The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-27

the people of the far northwestern
territory need relief and he is going
TO do his utmost to see that lhey get
it. The secretary is going to set about
to solve the coal question If he pos
sibly can. The address by the secre-
tary was not down on the program,
but it furnished 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:
I am one of those that count my
self q progressive
He was interrupted by applause and
cheering.
Il am a true progressive he re-
sumed, sand I believe in true pro-
gressiveness and not in hypocrltlcaI
or demagogical progressives VINO de-
clare for a progressive policy and then
oppose every practical progressive
measure put forth When President
Taft said he was trying to keep in the
middle of the road the other day, l
believe he meant what he said and
1 believe that you believe he meant
what he said I am that type OF pro-
gressiVe. My friends, you should judge
men not by what they say but by what
they do
Governor Stubbs 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
glared directly at the cabinet officer.
Curtis Defends Fisher.
Senator Curtis, of Kansas, classed
as conservative, was next to speak and
he took advantage of the somewhat
strained situation to pay a tribute to
''Mr Fisher he said, s'has just re-
turned from Alaska, where he has
been studying the great problems that
face the people of that far away ter
ritory. And 7 want to say to you, Mr.
Secretary, here and now, that the peo-
pie Of this country will believe what
you report in regard to Alaska, and I,
as one senator, will be there to help
you and President Taft to solve the
Alaskan questions and to serve the
people of This country"
Senator Curtis concluded with the
assertion that the people of Kansas be-
lieved Mr.. Taft broad enough and big
enough to be the president of all the
people"
Taft Favors Commission Plan.
In laying the cornerstone of the new
city building here, President Taft an
nounced himself as in favor Of fixing
the responsibility for municipal ad-
ministration upon one man or upon
very small body of men, Mr.. Taft
came very close to openly advocating
the commission form of government
Experiments - he said, t'have been
made as to the character of the best
municipal government I think the
general tendency of the modern view
is that the municipal government is
best, at least for cities of any size,
which fixes the responsibility on one
or a very small body of men, and
makes them answer to the whole peo-
pie of the city for the efficiency of
the government. The method by which
the people elect eight or ten or twelve
different officers takes away the op-
portunity of the people to hold some
one responsible for defects in the ac-
tua1 government
But if you give the mayor. under
the so-ca1led federal system, the right
to appoint all the Officers and any Of
ficer fails, the mayor is responsible
because he appointed him, and he
ought to remove him if he is a bad
man, or make him better if he is cap
able of Improvement.
Under the so-cal1ed commission
system, which I believe you have in
Kansas, the same principle is exempli-
fled"