Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-02-15

DO much to Inspire confidence in
business circles.
New York, Feb. 14-"If the enforce
ment OF the law is not consistent with
the present methods Of carrying on
business, then it does not speak we'll
lot 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." It
was made to cheering audience Of
hundreds of prominent Republicans
gathered Saturday night at the annual
Lincoln day dinner at the Republican
club Of this city, held at the Waldorf
Astoria. Gov. Hughes shared the hon
iors OF the evening with the president.
MT. TAFT adhered to his purpose Of dis
cussing platform pledges and how
they should be kept 1t was at the
conclusion Of q detailed argument as
to how the Republican party is re-
deeming Its pledges that he came to a
discussion Of the antitrust law and
wall street, on which his utterances
had been awaited with the greatest
interest. The president declared that
the administration would not ..foo1ish.
~ run amuck in business and DESTROY
Values and confidence just for the
pleasure Of doing so.''
Put There to Enforce the Law.
mo one," he continued, "has 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 anti-trust law except to strengthen
It: OF course the government at
Washington can be counted on to en-
force the law in the way best calculat-
ed to strengthen public confidence in
business, but that it must enforce the
Jaw goes without saying
President Taft did not hesitate to
discuss the attacks that have been
made on the administration and the
party or the danger to future success
IN the insurgent movement and other
dissenstons. Republicans who feared
defeat at the polls in November, he de-
clared. however, should take courage
from the demoralized condition of
their opponents, the Democrats.
1t was Grant" said the president
amid whirlwind of laughter. "who
bantshed his own fear in battle by
thinking how much more afraid the
enemy was"
Defends the Tariff Bill.
Mr.. Taft again came to the de-
Tense Of the Payne-Aldrich tariff bill.
He did not hesitate, he said, to re-
peat that it substantially complied
with the party pledge for tariff revi
sion and that, through this bill, the
party had "set itself strongly in the
right direction toward lower tariffs. /"
The president brought statistics in
10 his argument to demonstrate that
1uring the first six months of the new
tariff law there has been shown 12
per cent reduction in the percentage
ad valorem duties have paid on i'm
ports and IL per cent increase in the
per cent Of imports admitted free.
Time and wider knowledge he
thought, would serve to Justify the
bill.
Reviewing the party platform. the
president spoke Of postal saving |
banks, amendments to the interstate
commerce law, the anti-injunction
plank, statehood for Arizona and New
Mexico, and the conservation of |
natural resources, bills to carry all |
of which were pending in congress.
End he believed would be passed.
Party Has Not Failed.
President Taft said
"Mr. President, Gentlemen of the
Republican Club and Fellow Guests:
The birthday OF the man whose mem
ory we celebrate tonight Is an appropi-
ate occasion for renewing our express
sions of respect and affection for the
(conh;nued on Page 81