Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-05-05
PRESIDENT TAFps SPEECH.


President Tatt's fvs-dsy trip to the
Middle West ended yesterday, and be
left 81. Louis late last night for Wash
iugtou, where be is scheduled to arrive To-
morrow morning.
At the u 1cheon OF the Business Mems
League late yesterday afternoon, Presi-
dent Walker II LII praised him for bis
appointments OF Luitjn and Hughes to
the Supreme Court bench. Mr.. Taft
launched toto a vigorcu, speech 10
which be paid his respects to BRYAN for
repor.ed criticism OF Governor Hughes.
and decried the "cant oftAe demsgogue"
and the ''dispOsilion OF Iu olic urDals"
to make unjust charges against men 10
pu bic life.
"AIl l sm appealing for is j1stics and
a square DEAL" said t1e president. "ntt
especially for myself; for indeed, l am
in q position where can get along btt'
ter than some OF the rest without it But
l sm appealing for justice In dealing
With sll classes" "
The president dec Jared tEst he held
the appointment f men TO the Supreme
Ooult bench ss the most sacred OF bic
dot o..
"To me-" said the president, ga
lawyer, the Suoreme Out OF the
Uoiled States Is the most sacred thing
that we have iu this government, and
the appointment OF men to that bench
is the highest aud most sacred fuuc-
tion that the executive has to perform.
CHOW / do ntt like to be insidious
in my remarks, or to qlote What may
have been a mitqu otsuon, but | did
hear or zee q criticism Of one appoint
mept, on the ground, ss l understand
it, that TIE sppOintee was not an i'm
placable foe OF wealth and corporations.
l think perhaps that criticism has been
misunderstood, aud that the rer OF
1t did net intend to give 1t the meat
ing that, thus stated, it seems to have.
ar believe that all, democrats and
republicans, republicans and Insurgents,
who are pttfiotic citiEsns, and We ell
are that, are iu favor Of having men
upon that bench who are foes Of moth
ing tut what Is wrong and are in favor
of equal justice to everyone, whether
that be au organization OF men doing
business under the Law and udng the
fundamentally of corporation 10
promote the industries OF the country,
or be the humblest citizens struggling
With his asnd to earn livelihood for
his family.
"I do not mean to say that men BY
their habit, Of life may not acquire 3
bent or a prejudice 10 one direction or
another, aud that 1t isn't wise to select
for the highest tribunal men who have
not such a bent snd who bave not 10
their mske-up the danger or prtiu lice to
one interest or against another. Bat |
do mean to say that there Is In the
public journals, and In what may call
the cant Of the demsgogues, dispos
tion to charge that kind of bent in
favor Of corporate wealth and corporate
greed and corporate monopoly when
there is no inst ce for the charge at all.
"Tbis assumption of peculiar honesty
manifested by class declaration and the
stirring up Of class spirit is something
that ought to be deprecated 10 our re-
public or else 1t will lead to great dsu-
ger. We ought to take up the discus.
sion oil public questions spd discuss their
effect With ju iicisl cslmness and not have
our minds diverted by charges OF pre-.
judice and corrupt mt tvs; say charges
Utterly unsupported by evidence of cam
consideration"