Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-10-03
Bestows Upon Whole Party
the Title Progressive
His Address Mainly Defence Of
Payne Tariff Law.
Makes Recommendations for FL.
ture LegislailoH-lauds Stlmson.

New York, Oct. 2.-President Taft de-
| livered what will probably be his only
public address on the present cam
paign at the banquet Of the National
Republican League at the Hotel Aston
Saturday night. The President's speech
| was marked by an unusually cOncilia-
tory tone toward the Insurgent wing
of the party.
He gave "all factions of the party
due credit for their share in helping to
put through Congress the legislative
program which the President took &C.
casior 70 outline in some detail. The
record of the past IS months. he de-
clared, was an earnest of the de-
sire of the party to fulfill its platform
promises and obligations, and he prom
ised that if the Republican majority in
Congress was continued at the coming
election. the work thus far left undone
would be carried through to compile
ton.
Upon the whole Republican party the
President bestowed the title OF Pro
gressive." Then he undertook to de-
fine Just what is meant by Progress
sive'
"A party of true progress Is not a
party of radicalism," he declared, amid
cheers. at is not party of ultra con-
servatism,' he added, and again was
cheered s..
"A Progressive Republican" the
President went on, lis one who recog-
nizes existing and concrete evils and
who is in favor of practical and def
mite steps to eradicate them"
Besides the President, Representa-
tive Nicholas Longworth of Ohio was
one of the chief speakers Of the even
ing. His address was mainly defence
of the Payne tariff law.
The President told of what his adj
ministration had achieved in the way
of new legislation and said:
"Our platform promised to revise the
tariff Immediately and also to revise 1t
to accord with the difference between
the cost of production at home and
abroad. These two promises proved
somewhat inconsistent. in that imme-
date revision conforming to such a
plan was impracticable because the in
formation needed was not at once
available; but the inconsistency was
met by the provision of q tariff board
to report the necessary facts.
THE new tariff commission, for the
work of which $250,00O was appropri-
ated, has already completed its pre-
liminary report and the commission ia
now at work in this country. have
authorized the chairman to make q
public statement Of the purposes and
methods of the commission, but I
have directed him not to make that
statement until after the election, be-
cause insofar as possible I desire the
tariff commission from its very incep-
ton to be kept free from the vfcissi-
tudes of partisan politics, so that it
will gain the respect and the conf
dence of the whole country, regardless
of party lines
Speaking of future legislation he
said:
1--WE need the enactment of laws au-
thorizing the disposition of coal, phos-
phate. oil and gas lands Of the govern
ment. and the water power sites owned
by the government along streams in
which there is valuable water power,
now uncontrolled and unappropriated.
under leases for grants which shall
induce investment Of private capital
in the development Of those lands:
but shall continue the government as
ultimate controller Of the properties
which an equitable provision for read
justment of terms at comparatively
short periods. Indeed. the affirmative
part of the whole policy of conserva-
ton awaits action. and the Republican
party is pledged to give this subject
the attention it deserves.
we need q new government for
Alaska, with laws properly protecting
the government domain in that vast
empire"
In conclusion he said:
The millionaire. the great manu-.