The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-08-15
JUMPING ON TAFT.

Inc pIeSelt OuenSeTWlll D6 q lew
words taken from an address: deliv-
cred few days ago by Congressman
John L.. Burnett of Alabama.
We shall let the Record speak for
itself, with no other comment other
than we do not believe all the things
that Mr. Burnett said:
Mr.. Chairman: I think in the
closing days of this extra session
some one ought to say few words in
defense of the president. 1t seems
that in his own party he can find no
defender in either House of Congress,
and as Democrat I feel that he has
done many things worthy of praise
from our party, and, in fact, from
the people of the whole country The
most important of these is he has
made the success of the Democratic
party in the next election certainty.
| applause on the Democratic side)
This statement l should make with
some modification. There were other
lesser lights that played an important
part in bringing about the success of
our party last fall and in assuring a
repetition of that success in the cleo
ton to come next years. Among
these were the late lamented Speak
err, and the gentleman from New
York, whose name shares the odium
of the bill which is perhaps the most
execrated legislation ever enacted by
the American Congress. applause on
the Democratic side).
In the campaign of 1908 the presi-
dent assured the people that the re-
vision of the tariff meant revision
| downward. He knew that no man
could be elected who did not make
that promise. 1 am one who believes
that the president meant what he
said.
Did the people get what Mr.. Taft
promised them? Their answer is
| found in the 60 Democratic majority
elected last fall. Further answer is
found in an article by distinguished
Republican United States Senator in
the Saturday Evening Post of July 8.
Referring to the Presidents connec-
ton with that monstrosity, the
Payne-Aldrich bill, he says:
"When the tariff bill passed the
House it was condemned the country
over as a betrayal of platform pledg-
es. 1t violated platform pledges;
nevertheless it received his approval
Not only so, but in his Winona speech
he lauded it as the chest ever
This assertion I think the Presi-
dent had been led by his evil advis-
ers. to believe to be true. 1t shows
how the high ideals of a good man
can be destroyed by evil surround
ings. In this same article in the Sat-
urday Evening Post this Republican
Senator, in explaining the Presidents
violation of his prediction promis-
es, says:
"Cannonism," Mr.. Taft said to
many progressives in the presiden-
tial campaign, was the greatest load
he had to carry, and yet at the out
set of his administration he gave
his support to Cannon--not passive
ly, but actively. He elected Cannon
to the Speakership when he was GER
tain of defeat; he stifled the attempt
to modify the House rules
Those are not my words, but are
words of prominent Republican
Senator.
Mr.. Norris: Mr.. Chairman, will
the gentleman yield?
The Chairman: Does the gentle
man from Alabama yield to the gen
tleman from Nebraska?
Mr.. Burnett: Yes 49,. ~
Mr., Norris: want to ask the gen.
tleman question in connection with
his attack on the President
Mr.. Burnett: am defending the
President, not attacking him.
Mr.. Norris: Well, defending him.
1 want to ask why the gentleman did
not jump on some one near his size?
Haughter).
Mr.. Burnett: I think, Mr.. Chair
man, that by the time this Congress
gets through with the President he
will have shriveled up to much less
than my size. daughter and ap-
felt that my party owed him (the