The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-09-27
POL|T ICAL ISSUE
RAISED BY SEC.
". |. FISHER
Spicy Incident Of Tafts Visit To
Hutchinson, Kan.
BRlST0W MEETS CHALLENGE
Senator Served Notice That Progress
siVes Have No Intention Of Aban-
doning fractional Fight

Hutchinson, Kan, Sept 27.-Near
the close of what had been non-par-
tisan celebration of the 50th anniver-
sary of the birth of Kansas as a state,
with President Taft as the principal
speaker, a political incident fiared up
here yesterday and gave a thrill to
the thousands of Kansans who packed
the grand stand at the state fair
grounds Walter l.. Fisher, secretary
lof the interior in President Tafts
cabinet, just back from Alaska, made
a three minute speech in which he
said some things about the difference
between real progressives of the
middle-of-the-road type like Mr.. Taft"
and "hypocritical, demagogic progress
sives who opposed every practical
progressive policy put forth" Sena-
tor Joseph l.. Bristow, ranking second
only to Senator La Toilette of Wis
consin among the progressives OF the
Senate, followed Secretary Fisher and
quickly caught up his challenge.
I'VE in Kansas" he said ARE al
ways willing to grant that the other
fellow is honest in his views, and we
expect him to grant that we are hon
est in ours. | want to say to Presi-
dent Taft and to Secretary Fisher
right now that in working out the
problems that confront us we OF
Kansas will have our part and have
our say to the end that there Shall be
equal justice to all and special priv.
ilege to none" Both Secretary Fish
er and Senator Bristow were APP
plauded. The throng seemed to APP
preciate the verbal passage-at-arms
and the virtual serving of notice by
the junior Kansas senator that while
he was participating freely and glad
ly In the welcome to President Taft in
Kansas there was to be no let-up in
the factional fight as soon as the chief
executive left the borders OF the
state.
The president himself had made alb
solutely no reference to politics. His
address was purely historical, and in
II he had taken occasion to pay a
tribute to the independence In thought
and action Of the Kansas people, say
ing that no matter how much one
might differ from their views there
could be nothing but admiration for
their courage in carrying these views
forward to a logical conclusion.
When the president concluded. Gov
Mann Of Virginia made q brief ad-
dress. Then came Secretary Fisher.
Mr.. Fisher reached Hutchinson yester-
day afternoon and had long confer
ence with the president regarding
Alaskan affairs. The secretary, it is
said, is convinced that the people of
the far northwestern territory need
relief An address by the secretary
was not on the program, but II fur
nished the most interesting feature
of the day When he arose and faced
the big crowd Mr. Fisher was silent
for fully a minute. Then he said
slowly: Il am one OF those who
count myself progressive"
He was interrupted by applause and
cheering. q am true progressive"
he resumed, "and ] believe in true
progressiveness and not in hypocriti.
cal or demagogical progressives who
declare for a progressive policy and
then oppose every progressive meas
ure put forth. When President Taft
said he was trying to keep in the
middle of the road the other day,
believe he meant what he said and
believe that you believe that he
meant what he said. / am that kind
of progressive. My friends. you
should Judge men not by what they
say, but by what they do"
Senator Bristow was introduced by
Gov Stubs and was loudly cheered
I'VE Of Kansas" he said, may at
times have been accused Of acting be-
fore we thought, but we always have
had the courage to contend for what
we believed was right, and we have
worked out right here In this state
the greatest moral civilization in the
world" The senator then made his
reply to Secretary Fisher and as he
did so. he looked pointedly at the
cabinet officer. Senator Curtis of
Kansas classed as conservative, then
took advantage OF the somewhat
strained situation to pay a tribute
TO Secretary Fisher. "Mr. Fisher"
he said, has just returned from Alas.
/ ka, where he has been studying the
great problems that face the people
of that faraway territory. want to
say to you, Mr., Secretary, here and
now that the people OF this town, Of
this country, will believe what you
report In regard to Alaska. and ], as
one senator. will be there to help you
and President Taft to solve the Alas
kan question and TO serve the people
of this country" Senator Curtiss con
cluded with the assertion that the
people OF Kansas believed Mr. Taft
broad enough and big enough TO be
the president OF all the people" Pres
Ident Taft spent the entire day in
Hutchinson, leaving late last night
for Tonoka