The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-02-03
Quotes Martyred President In
Support Of Reciprocity.
URGES BREAK IN TARIFF wall
Mckinley Memorial Dinner 10 Used
by the President to Popularlze
Reciprocal Trade Relations
With Canada.

of the Ohio Society of Washington and
their guests at Mckinley memorial
dinner here avowed himself the legatee
of McKinley's policy of reciprocity ex.
pressed in the martyred presidents
last public speech at Buffalo.
II am proud" exclaimed President
Taft, "as son of Ohio, to bring for
ward for approval and effective action
a. measure carrying out the policy
which he proclaimed and made his
own at the acme of his great career"
Three justices of the supreme court,
several senators and representatives
in congress and many others promi-
nent in Official life heard and vigor-
ously applauded the presidents appeal
for Canadian reciprocity.
The president responded to the
toast: William Mckinley"
To those who heard the presidents
speech the conclusion was inevitable
that Mr.. Taft had spuarely put up to
his party's representatives in congress
the responsibility in dealing with the
Canadian reciprocity agreement of ac-
cepting or rejecting tie last great pub
lie policy boqueathed 20 them by Pres
ident Mckinley.
Mr.. Taft's speech YVES the feature
OF the dinner of the Ohio Society of
Washington. Associate Justice w. r.
Day, of the United States supreme
court, president OF the Ohio society,
presided. Among the other distin-
guished guests at the Speakers table
were former Vice President Charles
w. Fairbanks, who followed Mr.. Taft
by responding 20 the toast: "McKin-
ley, the ci,i-c1."
The president said in beginning that
when Mckinley was first elected pres
ident there were apparently some
who regarded him rather as a parti-
san politician of a sweet, attractive
nature, whom circumstances had made
the champion of great cause, than
as statesman of breadth or ability,
force and independence of judgment
What I wish chiefly to speak of to-
night is the effect upon Mckinley as a
man and statesman of the trials he
had to undergo in the presidency The
responsibilities and demands of that
office broadened and widened him and
developed in him qualities of mind and
soul that, latent till then, bloomed
forth under the stimulating influence
of adversely and showed him the
really great and forceful character he
was.
"The popular pressure for war with
Spain he resisted with all his strength
because he hated war and because he
knew how unprepared we were for
such a struggle as he supposed we
must have.
"The uniting Of the whole country
behind him in the war had brought
the north and south together in a
closer union than in seventy years
The democratic agencies in his cleo
ton had already softened for him the
asperities of party strife. He cult
waited the good will of the Democrats
In house and senate from the bean-
ming of his term, and by his exquisite
tact, his delicate courtesy, his real
goodness of heart, his knowledge of
congressional and senatorial tradi-
lions and his consequent care In the
exercise Of his legitimate executive in
fluence he brought at out the sympathy
and cooperation between the two
ends of the avenue that was excep-
tional in the country's history. From
a partisan congressman he became in
truth and in fact president of all the
people, with catholic spirit of patri-
otism that embraced in his anxious
care every one, friends and enemies,
supporters and detractors.-
The president reviewed the prob
lens that were thrust on Mckinley IN
Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines,
the storm of misrepresentation and
abuse to which he was subjected and
then turned to McKinley's final stand
on the protective policy and reel
procity. The president said:
HE felt the expansion of this coun-
try into great world power He saw
the future growth of it's commerce
with other nations. He came to know
that the high protection policy was
too provir cial and that Il was time
to moderate it.
Accordingly. after his second cleo.
ton, at Buffalo, facing an immense
audience in that Pan-American exhibit
ton of industries and looking over to-
ward our sister country on the north
he spoke the words showing that he
thought the time had come for greater
iiberality in our dealings with other
countries and for mutual benefits in
reciprocal relations OF tariffs. I use
his language, uttered on the day be-
fore he fell by the hand of the as.
Bassir:
We have vast and intricate bust
ness built up through years of toll and
In which every part of the
country has its stake, which will not
permit OF either neglect or undue self.
lshDess. No narrow, sordid policy
will subserve 1t. The greatest skill
and wisdom on the part OF the manu-,
iacturers and producers will be re-
Iuired TO hold and increase II. Our