The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-04
NEITHER ULTRA RADICAL
 NOR ULTRA CONSERVATIVE

NOR ULTRA CONSERVATIVE main purpose of an inaugural address was to indicate the policies of an in coming Administration. We assume therefore that his inaugural address, the full text of which appears else where in this issue, foreshadows his policies.
 He declares that he will make the s.naintenance and enforcement of those (Roosevelt's) reforms most inn portant feature of my Administration such reforms including the "suppres- sion of the lawlessiess and abuse of power by the great railroads and in terstate Industrial enterprises''-that t is, the trusts. He will, however, urge the ssrelief of the railroads from cer- tain restrictions of the antitrust law" but is pledged to proper federal SUI pervision and restriction to prevent the excessive issue of bonds and stockss
 MT. Taft recognizes the right of .combining capital and effort" to reach "tthe highest possible degree of economic efficiency" but is opposed to combinations organized with the in tent of creating monopolies and arti- Hcially controlling prices."
 On the tariff question, he practical 1y reiterates the National Republican platform declaration as to basing the duties upon differences in cost of pro- duction, and also as to maximum and minimum rates. This will, in his opin- ion, reduce the duties in certain schedules and advance flew, if any" The revision must ''be drawn in good faith" and completed speedily. There should be an increased revenue, if not by the tariff, then by "new kinds of taxation," and he recommends "a graduated inheritance tax as correct in principle"
 He favors conservation of national resources. including reforestation and Improvement of waterways.
 In his opinion, this country should have an army able ''to resist all pos sible invasion and to furnish, if nec- essary, ca respectable expeditionary force" He also favors, but even more emphatically, Ia strong navy" which is in effect reiteration of one of the Roosevelt policies. We should be en- 4bled to meet all possible Oriental uuestiors. and in his opinion this can be accomplished without the slightest danger to the republic or the cause of free institutions"
 He asserts that we should prevent or punish .soutbursts of race feeling against foreigners, and to that end should invest the Federal Government with ''the means of enforcing the treaty rights of aliens.' instead of leaving this matter to the states and cities. This is obviously intended as a remedy for, or a preventive of, such <.outbursts of race feeling" as the An Ii-Japanese agitation on the Pacific coast, the Anti-Greek riot in Nebras- Kan city. etc.
 In the matter of currency reform President Taft says the sole purpose should not be "a large return on bank ing capital or expansion without re- gard to Immediate redemption or ul- innate security
 He favors the institution of postal savings banks as a substitute for gov ernment guaranty of deposits, and de- clares that it is not excessive pater- nalism-'''
 Free trade with the Philippines. though with limitations in sugar and tobacco, is recommended, are also mail subsidies between North and South America.
 The Panama Canal, with the lock system instead of the sea level type, will be pushed to as early completion as possible.
 The so-called Southern question re- ceives extended attention in the ad- dress. He says it is mot the dispo- sition nor within the province of the Federal Government to interfere with the regulation by Southern States of their domestic affairs" He favors "any recognition of their Ghe negroes) distinguished men" and "any appoint ment to office from their number" but holds that such recognition of the col ored race might be injudicious in local ities where the race feeling is deep.
 On the labor question, he recites acts under the Roosevelt Administration, and declares in opposition to repeal of the injunction power and to second ary boycots.''
 As will be noted, the Taft Adminis- tration will adhere to the Roosevelt policies, with slight if any qualifca- tions, though it may be said that, as the inaugural contains none of the fierce invectives of the Roosevelt ad- dresses and messages save perhaps the phrases 'slawlessness and abuse and vicious practices the Taft "mainten- ance and enforcement of the Roose- welt policies will be devoid of fuss and feathers and also of pyrotechnics. The new President uses moderate though firm language but the inaugu- raI address win convey only cold com fort to the big roads and the great trusts
 The inaugural address indicates that