The Washington herald., 1910-04-01

With President Taft as a charter mem
Der and Mr.. Justice William R Day, Of
the Supreme Court, as its president, the
Ohio Society OF Washington was formally
organized at the Arlington Hotel last
night
The President, Senator Dick, Repre-
sentatives Sherwood and Keller, Of Ohio,
and former Lieut.. Gov. Alphonso Hart,
OF Ohio. were present as guests OF honor
at the meeting. and all made brief
speeches laudatory Of the Buckeye State
and its people.
President Taft arrived before the meet
ing was called 20 order and was given a
rousing reception by the 400 men and
women present. He was accompanied by
Capt. Butt, and remained until shortly
after o'clock.
Justice Day Elected.
Justice Day. as acting president Of the
society, called the meeting 10 order. The
nominating committee, through its chair
man, W. Y. Cox. presented names for Of
heers OF the society.
Justice Day was named as president,
and all the other nominations were con-
hrmed by reclamation.
After thanking the members for the
honor conferred upon him, Justice Day
introduced President Taft The President
said:
IF every part OF the Presidency were
as pleasant as this there would be moth
ing uncomfortable to do but to draw the
salary. I am glad 10 be here, and con-
graduate you on such an suspicious be
ginning of this society. There seems TO
be bond between Ohio people wherever
they are that brings them together into
societies like this.
ohio. as Mr. Justice Day has said has
a national character. Indeed, in previous
days it was known as the United States
Of Ohio; but II has a national character
in that its population IS a mixture or
amalgamation Of all the desirable people
Of the United States.
Il do not Ike to institute comparisons,
and I shall not between the Western Re
serve and the southern counties, from
which I came; but all I know is that we
were educated in free institutions and
we were taught in Ohio that il you
wanted to win in politics you wanted to
get up early and attend to business, and
that If you wished 20 control public
opinion you must devote attention and
show good reasons for your views. Now,
am glad to know that this is not
political society. I am sometimes-only
sOmetimes-glad 10 be in an atmosphere
that is nonpoliticaI, and, OF course, we
are able to have such a society in Wash
ington, because We do not get views in
Washington Of politics that attract US
TO something else.
Not Familiar with Politics.
THE politics of OhiO-but believe we
were not TO discuss politics hereI was
only going to say that I do not claim 10
be very familiar with the politics of
Ohio. When I lived in Ohio I enjoyed
the privilege that our friend. the presi-
dent Of this society, now enjoys-that
dignified aspect from the top OF the tree
on the bench. where it doesn't make any
difference how poIiticaIzmovements go, he
goes on forever. That was the position
I occupied in Ohio My political expert
ence is chiefly confined to the Philippines,
and, therefore, I feel more like a member
from the Philippines, so far as political
representation is concerned, than 7 do
like a member from Ohio.
There is only one thing I want 10
say about Ohio that has a political tinge
and that is that I think a mistake has
been made OF recent years in Ohio In
failing 10 continue as our representatives
the same people. term after term. do
not need to tell a Washington audience,
among whom there are certainly some
who have been interested in legislation.
that length of service In the House and
in the Senate is what gives influence.
And, therefore, that rotation in office,
while II may satisfy che different counties
and keep them from county inferno
cine war very much interferes with the
State Of Ohio exercising that influence
that It ought 70 exercise in the Senate
and in the House.
.'I am In favor. therefore, OF continuing
the representation as we have it, so that
our representatives shall be the foremost
in both halls Of the legislature. Why is
it that the small States Of the East exer-
else so much power in Congress. It isn't
because an Eastern man has any more
capacity in the matter of legislation than