The San Francisco call., 1910-06-05
TAFT FRAMES
AN ISSUE FOR
NEXT CAMPAIGN
Says That Socialism Is Great
Problem That ConfrOnts
American People
Points Out That Republicans
Are Only Ones Who Have
Met Great Points

-d-L LOQdY proclaimed SOCIALISM dS lnG
great problem that confronts the Amer
ican people-the issue that is soon TO
come and that must be skiIlfully met.
BY its history, he declared, the repub-
lican party had shown itself capable
Of dealing with the great questions ef-
fectively and wisely. and he predicted
. that the American people must soon
determine whether it shall trust the
same party with the solution of that
problem. than which we have had no
greater in the history of the country
FRAMES AN ISSUE
Taft spoke with great -earnestness
and his remarks. coming as a reitera-
ton Of a brief reference to socialism
IN his speech at Ada, O., yesterday,
seemed deeply to impress his hearers.
By many his words were taken as
framing an issue for the coming cam
paign:
The president disclaimed any pur-
pose of making a partisan address but
the occasion of his visit here was the
unveiling Of q bronze tablet commemo-
rating the organization of the repub-
lican party under the oaks" in 1854,
and he could not altogether refrain
y
its opponents which was not altogether
favorable to the opponents.
He also declared that popular gov
ernment must be a government of
parties. and in this connection there
was just passing hint at insurgency.
The president declared that unless in
diViduals are willing to sink minor
considerations to the will of the ma
Jority in a party there would come rule
by groups.
IN that event" he added, "the Lord
only knows where your government
would be and what ii would accom-
plish."
DISCLAIMs POLITICS
In his speech here this afternoon the
presidents reference to socialism came
at the conclusion of q brief history of
what the republican party has done.
He said:
For the future I shall say nothing
because you would say 1 was making
a political speech. All I can say is
that the issue that is being framed,
as II seems 10 me, is the issue with
respect to the Institution of private
property. There are those who charge
10 that institution the corporate abuses.
the greed and the corruption that grew
out OF those abuses. the unequal dis
tribution OF property, the poverty of
some and undue wealth of others, and
therefore say we will have none of it
and we must have a new rule of dis
tribution that for want of a better |
name we shall call socialism.
"On the other hand 1t is contended |
that II is not the institution OF pri- |
Nate property that should be abol- /
ished. but only that the time has come
in which II is necessary TO lay down
certain rules restricting and regulat-
ing the use Of that private property
which shall not deprive the world of
ILL., IL
keep the law and the opportunity to
use private property under such con-
troll that these abuses may be wiped
out and the boon of individual effort
stiI be left to US.
PROBLEM Is UNSOLVED
Now. my friends, that presents
great and difficult problem that 1 am
quite willing TO admit we have not
yet solved. and the question which the
country will have 10 determine after
all is, which party it is which has
heretofore shown sufficient skill and
effectiveness in dealing with great is
sues, which party can be trusted to
solve that problem than which we have
had no greater in the history Of the
country"
Taft spoke in the open air at Kelley
park to a grandstand filled with
throng which gave him q demonstrate
i've welcome He said IN part:
This meeting today is not a partisan
meeting It is the memorial of party,
but IL is historical and not partisan.
What I mean by that distinction is
that the republican party has lived
long enough, has taken parts distinct
i've enough in the growth and progress
Of this country to be treated historic
ally and judicially and without the fer
vor and without this partiality of par
tisanship.
PARTY GOVERNMENT NEEDED
I'VE have to have parties in re-
public, and party government means
that a majority or minority unite to
support certain principles of govern
ment and TO put them in force and
agree that they will yield up their
views on details and principles Of less
Importance and unite on the great
principles and follow the party in the
course, which, by a majority vote, it
lays down as the proper course to
take. Unless you do that YOU are go
ing to have a government by groups
by parties less than majorities, and
the Lord knows where your government
will be or how much it will accom-
plish-
NOW. the republican party was born
Of a moral issue When the civil war
became necessary, with the sad, but the
long headed Lincoln, our responsible
ties were assumed, and we carried
through that war as a party. 1t is
quite true that those who had been
democrats united to help put down the
war, but the organizing force, the re-
sponsible power, was the republican
party.
REPUBLICANS @DO THINGS"
"One of the characteristics of the re-
publican party is it's ability to do
things Now, I do not say this as an
idle boast, but if you can point to a
party in England or party in the
United States that has had issues to
meet that the republican party has met
and that has met them with the sue
cess and effectiveness of the republican
party. ] should be glad to have you
name it, It is true that the time
seemed TO produce the man for every
emer cv, but behind that man, or
ganizea TO hold UP his hands, was the
republican party in every issue and
every exigency.
ORGANIZATION BEHIND THEM
1T is said that Grant saved the coun-
try. It is said that Lincoln saved the
country. / should be the last to detract
in the slightest from the grand reputa-