Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-05-05
HURLS HOT SHOT AT
"CAN'T OF DEMAG0GUE"
While Guest of Business Mems
League, Taft is Praised for His Sc
lection of Judges for the Supreme
Bench and in His Address He
Wades Into Matter With Gloves off.


dent Taft's five-day trip to the middle
west ended today and he left late to-
night for Washington, where he is
scheduled to arrive Friday morning. IL
remained for St Louis TO give Mr..
Taft the heartiest demonstration OF his
present journey. The apparent warmth
of the reception seemed to affect
the President and when. at the lunch
con of the Business Mems League
late in the afternoon, President Walk
er Hill praised him amid deafening
applause for his appointments OF
Burton and Hughes to the Supreme
Court bench, Mr.. Taft launched into
a vigorous speech, in which he paid
his respects to Bryan for his reported
criticism of Governor Hughes, and de-
cried the cant of the demagoeue'
and the disposition of public journ-
ais" to make unjust charges against
men in public life.
Most Sacred Duty.
The President declared that he held
the appointment of men to the Su-
preme Court bench to be the most
sacred OF his duties. His speech
aroused the business men to high
pitch of enthusiasm. Mr.. Taft had
intended to say only word or two,
but the cheers of his hearers seem
ed to inspire him to go on.
Hence it is that TO me, a lawyer
continued Mr.. Taft, the Supreme
Court of the United States is the
most sacred thing that We have in
this government and that the appoint
ment of men to that bench is the
highest and most sacred function
that the executive has to perform.
What All Want.
Now | do not like to be invidious
in my remarks, or to quote what may
have been a misquoiation, but | did
hear or see a criticism of one ap-
pointment on the ground, as | under
stood it. that the appointee was not
an implacable foe of wealth and cor
poraiions. | think, perhaps, that
criticism has been misunderstood
and that the utterer of it did not in
tend to give il the meaning that. thus
stated, it seems to have. | believe
that all. Democrats and Republicans.
and insurgents who are patriotic citi-
zens and We all are that, are IN IA
vor of having upon that bench men
who are foes of nothing but what Is
wrong and are in favor of equal JUS
tice to everyone, whether that be
an organization of men doing bush
ness under the law and using the in
strumentality OF corporation to pro-
moke the industries in the country
OF the humblest citizen struggling
with his hand to earn a LIVELIHOOD
for his family.
No Justice in Charge.
Il do not mean to say that men. by
their habits Of life, may not acquire
a bent OF a prejudice in one direc-
ton. or another. and that it isn't wise
to select for the highest tribunal men
who have not such a bent and who
have not in their makeup the danger
of prejudice 10 one interest or against
another. But | do mean TO say That
there is in the public journals. and IN
Whist may call the cant Of the dema
goeue. a disposition to charge that
Kind Of a bent in favor Of corporate
wealth and corporate greed and cor
porte monopoly. when there is no
justice for the charge at all.
This assumption OF peculiar hon
esty manifested by class declaration
and the stirring up OF class spirit l.
something that ought 10 be depre-
Gated in or republic OF else It will
lead to great danger. We ought TO
take Mp the discussion OF public
quest.ons and discuss their effect
with judicial calmness and not have
our minds diverted by chsrges Of pre-
judicc and corrupt motives: say
charges utterly unsupported by evil
dcnce or calm consideration.
And 50. my friends, ] have taken
ID more than ny allotted two min
utes. (Cries Of GO on Now II 7
am appealing for l. justice and a
square deal. not especially for my
self. for indeed am IN a position
where can get along better than
some Of the rest without n: but am
appealing for justice IN dealing with
al classes.
Delays IN Courts.
I said an glasses. Of course prsc-