Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-09

Taft for Standard Bearer" and "Har-
mony" were the themes dwelt upon by
PARTY leaders speaking at the seventh
annual banquet of the League of Repub
lean Clubs. held at the Arlington last
night.
Four hundred or more republicans got
together for the occasion to point with
ride to the past. and to gain inspira-
ton from former successes for future
victories.
That William Howard Taft is one of
the greatest Presidents, that he is a
great asset of the party and will be its
nearly unanimous choice for next Presi-
dent was a declaration by John Hays
Hammond, president of the National Re-
publican League, that aroused enthusiast
tic confirmation. Mr.. Hammond chal-
lenged the right of any faction of the
party to exclusive claim of aspirations for
progress. Peace. progress and pros
perity, the motto of the National Re-
publican League, represented the aspira-
tons of the party from the beginning, he
asserted.
Declaring himself in favor of reciprocity
With Canada. Representative Nicholas
Long worth found many to applaud his
sentiment. He promised that solid
delegation from Ohio would present Tafts
name as candidate for President at the
next republican national convention. and
that his state would cast an overwhelm-
ing vote for Taft at the polls next time,
whether his opponent be from Nebraska,
New Jersey or Ohio.
That national platforms of political
parties should he made months in adj
vance of the selection Of candidate for
and wise deliberation. was the opinion
expressed ny Representative John W.
W eekS of massachusetts who said that
TIE method OF preparing platform in
haste makes ii binding on neither party
nor candidate.
The initiative and referendum and re-
call, Mr.. Weeks considers, offer oppor-
tunftieS TO dcmagogues TO ride to power
on the popular passions of the hour.
Legislation. i'll his opinion. should he in
the hands OF men trained to the task as
the mass OIL the people are too busy with
their own affairs and too little informed
OF facts and conditions to arrive at wise
conclusions.
Perfect organization and persistent eff
fort was the motto given to the republic
can party by Representative William b.
Mckinley, chairman of the national re-
publican congressional committee. to guide
1t to victory at the next election.
Business Keeps President Away.
Imperative business which admits no
delay was the reason given for the
absence of President Taft, in the letter
OF regret signed by Secretary Norton.
The illness of Speaker Cannon deprived
the dinner of another of it's star features.
Vice President Sherman, and Gov. Benia-
min i. Hooper of Tennessee and Repre-
sentative julius Kahn of California, on
the list of orators, were also Iuayoida bJy
absent.
Edgar 6. Snyder. president was toast
master Herndon Morsel. tenor. and
Charles w. Moore. basso. sang solos be-
tween the speeches Grace was said by
Rev. DR.. j. Henning helms, pastor Of the
Church of the Ascension.
President SNYDER, opening the speech
making. reviewed the seven years OF
history of the League of Republican
State Clubs and stated that twenty-five
states are now enrolled in its member
ship. The proposition he had TO lay be-
fore the assembly. he said. was: Get
together under the banner of the states"
More unification and less units, was the
new creed he suggested: more tolerance
and less criticism, and getting together
for the common veal, lest a common
woe overtake the party.
Taft Logical Candidate
John Hays Hammond. the next
speaker. expressed disapproval of the
organization by inSurgent republicans
of the National Progressive Republican
League. and issued a warning against
any act that would operate against the
denomination of President Taft in 1912
Mr.. Hammond declared that the word
progressive" was Pathological in con-
nection with the name republican,"
and that there had been no great