The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-09-23
TAFT IS NOW IN
M|ODLE-OF-ROAO
Bound to Pursue Half Way
Path Between Two
Party Branches
ADMITS MISTAKES
ON RIGHT COURSE
viii Now Go Before People
On Vetoes, Claiming
Should Have Accu-
rate information

PEORIA, ILLS, Sept 22.-~President
Taft hurled himself with all his vigor
into the 1912 campaign here to-day,
proclaiming himself a middle of-the~
road" man and bound to pursue the
half way path between the progress
sive and retrograde elements
Dropping reciprocity as an issue of
his campaign, an issue upon which he
had counted before the defeat In Can
ada to offset the sentiment against his
veto of the tarin measures, the fresi-
dent took up a vigorous defense of
his administration.
He allowed 1t to be known that from
now on he will appeal to the people
to use the second sober thought" in
considering his act in office.
The President advertised 10 his dis
appointment over the rejection OF
his efforts at reciprocity. and then
tucked reciprocity away.
MIR. Taft will go before the people
now on his tariff Vetoes. Maintaining
that the party which elected him ex-
pected him TO obtain accurate infor
nation upon the industrial situation
with respect 10 the tariff to be fixed
before urging any legislation In using
the veto, the President insinuated he
! merely fulfilled an obligation placed
upon him before election by the party
conventions.
Under Any Conditions.
President Taft with trembling voice
remarked that he would have done the
same thing under any conditions II It
! had cost his life. He became deeply
serious in discussing the vetoes and
once 1t looked as though the PresI-
dent In his severe effort To convince
the country of his right intention
would give way TO his ovesVrought
condition.
The President with a tone of regret
admitted that he had made mistakes,
! but he strongly insisted that he had
! tried to steer the right course. He
wanted the people TO consider his ex-
PLANTATION OF his acts OF administration
before condenning him. Although In
fighting mood. the Presidents attitude
was one of apology. MIR. Taft maze
his speech of appeal at a luncheon at
the Country Club, attended by Re
publican leaders With the State torn
( by three rival factions In the party the
President was somewhat in doubt as
TO his prospects in Illinois.
While Re came here ostens1pfy 70
I be the guest of the Knights of Column
/ bus. II was soon apparent that he
was keenlv sensitive to the political
/ aspect, and that he did not propose
/ to leave until he had tried To
/ strengthen his own position. Illinois,
/ the President learned, had not been
/ any too keen over his tariff course.
! While support had been given him in
hts reciprocity campaign by the two
Senators from the State, Cullen anu
Lorimer. and the congressman for the
/ most part were with him. there had
sprung up In the manufacturing cen
; tar 0DnnSjffnY RRfnrA
/ the luncheon the President condded
with with Senator Cullom. Congress
man Prince and others who had figured
( in the reciprocity night and was urged
+ To come out with a strong defense OF
his administration.
Even If his campaign issue has 10
be a negative defense Of his vetoes
they told him, IL was essential to
squarely put himself on record. The
President found that State Senator
Walter Clyde Jones, a progressive of
the La Toilette type, and a candi-
date for Governor on the progressive
platform with the initiative, referen-
dunn and direct election OF United
States Senators as his issue. had been
making a dent in the Republican
. strength.
Before Mr.. Taft spoke various OF
the political leaders In spirited
actiy what Illinois thought OF him.
Taft Is DETERMINED.
When Mr.. Taft spoke he evidenced
a more determined spirit than in any
other OF his speeches in this trip.
When he assured his hearers that he
proposed adopting the middle
ground he got only a faint hand
clap. AS he launched into his de-
Tense of the vetoes the State leaders
/. issStxa t,,s. u
rupt him. The speech over. the i'm
preston left was that Mr.. Taft has
embarked upon rocky path. but
that he Will fight desperately to re-
trieve himself. The Republican lead
ers give thei assurance that they will
support him, but they gave him to
understand that the burden OF the
fight Ia upon him.
No bowling crowds greeted Mr.
Taft during his stay here. Throngs
turned out. but there was no out
burst OF enthusiasm znywhera