Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-03-10
Address 10 Chicago Democratic Or.
Qanizaton is Half Explanatory
and Half Apologize.
DECLARES NO POLITICS N MOVE
Says Taft Wanted Representative
Southerner-Couidn Afford to
Who Supported Him in Campaign
Purpose Broad and Patriotic.

CHICAGO. ILL.,. March 81 NJ.
Dickinson. Secretary of War. address,
ed The Iroquoi.s ClIb. 4 Democratic
tonight in part as fol
lows:
When accepted the compliment
OF a farewell dinner from my friends
OF he lrOquois Club understood
that it had no political significance.
was in no sense an Endorsement of
my going into the cabinet OF Pr'si-
den, Taft and tina, il was merely an
expression of personal GOOD Will. II
| mad anticipated that il would Of
fend any member of the club | would
have taken my leave Of my we'll
wisheIs IN an informal way.
For nearly fort years. and much
of that time with great activity. !
have Len in the ranks of the Demo
cratic party. nave never sought OF
il the reward of Office. nor any other
benefits direct or indirect. Like many
Southern men. ! have at times disap-
proved OF its policies: Int on account
of local conditions did not actively
oppose it. 1t is an abnormal condition
when almost all those who represent
the property and best citizenship OF
ten contiguous States act together
politically.
One Paramount Question.
1T is certain that all Of them do
not think alike on all such questions.
and that differences of opinion would
lead to opposite party afillation IN
the Southern States. as in the other
States but for constant and pow
erful compacting force. 1t is mis-
fortune to the South, a misfortune TO
the whole cOnntr: that ineXorable
conditions were such that differences
on all other questions have been sib'
Ordinated to one question.
When such action of those best
qualified to represent their people ex-
tended throughout so long a period
and so constantly. it would be ke IN
dieting a nation to affirm that 1t was
either unwise or unDatrio'ic. Whether
or not these conditions will operate
in the future. as they have in the past
| do not claim the wisdom TO predict.
All lovers OF our country should unit
in the hope that this may not he true
not so mich on account OF the 70
lirical result as on account OF con-
ditionS themselves which are con-
slant menace to the South. and in re-
fex action operate with unhappy ef-
fects upon the entire country.
Southern States in Line.
On account of the circumstances
to which 7 nave referred. all Of the
Southern states at the last eiect'o1
cast their electoral votes aga nst
hA, h II hn
done with respect to other Republican
Presidential candidates. Therefore.
politically. there was no bond be-
tween him and the Southern States
He is now. after the battle has heen
fought. entering npOn the duties OF his
office as Pres den: Of the entire conn-
try.
Moved by no Obligation to the
SoIth ty strong friendship and sym
pathy for the Southern people. ard
stilI more l~ patrio'ic love for the
entire country. whose welfare il neces-
sarily bound up with that OF the
South he determined to invite INTO
his cabinet Southern man. thereby
giving assurance to the Southern peo-
ple that although their solid clec'ori al
vote was against him. he wanted them
10 feel that they were in close rela-
tons with his administrations. and
would be in no sense alien To il.
couidnv Use Republican.
Jf h. had selected for this purpose
Southern Republican. however we'll
qualified to discharge the dIties OF
the OfFice. il would not have fulfilled
the purpose he had in mind. u he
had selected DPmScrai who had 20
ed for him there would have been
room for caTping criticism to saw
however. unjus;ly. that the appoint
ment had been rendered and accept ID
as a reward for such support and he-
sides, smh an appointment mieh'
have lacked that Iigamen; with
the Southern people which ~oald exiS;
between them and one who had no
tween them end one who had no;
lcft the nary. am confident that
the great purpose Of the President
was to establish the relationship z
have indicated
Fountain Of inspiration.
IT would belittle the broad patriot
ism which inspired him 10 assume
'ha: his n1rpoSc was to achieve poiit.
icaI results. Having known me for a
long time and intimately. and having
conferred with southern mcn whose
,,ip;ons he raiucd he came TO the