Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-06
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF FLORIDA
TALKS ON NATIONAL ISSUES
DECLARES PROTECTIVE TARIFF
Is TAX ON KNOWLEDGE
Compares Race Controversy In South
with Conditions Existing In Pa
cIfIc Coast States Because
of Asiatics
tBy Associated Press,

L one of the speakers at the Fourth
of July celebration of Tammany Hall
today.
After paying a high tribute to the
organization, its accomplishments and
services, Governor Gilchrist turned to
national issues, declaring that great
as the possibilities are for the future
growth and development of this coun-
try, yet it's greatness would be but as a
'whited sepucher-beautiful indeed out
ward, but within full of dead mems
bones,' if the policy of the present rul-
ing power in this nation is to con-
tinue."
Governor Gilchrist referred to the
tariff question, and pointed out what he
declared to be fallacies and abusurdities
of the Republican platform promises
and assertions.
When the high protective tariff was
first established it was, he said, for the
benefit of infant industries.
after forty-eight years, and after
they have become able to compete sue
cessfully with the world, do you still
consider them infants?" he asked.
Tax on Spread of Knowledge
"Then they said that the foreigner
paid the tariff. Do you suppose that
the American Newspaper Publishers
association believes that when they un-
animously resolved that it is the sense
of this meeting that the duty on print
ing paper. wood pulp and other ma
terial entering into the manufacture OF
printing paper be Immediately re-
pealed? The Democratic party very
properly styled this Sc ton not tax
on the foreigners, but "a tax on the
spread of knowledge. Thanks to the
party, it is now proposed to revise,
downward, this particular tax
I'm the last campaign did you not
hear of notices being posted in the
shops that they would run at half time
If the Democratic party succeeded
They would throw the financial and in
dustrial interests of the country to the
four winds If a party succeeded to
power which would pass laws so that
evils of privileges and favoritisnls
would not assert themselves in securing
"a to 100 per cent more than they should
receive in the annual distribution Of
the wealth of the country? They prac-
tically threaten the country with ruin
if their privileges were cut down.
Same Old Tactics Used
TT is the same old tactics which
were used when Tammany was success
full in fighting for the election of An
drew Jackson"
Governor Gilchrist condemned CEN
tralization of wealth by "legalized rob-
berry," declaring 'it Is bound to result
in the elimination of the middle classes
and the draining of the wealth of the
masses into the hands of the benefic-
iaries of the legalized combinations"
will the people assert their rights
after twelve or fifteen years more of
Republican rule in the so-called interest
of the laboring man?' he asked will
they be stronger when 5000 will own
one-fifth of the property of the United
States, but 5000 men shall have owned
75 or so per cent of the wealth of the
country?
New England ancestors of the Re-
publican party largely were responsible
for slavery and it's inception. The Re-
publican party in it's platform now
talks about having freed the slaves
They never did any such thing. Their
freedom grew out of war incident TO
secession, the seeds of which they had
themselves sown.
Enfranchsed Negroes
Instead of the Republicans claiming
they freed the slaves their statement
would have been more accurate had
they claimed in open defiance of the
constitution they enfranchised the ne
groes.'
Governor Gilchrist said he was OPP
posed to the agitation of the uncon-
stitutionality of the fifteenth amend
ment to the fedeRal constitution being
started by any southern legislature or
state.
ut can safely be affirmed" said he,
that sooner or later, when the Asiatics
become voters in California and else
where on the Pacific coast, or when the
colored contingents of Springfield, H.,
and of Springfield, Ohio, or of Pitts
burg, or of other cities and states. be-
come too aggressive and that when the
e. O. p. can no longer use the brother
in black, that this question will be
settled right by the supreme court of
the United States"
Taking up President Taft's plea for
greater division of political sentiment
and affiliation in the south, Governor
Gilchrist said:
Discusses Race Question
''Instead of discussing the race ques-
ton as it exists in the south 1 will in
vite your attention to it as it now
exists in neutral territory-the far
western states.
Suppose this element, Chinese and
Japanese, would, as the negroes in the
south, vote practically as unit. Don't
you suppose that the white people of
California would combine so as to pre-
serve their very civilization?
Suppose this condition existed
throughout the entire Pacific coast and
the states bordering thereon--don't you
suppose that Mr.. Taft would have his
hands full. In showing these people that
there shall be more than one political
creed to be subscribed to and sup
hear of the solid Pacific?
'I know of no greater injury which
could befall the southern states than
for the white people to divide and
thereby leave the result to the arbitra-
ment of the negro.
'I believe in the patriotic desire of
MIR. Taft where such desire can be
properly asserted I want 1t to become
an important plank in the next national
Republican platform. Patriotism should
begin at home. / want the Republican
party to patriotically break the solidity