The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-05-21
PRESIDENT TAFT 7
DEFENDS ACTS OF
ADMINISTRATION
In Interview, He Tells Why He
Signed the Tariff Bill and Refers
to "GOOd Work" by Senator Al
drich and Speaker Cannon.
Praises Pinchot for His Efforts To
Conserve Natural Resources and
Defends Secretary Ballinger.

the title OF an article In the June mum
Der Of McClure's magazine, given IN
an interview with the president by
Geo. Klbbe Turner.
The article Is an entire first-person
defense by Mr.. Taft OF his course az
president, and In certain respects IL
more intimate than any public speech
that he has delivered.
The president refrains from saying
unequivocally that the Republican
tariff plank pledged revision down
ward. He u quoted by Mr.. Turner al
putting his position In these words:
"I believed and had said repeatedly
that, properly carried out, the tarin
plank OF the Republican platform
would result In a downward revision
on many schedules In the Dingley
tariff
Not long after was elected" con
tinued the president, "Mr. Cannon
speaker OF the house, was reported by
the newspapers as denying that the
Republican party had been pledged by
It's platform to a revision downward
Immediately after that the papers an
nounced that / was opposing the re
election Of Mr.. Cannon as speaker
Relieving that Mr.. Cannon had been
correctly quoted, was not unwilling
that this should appear. although
was perfectly aware that he could not
be defeated.
His Meeting With Cannon.
Later l had O meeting with Mr.
Cannon, at which he showed me a full
copy OF his speech, and convinced me
that he had been wrongly quoted. He
he xyaa In hu with
my efforts to carry out the pledges OF
the Chicago platform and would as
sist me as Loyalty as possible. l after
ward explained imposition to the
ways and means committee OF the
house and its chairman, Mr.. Payne,
and was assured by them that my
ideas had their entire sympathy.
"Mr. Aldrich, the leader OF the sen
ate in the tariff debate, publicly stated
that he did not believe a downward
revision had been promised. But he
pledged himself and the other leaders
in the senate To the general program
OF progressive legislation outlined IN
my inaugural address. And, In the
actual passage or the tariff bill. not
only was his ability to bring about
legislation OF great practical value
but there were not q few reductions In
schedules which were introduced al
his instance or with his consent
Mr.. Taft says that he is In favor
Of the principle OF the income tax,
but he thought II would be unwise 10
pass one, and thus virtually invite
the supreme court to reverse it's former
decision against the act OF 1894" So
many Democratic and Republican
senator's were In favor OF a direct
tax that the conservative Republican
leaders in the senate feared 1t might
pass" says Mr.. TAFT.
The Identity of at least one of these
conservative leaders who were so
greatly alarmed lest an income tax
law should be passed Is identified IN
the next sentence, which says: Sen
ator Aldrich and other conservative
leaders Of the senate discussed the
situation with me-"
Mr.. Taft takes strong ground for
tariff commission, which he says
is the scientific method of making
tariff schedules, and Is employed by
every other great country that has
adopted the protective principle. I'm
this country" he says, ''the only IN
formation for making tariffs is OBJ
tanned from the warped and biased tes-
timony OF the men to be affected by
their schedules"
Refers TO Combined Opposition.
Mr.. Taft reiterates his former dec
laration that, while the Payne-Aldrich
law Is not a perfect tarif, II is re-
vision down ward. The wooden
schedule should have been lowered
but this, he says, was prevented by a
combination from the manufacturing
- Of thu aoot
and west. Combinations between the
Democratic south and the northern
numbering sections, he added, prevent
ed free lumber, and similar combina
lions prevented the lowering Of the
cotton schedule. He says he signed
the bill because. all things consid.
cred, I did not think myself justified
in holding up the business Of the coun.
try for months longer by vetoing the
bill on the chance Of getting better
one.
ut was perfectly clear to me, at the
time, that could achieve a temporary
personal popularity by vetoing the
tariff bill II was Just as clear that
II I did so would cause such a split
with my party In congress that the
entire program OF progressive legisla.
ton TO which had dedicated the
whole strength OF my administration
would be put In jeopardy"
Speaking OF the railroad bill, Presi-
dent Taft SAYS: II doubt whether II
is generally realized how many mark.
ed and almost radical departures are
made In this bill"
Discussing monopolies. he says that
the complete ownership Of an indus
try ought not necessarily to consti-
tute q monopoly. He would make the
exception In such cases as give the
public the benefit OF the economies
achieved by the consolidation. He
says that the public should have the
protection Of what might be called
potential competition"
JurIes Are Reluctant.
The difficulty In enforcing laws
against monopoly, he says, Is the
reluctance of the juries to send In
dlviduals to jail on the charge This,
be says, IL because their acts are new
" created crimes.
Mr.. Taft is for prison terms for the
monopolists "In my Judgment" he
says, nothing would stop this build
ink up of monopolies more quickly
than the conviction Of some OF the In
dividuals who create them by their II.
legal acts"
Taking up the Ballinger case. Mr..
Tan rouawa hIa aIleafanc0 tn the