The Detroit times., 1910-06-03
TAFT LAsHEs HIS CRITICS
IN SPEECH AT ADA, OHIO
tcontinuss from page opsJ

] say that successful business, whether
governmental or private. whether
small or large, depends chiefly on the
selection OF the men by whom this
business Is 10 be done and that the
promotion which successful men
secure is not that which comes by
favor but by the logic OF the circum-
stances and for the benefit OF the en-
ployer There is today as much room
for At men as there ever was in busi-
ness.
"Of the profession Of Journalism
there Is much TO say. The increased In
telligence and discrimination OF the
people has In one way largely modi-
fed the power of the press.
THE newspapers are taken more
for the news they contain than for
advice as to the lessons which should
be drawn.
1.-The reputation OF paper for &C
curacy and veracity is generally rs
well as the reputation Of a member
OF a community. There are some news
papers that seek to affect their pur-
poses and control opinion by an at
tempted Misrepresentation or suppress
sion OF the facts in respect 10 matters
attracting public attention. But In the
end they do not prevail.
Some Attacks Are Vicious
Certain journalism is profession
in which men OF discriminating intel
ligence. OF high courage, OF accurate
judgment, OF love OF truth and real
patriotism, can find sphere or use
fulness unexcelled In any other and
such men are needed. For if'the stand
ards set by some of the most success
full OF the newspapers In lack OF truth.
in coarseness and unfairness OF criti-
cism, shall not improve In the next
generation. 1t will vindicate the pessi.
mists of today. | refer to a class or
newspapers and OF magazines that are
properly criticised as 'muckrakers.
that rely for their circulation on the
vicious and unfounded attacks upon
the honesty OF upright character and
patriotic motives OF men in public life
and upon those conspicuous and prom
iuent in society. This undertaking is
an outgrowth and probably the un-
avoidable aftermath OF a laudable and
necessary attack upon abuses which
had shown themselves in a form or
corporate greed and control OF poll
tics.
1T was necessary to have a house
cleaning in this regard and Mr.. Roose-
welt led the movement and much has
been accomplished in clarifying bust
ness methods and political methods.
In the doing of this he was himself the
foremost to denouncs those who took
advantage of the general condition or
popular suspicion and filed their
purses by unfounded attacks upon
men In public Office struggling con-
scientiously to do their duty, But this
undertaking episode will pass. In
deed, I hope II Is passing, and for
the best OF reason. because the people
are beginning to see what 1t really is,
are refusing to be Influenced by IL, and
thus are not making the contributions
to the pockets OF the muckrakers
which is their only motive for continu.
ing their business
Corporations Must Quit Politics.
The result of the last six or eight
years has been to drive corporations
out of politics, and II has been greatly
for the benefit of the public veal. The
most discouraging problem before us
is that OF municipal government. II
is said that systems have been grouped
in some cities which make II possible
TO administer the municipal affairs
with greater honesty and effectiveness