The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-29
TAFT MAKES PLEA
FOR SQUARE DEAL
Warns Publishers Against Too
Harsh Judgment Of OF
ficials.
TENDS TO WEAKEN CRITICISM
Dolliver Predicts That Postage
Will Not Be Needlessly
Raised.

Washington, d. c., January 2S.--
president Tart told the delegates to
the Periodical Publishers Association
OF the United States tonight that II
!, they overloaded their criticisms Of
men in administrative authority with
supplementary expressions and inti-
nations as to lack of honorable mo-
lves, nobody Is going to pay any at
tenton to them. Although tic made
no direct allusion to muck raking,"
1t was plainly evident at what he was
directing his attack.
President Taft was presented by II.
Hopkinson Smith, toastmaster OF the
occasion. Continuing. the President
| said.
"As to controversies. let me say that
| all are questions Of evidence. questions
OF fact that must be weighed broadly
/ 10 reach an ultimate conclusion. II
Is the case with every trust. as mucl,
as we condemn them. for their inidui-
Ties. The evidence must be weighed.
1t does no good to denouncc person
OH the witness stand IL lie testifes
| against you.
You controllers of public opinion
and controllers OF the rulers Of the
country. may hammer man into in
difference as to what you say, but at
that he will come nearer TO doing right |
than IL he tried to fight But serious
~ speaking, l would like 10 say that
when you criticize poor devil. exer-
cising difficult responsibility, first
give him the Same benefit enjoyed by
every criminal, that of reasonable
doubt.
Secondly, don't use unparliamentary
expressions IL you can help II. for IL
You do, and IL you overload your crit
icisms with supcrlatives and intina-
ions as TO his lack of honorable mo-
tive. in the end You will weaken all
your criticism and nobody is going to
pay any attention to it.
In respect to this matter of the
postage. 1T is for judicial Investigation,
and conclusion should be reached on
a calm business basis. have no doubt
that you will find in the committee OF
Congress that careful judgment that is
needed. I don't agree with some of
the committee, who started out by
shouting, Crater and robber.' but no.
pody should be led astray Just because
some gentlemen's heat carried them
away from the bounds of Judgment"
Tho President was given prolonged
cheers as he concluded.
Postal Question Discussed.
senator Dolliver. OF Iowa, in address
ing the publishers, went directly to the
postage question, and aroused an up
roar Of appreciation when he said: 4
Il venture to predict before the post
age Is raised on the literature which
is being read by millions of Americans !,
there Will be rather an elaborate ex- s
animation into the expenses and admin
of postal affairs" {
Cyrus Curtis, president of the Peri
odical Publishers. and editors of all
the leading magazine In the country.
were present Among other speakers
was Speaker Cannon.
He declared that the publishers to- /
day were getting their masazIutes de- II
livered by the government cheaper v
than they could be sent In any other {
way. He urged them to cooperate =
With Congress. as far as they could
In securing legislation which would v
enable them to place good literature r,
n the hands of the American people
as cheaply as possible.
He made strong plea in favor OIL ~
declaring that 1T ia f.
necessary for the successful running IN
If the country Without it. he said
here would be chaos in government.
And / have no patience" he added, q,
with those men who are most too r.
good to belong TO one party, ana are N
lot good enough TO belong to the W
,ther"
a letter from Rudyard Kipling was
cad in which he expressed his re-
'ret at being unable to be present. ~