The state herald., 1910-02-18
MUST LIVE UP TO
ITS PLATFORM
DUTY OF REPUBLICAN PARTY DE.
cLARED BY PRESIDENT IN
NEW YORK SPEECH.
Defends TARIFF LAW
POSTAtS SAVINGS BANKS, COM.
MERGE AND ANTI-iNJuNcTIoN
BILLS MUST BE PASSED.

New York-"If the enforcement OF
the law is not consistent with the
present method of carrying on bust
ness, then 1t does not speak well for
the present methods of conducting
business and they must be changed
to conform to the law"
This was President Taft's answer to
Wall street and its cry of panic" 1t
was made to n cheering audience Of
hundreds of prominent Republicans
gathered Saturday night at the annual
Lincoln day dinner of the Republican
club Of this city.
Mr.. Taft adhered to his purpose OF
discussing platform pledges and how
they should be kept. 1t was at the
conclusion Of a detailed argument as
to how the Republican party is re.
deeming its pledges that he came to
discussion OF the antitrust law AMI
Wall street, on which his utterances
had been awaited with the greatest
interest.
The President declared that the ad.
ministration would not foolishly run
amuck in business and destroy values
and confidence just for the pleasure
of doing so.
NO one" he continued. has a mo
tive as strong as the administration in
power to cultivate and strengthen
business confidence and prosperity.
But there was no promise on the part
OF the Republican party to change the
antitrust law, except to strengthen II.
OF course the government at Wash
ington can be counted on to enforce
the law in the way best calculated to
prevent a destruction of public cont.
dence in business. but that it must
enforce the law goes without saying"
President Taft did not hesitate to
discuss the attacks that have been
made upon the administration and the
party, or danger TO future success in
the insurgent movement and other
dissensions.
Republicans who feared defeat ut
the polls In November. he declared.
however, should take courage from
the demoralized condition OF theif op-
ponents. the Democrats.
1T was Grant," said the President.
who banished his own fear in battle
by thinking how much more afrail
the enemy was
Mr.. Taft again came to the defense
Of the Payne-Aldrich tariff bill.
He did not hesitate. he said. to re-
peat that 1t substantially complied
with the party pledge for tariff regu.
lation and that through this bill. the
party had "set itself strongly In tho
right direction toward lower tariffs.
Reviewing the party platform. the
President spoke OF postal savings
banks. amendment to the Interstate
commerce law. the anti.injunction
plank. statehood for Arizona and New
Mexico, and the conservation of nat
ural resources. bills to carry all o..
which promises were pending In Con-
gress and he believed would be
passed.
THE birthday Of the man whose
memory we celebrate tonight" hs
said. lis an appropriate occasion for
renewing our expressions OF respect
and affection for the Republican party
and our pledges to keep the part
which II plays In the history Of this
country as high and as useful as It
was during the administration OF Abra.
ham Lincoln" The trials which he hai
to undergo Ms President. the political
storms which the party had to weather
during the Civil War. the divisions In
tho party itself between the radical
anti.slavcry element and those who
were most conservative In observing
tho constitutional limitations. are
most interesting reading and serve to
dwarf and minimize the trials through
which the Republican party is now
passing, and restore sense OF proper.
tion 10 those who allow themselves 10
be daunted and discouraged In the
face OF loss OF popular confldenec &c
thought TO be indicated by tho tone Of
the press.