The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-01-29
PRESIDENT TAFT
HITS PUBLISHERS
In Speech to Magazine Men
He Warns Them Against
Undertaking."
NOBODY WILL GIVE HEED
HE REFERS TO INVITATIONS
AGAINST GOVERNMENT OFF,
GALS AS A "LAck OF ANY HON.
ORABLE MOTIVE.

Washington, Jan. 29.-Prcsident
the United States last night that If
they overloaded their criticisms of
men in administrative authority with
parliamentary expressions and init
nations as to lack of honorable mo-
tives nobody is going to pay any at
tention to them. Although he made
no direct allusion to undertaking" it
was plainly evident at what he was di-
recting his attack.
The president addressing the Pc
riodical Publishers association OF Am
erica, as their guest at dinner. did not
give this advice to the editors assem-
bled from all parts of the United
States until he had prefaced his en-
treatment of his relative position to
the wielders Of public opinion.
A Formidable Gathering.
This is rather a formidable gath
ering to address, said the president
after he had been presented by f. Hop
kinson Smith, toastmasater of the oc-
casion. "Gentlemen who act as fates
as to what is or is not current liter
ature would under any circumstances
be formidable to address, and unde.
conditions prevailing at Washington
and in legislative halls it requires a
brave man, standing in my position to
face them.
AS to controversies, let me say
that all evidence, questions of cast
be weighted broadly to reach an ulti.
mate conclusion. 1t is the case with
every trust as much as we condemn
them for their iniquities. The evil
dence must be weighed. 1t does no
good to denounce person on the wit
ness stand if he testifies against you.
Men Become Indifferent.
You controllers of public opinion
and controllers of the rulers of the
country may hammer a man into in.
difference as to what you say. but at
that he will come nearer doing right
than if he tried to fight. But seriously
speaking, would like to say that when
you criticise a poor devil exercising a
difficult responsibility. first give him
the same benefit enjoyed BY every
criminal that of reasonable doubt.
Secondly, don't use unparliamentary
expressions if you can help it. for if
you do and, if you overload your criti-
cisms with superlatives and intima-
tions as to his lack of honorable mo-
tiyes 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 postage
it is for judicial investigation and a
conclusion should be reached on a
calm business basis. l 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.
body should be led astray just because
some gentleman's heat carried him
away from the bounds Of Judgment"
DoIIiver Stirs Enthusiasm.
The president was given prolonged
cheers as he concluded. Senator Dol
liver in addressing the publishers went
directly 70 the postage question and
aroused an uproar OF appreciation
when he said:
4 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-