Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-02
Declares That All Republicans Are
ProgreSsiveS in the Only
Speech of Campaign
THRUSTS AT RADICALISM
Asserts All Factions Will Aid Him
in Program if the G. 0.P.
Carries Election
Associated Press1


NEW YORK, Oct. 1.-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 today.
The presidents speech was marked
by an unusually conciliatory tone to-
ward 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 pro-
gram which the president took occa-
sion to outline in some detail.
The record of the last eighteen
months, he declared, was an earnest
desire of the party to fulfill its plat
form promises and obligations, and he
promised that If the Republican ma
jority in congress should be continued
at the coming elections the work thus
far left undone would be carried
through to completion.
Upon the whole Republican party the
president bestowed the title Of pro
gressive." Then he undertook to define
Just what is meant by progressive" "
"A party of true progress is not O
party of radicalism," he declared,
amid cheers.
"It is not a party of ultra-conserva-
tism,'' 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 definite
steps to eradicate them
TEXT OF TAFT's SPEECH
Following is the text of the presi-
dents speech:
Gentlemen of the National League
of Republican Clubs: 1 am here
because I believe this league is
most important aid in the upbuild-
ing and defense of Republican
principles. AS president, 1 prefer
to avoid partisan controversy, but
there are occasions, and 1t seems
to me the present is one, when 1t
is not improper for me to discuss
the issues soon to be considered and
decided by the electorate.
In the pursuit of promises made
in its national platform the Re-
publican party In the short period
of eighteen months presented to the
public as accomplished facts the
following most important legisla-
ton and executive action:
The powers of the Interstate com
merce commission were enlarged.
The commission was empowered to
suspend any proposed increase in
rates until the shippers shall have
q chance to be heard as TO Its
reasonableness. Interstate telegraph
and telephone companies were
brought within the regulation OF
the commission.
new court of commerce was
provided In order that shippers and
railways might secure prompt de-
cisions. Railway employees were
protected by new safety appliance
law. The employers liability act
was perfected. An inquiry into the
issuance of railway stocks and
bonds was inaugurated.
NEW COURT OF CUSTOMS
An inquiry into workingmen's
compensation for injuries received
was instituted. A new custom
court was established. A postal
savings bank system was author
lied. A corporation tax was
adopted, which Is an important
source of revenue and a new and
effective method of assisting the
government in supervising corpora
tions.
Two new battleships were added
TO the navy. A bureau of mines
was established. Seventy million
acres of the public domain were
legally withdrawn from entry
Twenty million dollars In bonds
were authorized to complete re-
clamation projects after board of
army engineers now at work should
complete it's investigation of exist
ing projects. Enlarged appropria-
tions were made. to survey public
lands. A definite commitment was
made against the "piece-meal" or
pork barrel system of river and
harbor improvement. New Mexico
and Arizona were advanced toward
statehood. A peace commission was
authorized. An investigation into
business methods of conducting the
government was begun. The appro-
priations for the current year were
cut SIG, ,000,0 900 below the appropria-
tions of the year before.
The tariff was revised without
the usual disturbance OF business.
Because of the reduction of tariff
rates, its maximum and minimum
provisions, the free trade 1t secures
for the Philippines, its fine revenue
producing qualities, tho Payne law
is a cTeditable bill
The new tariff commission, for
the work OF which $250,0O0 was ap-
propriated, has already completed