The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-11

Oh some IdctS, the omission OF others
| and the ever present plea of the neceS
| sity of caution in reform.
! Mr W1ckersham was particularly
Jubilant in reviewing the executive and
financial achievements Of the admins
| tration in the last year, which, he said
would result in saving of $50 200, 900 10
| the government next year. All blame
for nonfulfillment of pledges he placed
on congress, to which, he said, Presi-
dent Taft had caused to be submitted
the p1lls embodying the promised legis-
latiOn.
And tracing the blame still farther
he found that If the bills failed to pass
congress It would be due to the action
OF the insurgents, whom he did not
hesitate to class as traitors" and sell
fish ObStructionists
The other speakers at the banquet
were Governor Adolph o. Eberhardt of
Nlnnesota and Judge Emory Spear of
Macon, Ga. President George w.
Dixon of the Hamilton club presided.
Reviews Promises and Deeds.
The attorney general opened his
address with this direct synopsis of
the promises, which he proposed to
prove had been fulfilled by the presi-
dent and his cabinet as far as they
had the power:
William H. Taft was elected presi-
dent OF the United States on a plat
form which pledged the Republican
party to the following program:
For revision of the tariff by a
special session of congress immediate
ly following the inauguration of the
next president.
The establishment of a postal saw
ingS bank system
The adoption of such amendments
to the Sherman antitrust law as will
give to the federal government great
er supervision and control over, and
secure greater publicity in, the man
agement of that class of corporations
engaged in interstate commerce hav-
monopolies.
The amendment of the interstate
commerce law so as to authorize traf-
fic agreements between railroads
while maintaining always the prin-
ciple of competition between Compel
ing lines, and the establishment of
such national supervision as to pre-
vent the future overissue of stocks
and bonds by interstate carriers.
The enactment in constitutional
form of an employers liability bill.
The passage and enforcement of
safety appliance acts.
The more accurate definition by
statute of the rules of procedure in
the federal courts with respect to the
issuance of injunctions.
The systematic improvement of the
national waterways.
The enactment of such legislation
as will revive the merchant marine
prestige of the country.
Legislation to secure greater eff
cheney in national public health
agencies.
The Immediate admission of the
territories of Arizona and New MeXi-
co as separate states.
Says Country Was Shaken.
He then explained how the previous
administration by determined, cour-
ageous attacks, legislative and exc
cutive, on the abuses of great wealth
had set higher standard of business
morality and obedience to law"
But" he added, ''in the attainment
shaken to it's foundations"
AS a result of these things he ex-
planned that the object of the present
administration is to perfect the ma
chinery by which these standards may
be maintained, but without repeating
the foundation shaking.
He then reverted to the historical
significance of the day and compared
trusts to those offered by Grant to
Lee in their simplicity and efficiency
AS the latter resulted in the CONVEX
sion of an army of rebels with guns
in their hands into an army of far
mers and workmen with ploughs and
tools, so he held that the former would
result in the conversion of harmful,
lawless monopolies into great, good,
useful, economic forces under federal
supervision.
Taft's Terms to Trusts.
He set out the terms of Taft to the
trusts in the following words of the
president himself:
THE DEGREES of injunction recently
adopted in prosecuting under the anti
trust law are so thorough and sweep
ing that the corporations affected
have but three courses open to them:
First, they must resolve themselves
into their component parts in the diff
ferent states with a consequent loss
to themselves of capital and effective
organization and to the country OF
energy and enterprise;
or
second, in defiance of law and I'M
der some secret trust thew must at
tempt to continue their business In v1o-
lation of the federal statute, and thus
incur the penalties of coEtempt and
bring an inevitable criminal prosecu-
ton of the individuals named in the
decree and their associates; or
Third. they must reorganize and
accept in good faith the federal char
ter suggest
Problems Faced by President.
Touching on the similarity of the
reconstruction task confronting Lin
coin at the close of the Civil war and
the problems faced by Taft on his in
he said:
'"The dangers to free institutions
arising from the concentration of
great wealth and vast power in few
hands is far more insidious than that
arising from open revolt against gov
eminent, and the methods by which
those dangers may be met and avert
ed are less obvious and more subject
to misunderstanding than the work Of
resisting force by force.
'"The work of framing and enacting