially to see that the railroads and
other public utility corporations shall
not be allowed TO water their stock
nor charge inordinate rates upon the
strength of inflated securities.
''In regard to the revision Of tariff,
he takes a more moderate position
than has been usual with his republic
can predecessors in office.
Attention is called to the fact
that. owing to the decrease of oui
imports and the falling OF of other
Isources of revenue, together with the
Increase in the expenses of the gov
ernment, we will have a deficit OF
about $10O,O00,O0 for the current
year, which must be made up not
only by increasing the receipts from
the tariff, but by other means of tax
alton. Among the other sources Of
taxation mentioned, he suggests that
there should be a graduated inherit
ance tax. That part OF the message
pertaining to the tariff calls atten>
|tion, of course, to incidental protec-
ton necessary to meet the difference
between the cost OF production in this
country and abroad.
1.-THE Roosevelt policies In regard
to the army and navy are reiterated
in almost exactly the same words
used in the messages OF the outgoing
president.
"Of special interest to Memphis
and the Memphis district is his advo-
cacy OF the deep waterways project.
"The postal savings bank is recon-
mended and more elastic form Of
currency is suggested.
Great stress is laid upon the
necessity OF encouraging and build
ing up our foreign commerce.
But that feature OF the message
which is of greatest Interest TO ths
people is the part devoted
to the negro question ami to his poll
cies in regard to the south generally.
On these questions Mr.. Taft takes the
most advanced grounds of concilia-
ton ever yet occupied by a Republic
can president
"He starts out with the open decla-
ration that he is anxious to cultivate
cordial relations with the southern
people. not so much because of his
desire to change the electoral vote Of
this section OF the country. as be-
cause he desires to wipe out all fee.-
ing of sectional prejudice and to per-
NIT the southern white men to choose
their political affiliations on a broad
plane Of principle rather than be-
cause of the race question alone.
"He argues that the south is no
longer in danger of negro supremacy,
because the validity of the state con-
stitutions prescribing educational
tests has been upheld by the federal
courts. The Implication necessarily
follows that in his opinion this test
eliminates the bulk of the negro
vote; that it will cut no further fig
ure in the politics Of the country.
while he declares that, person.
ally, he has no race prejudice. yet he
ltNOkulLtS It's tAlcAtnCt dHOuk tue
southern white people. and practi-
cally pledges himself not to offend
this feeling by appointing negroes to
Office. His reason for this position
is, that such appointments do the
negro more harm than good. The
negro is told that he must work out
his own salvation by industry ana
thrift, and not depend on the north
ern people to help him to social
equality.
These are wise words which will
do the south Unreasonable good and
popularize Mr.. Taft beyond calcula-
tion in this section. Such a policy.
pursued. will do more u
make votes for the Republicans In
the south than all the negro ballots
that have ever been secured by force
bill methods. Indeed, If President
Taft shall live up to the sentiments
expressed in his inaugural address,
he will bring about such an era Of
good feeling in politics as has not
existed since the days Of James Mon-
roe"