Goldsboro weekly argus., 1909-03-11


yesterday, before Chief Justice Fuller,
of the Supreme Court, which was ad-
ministered In the Senate chamber, in
stead of on the east balcony, on &C
count of the severely inclement
weather. and which was the first time
in IS years that a President had taken
the oath other than in the open, Presi-
dent Taft began his inaugural address
in these words:
My Fellow Citizens:
Any one who takes the oath I have
just taken must feel a heavy weight
of responsibility. If not, he has no
conception Of the powers and duties
of the offica upon which he is about
to enter, or he is lacking in a proper
sense Of the obligation which the oath
imposes.
The Office of an inaugural address
is to give a summary outline Of the
main policies Of the next administra-
ton, so far as they can be anticipa-
ted. 1 have had the honor to be one Of
the advisers Of my distinguished pre-
decessor, and as such, to hold up his
hands in the reforms he has initiated.
/ should be untrue to myself, to my
promises and to the declarations Of
the party platform upon which l was
elected to office, if 1 did not make the
maintenance and enforcement of those
reforms a most important feature of
my administration. They were direct
ed to the suppression of the lawless-
ness and abuse of power of the great
combinations Of capital invested in
railroads and in industrial enterprises
carrying on Interstate commerce. The
steps which my predecessor took and
the legislation passed on his recon-
mendation have accomplished much,
have caused a general halt in the vi
cious policies which created popular
alarm, and have brought about in the
business affected a much higher re-
gard for existing law.
To rende' the reforms lasting, how
ever, anu 20 secure at the same time
freedom from alarm on the part Of
those pursuing proper and progressive
business methods, further legislative
aud executive action are needed. Re-
lief Of the railroads from certain re-
strictions of the antitrust law have
been urged by my predecessor and
will be urged by me. On the other
hand, the administration is pledged to
legislation locking to proper Fed
eral supervision and restriction to
prevent excessive issues Of bonds and
stocks by companies owning and op-
Grating interstate commerce railroads.
Then, too. a reorganization of the
Department Of Justice, of the Bureau
of Corporations in the Department OF
Commerce and Labor, and of the In
terstate Commerce Commission, look
ing to effective cooperation of these
aeoncles. : noeded to secure more
rapid aud r%rtaln enforcement Of the
laws ai.>>l,1g interstate railroads and
industrial combinations.
I hop7 to be able to submit, at the
first r. aula: session Of the incoming
CongIi-ssS=, II December next, definite
suggestions in respect to the needed
amendment to the antitrust and the
interstate commerce law, and the
changes required in the executive de-
pa1.t1s1-n.s concerned in their enforce
ment.
IL Is believed that with the changes
to be = commended American bust
ness ca2 De assured of that measure
of STAB ilty and certainty in respec
to those things that may be done an
those that az prohibited, which is es
sential to the life and growth of al
business. Such a plan must includ
the right of the people to avail them
selves Of these methods of combinin
capital and effort deemed necessar
to reach tbs highest degree of eco
nontc ceasCIs and those formed wit
TIE intent Il creating monopolies an
artifeialiy ontFolling prices.
The woTA CT formulating into prat
teal shape such changes is creativ
work Of tha highest order, and RI
quires ali tl,e deliberation possible
the interval l believe that the amen(
ments to be proposed are just as net
essary n the protection of legitima1
business as in the clinching of the r
forms which properly bear the nan
of my predecessor.
Coming on down to that portion
his inaugural in which he referred
the South and his purposes in refe
ence to us as section and people.
said:
I look forward with hope to increa
ing the alre lady good feeling betwet
the South and the other sections
the country. My chief purpose is n
to effect change n the electoral vo
of the Southern st0tns. That is a SO