The Detroit times., 1910-05-21
PRESIDENT TAT 7
DEFENDS ACTS OF
ADMINISTRATION
In Interview, He Tells Why He
Signed the Tariff Bill and Refers
to "GSod Work" by Senator Al
drich and Speaker Cannon.
Praises Pinchot for His Efforts To
Conserve Natural Resources and
Defends Secretary Ballinger.

NEW YORK, May 2l.-"How Taft
Views His own Administration" Is
he title OF an article in the June NUM-
Der OF McClure's magazine, given In
IN interview with the president by
Geo. Kibbe Turner.
The article is an entire first.person
defense by Mr.. Taft OF his course as
4 president, and in certain respects IS
more intimate than any public speech
hat he has delivered.
The president refrains from saying
lneQuivocally that the Republican
arm plank pledged revision down
ward He is quoted by Mr.. Turner as
putting his position in these words:
81 believed and had said repeatedly
hat, properly carried out, the tariff
blank of the Republican platform
would result in a downward revision
bn many schedules in the Dingley
ariff.
Not long after | was elected" con-
nued the president, Mr.. Cannon,
peaker OF the house, was reported by
he newspapers as denying that the
Republican party had been pledged by
rs platform to a revision downward.
Immediately after that the papers an
ounced that was opposing the re.
lection OF Mr.. Cannon as speaker.
Believing that Mr.. Cannon had been
correctly quoted, | was not unwilling
hat this should appear, although ]
as perfectly aware that he could not
be defeated.
His Meeting With Cannon.
later | had a meeting with Mr.,
cannon, at which he showed me full
opy of his speech. and convinced me
hat he had been wrongly quoted. He
laid he was entirely In sympathy with
ny efforts to carry out the pledges or
he Chicago platform and would al
list me as Loyalty as possible. | after
ard explained my position TO the
rays and means committee OF the
ouse and It's chairman, Mr.. Payne,
nd was assured by them that my
leas had their entire sympathy.
"Mr Aldrich, the leader OF the sen
tie In the tariff debate, publicly stated
hat he did not believe a downward
evision had been promised. But he
lodged himself and the other leaders
I the senate to the general program
progressive legislation outlined In
ctual passage OF the tariff bill, not
nly was his ability to bring about
bgislation OF great practical value,
ut there were not few reductions In
chedules which were introduced at
is instance or with his consent"
Mr.. Taft says that he is In favor
the principle Of the income tax.
ut he thought II would be unwise 70
lass one. 'aad thus virtually invite
he supreme court to reverse its former
ecision against the act of 1894" So
many Democratic and Republican
enators were in favor OF direct
hx that the conservative Republican
eaders in the senate feared it might
ass says Mr.. Taft.
The identity of at least one of these
conservative leaders who were 80
realty alarmed lest an income tax
hw should be passed Is identified In
he next sentence, which says: Sen
tor Aldrich and other conservative
eaders of the senate discussed the
ituation with me-"
Mr.. Taft takes strong ground for
tariff commission, which he says
the scientific method of making
hriff schedules, and Is employed by
very other great country that has
dopted the protective principle. I'm
his country" he says, the only in
brmation for making tariffs is OBJ
hined from the warped and biased tes-
mony OF the men TO be affected by
heir schedules"
Refers to Combined Opposition.
Mr.. Taft reiterates his former dec
hration that, while the Payne-Aldrich
law is not a perfect tariff, II Is a re-
ision downward. The woollen
chedule should have been lowered
ut this. he says. was prevented by a
ombination from the manufacturing
Ind wool growing sections OF the east
nd west Combinations between the
democratic south and the northern
lmbering sections, he added, prevent
d free lumber. and similar combina-
ions prevented the lowering OF the
lotion schedule. He says he signed
he bill because, all things consid-
red, did not think myself justified
holding up the business Of the coun.
nv for months longer by vetoing the
Ill on the chance of getting a better
ne.
1T was perfectly clear to me, at the
me, tnat Coulu achieve temporary
PERSONAL popularity by vetoing the
|ariff bill II was Just as clear that
h did so would cause such a split
nth my party in congress that the
nitric program of progressive legisla.
ion to which had dedicated the
e. Whole strength OF my administration
WOULD be put In jeopardy
Speaking of the railroad bill, Presi-
lent Taft SAYS: II doubt whether 1t
generally realized how many mark.
d and almost radical departures are
|hade in this bill. .
Discussing monopolies. he says that
he complete ownership of an indus
Try ought not necessarily to consti-
tte a monopoly. He would make the
Exception in such cases as give the
bublic the benefit of the economies
achieved by the consolidation. He
lays that the public should have the
protection OF "what might be called
potential competition"
Juries Are Reluctant.
The difficulty in enforcing laws
lgainst monopoly. ne says, is the
|eluctance OF the jurles to send In
llviduals to Jail on the charge. This,