Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-09-23
PRES. TAFT IS A
POOR POLITICIAN
IN A HEART 10 hl.ART TALK HE
ACKNOWLEDGES IT.
WISHED Chief JUSTICESHIP
Has Always Tried to do the Right
Thing-Not Allied with
Any Party Faction.

today with the leaders of the different
Republican factions in Illinois, de-
fined his status as to progressiveness,
pleaded guilty to being very poor
politician, acknowledged again his
ambition had lain in the direction of
the office of chef justice rather than
the presidency, admitted he had un-
doubtedly made many mistakes, but
asserted as President he had trie0 to
do what he thought to be right, Whit
the future hold for him he didn't know
He declared he was not allied with
the extremists of his party, either con-
seryative or progressiyes, but had
tried to take middle ground be-
tween the two.
but we middle of the road people
believe we are the real progrcssives,
said the President, because you do
not make progress in great strides,
you make it step By step"
The President was in a serious
mood. He declared that while it might
not be 50 for a time, the public in
the end would distinguish between the
fact and "fustian," and would rec
stantial progress and platform declar-
ations.
TIE speech made by the President
was the most significant of his trip
thus far. He still was downcast by
the defeat of reciprocity in Canada,
but his only reference to that sub
ject had come earlier in the day when
he addressed the working men In a
local mandatory, where agricultural
implements are made.
II was sorry to hear that in Canada
they do not care to have closer COM
mercia relations with us" he said.
'If reciprocity had been adapted, we
could have got our agricultural i'm
plements into Canada at a substantial
decrease. But / guess we can get
along"
The Presidents political speech fol-
lowed a luncheon given his honor
by the Republican State Central Com
mittee, attended by the party leaders
from all over the state including SEN
ator Cullom and Lieutenant Governor
Oglesby. Governor Deneen could not
be present because of his broken leg
The Lorimer faction was repres-
ented.
Leaders We'd with each other in
pledging their support to President
Taft, and predicted rmIo enthusiasm
that not only would he be nominated
but would be reelected.
After a more or less intimate talk,
by Senator CullOm, which preceded
the Presidents spe 1ch, MIR, TAFT
skctched his earlier political career,
which had for its goal a seat on the
supreme bench. However, he had not
ran away from the Presidency.
Coming down to his recent vetoes
OF the important bills, ho said he
would have vetoed bills under any
conditions, even if it cost me my life.
I say that with all earnestness posi-
.ble, because what l did was the re-
suit of conviction as deep-seated as
any principle l ever had
Mentioning specifically the veto
of the Arizona statehood bill. the
President said
IL just vetoed that because | could !
not do anything Sc"
publican party, Mr.. Taft said he was
endeavoring to go along In the mid
die of those two--progressives and re.
actionaries. In line with this idea, |
they had been brought under a con-
diton of regulation that has satisfied |
them The country s bound to have |
Its business discouragements; the |
trusts are in a period of transition, |
but the Supreme Court has decided !
what the law is. and now business
has got to square itself with that law.
We might as well make up our minds |
to that, gentlemen"
My friends, | did not expect TO |
make political speech this alter
noon," he said IL conclusion. What !
the future Is know not. | only know |
this, that | am going ahead to do |
the best | can, and am going through |
this country on this trip and try to
explain some of the issues which have |
arisen and make them clear to those |
people whom / can reach with my
voice or through the kindly press If
they report what | say-because | |
believe the time has come for sober
EetOnU lnDuEHl nave
that the American people can always
be trusted. not only to think soberly,
but also with a discriminating sense
as to what is fact and what is fustian,
after time. 1t won't happen at once,
and sometimes We have to wait for II
until after we decided. and that Is
not quite so satisfactory. But in any
event, we middle Of the road people.
who ire not extremists. are. we be-
lleve. the real progressives, because
we do not make progress by great
strides. we make II step by step.
I'VE can depend upon people TO
recognize the substantial in progress,
rather than that which was represen-
ted by proposed legislation and plat
form declarations that are not for the
purpose of being put into force and
Into law to accomplish real reform.
but are made for the purpose of cam
paign use only"