The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1910-10-07
Taft On the Issues.

New York, Oct. 3.-PreSident Taft
delivered what will probably be his
only public address of the present
campaign at the banquet of the ma
tional republican league at the Hotel
Astor. The presidents speech was
marked by an unusually conciliatory
tone toward the insurgent wing of the
party. He gave "all factions of the
party" due credit for their share in
helping to put through congress the
legislative program which the presi-
dent took occasion to outline in some
detail.
The record of the past eighteen
months, he declared, was an earnest
of the desire of the party to fulfill it's
platform promises an6 obligations, and
he promised that if the republican
majority in congress should be con-
tinued at the coming elections, the
work thus far left undone would be
carried through to completion.
Upon the whole republican party
progressive"
Defines the Progressive.
Then he undertook to define just
what is meant by progressive"
"A party of true progress is not a
party of radicalism," he declared,
amid cheers. 1T is not party of
tra-conservatism," he added, and
again was cheered.
"A progressive republican" the
president went on, "is one who recog-
nizes existing and concrete evils and
who is in favor of practical and def
mite steps to eradicate them"
Twice President Taft mentioned
Colonel Roosevelt by name in connec-
ton with the campaign against cor
porate abuses and third time by in
ference, when he referred 10 the New
York situation.
Mr.. Taft did not take an altogether
sanguine view of the benefits of the
direct primary, but he hoped that the
idea could be turned to a useful and
permanent betterment of politics.
But however effective these sug-
gested changes may prove at first"
he added, II venture to say that no
great permanent good can come from
them, unless they are accompanied by
change in the individual voter and
his awakening to the necessity for
constant watchfulness and effort on
his part to prevent the old evils from
appearing in a new guise."
Mo Politics in Commission
President Taft announced that he
had directed the tariff commission to
make no report of the work it has
accomplished up to this time, until
after the election. He took this step,
! he declared, in order to lift the com
mission out of politics entirely. He
referred to his suggested future re-
vision of the tariff schedule by SEIZED
ue and declared that the Payne tariff
law is becoming generally to be recog-
niZed as a most creditable bill. The
president declared for a sweeping eX-
tension of the civil service.
In outlining the future plans of his
administration the president placed
stress upon the proposed federal in
corporation law. He referred to the
Standard Oil and tobacco trust cases
pending in the United States supreme
court and declared that he did not
share the fears being somewhat freely
expressed that a decision adverse to
the corporations would greatly disturb
! financial centers, halt general business
and bring on financial disaster
The president ridiculed the asser.
ton of the democrats that $300000,00
would be saved in national expendi-
lures each year If that party were
placed in power, He asked for a more
definite statement of where the saving
was to be effected and demanded to
know If it is proposed by the demo
Gratis to cut off the pension list or do
away with the army and the navy.