The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-09-29

day with the leaders of the different
republican factions in Illinois, defined
his status as TO progressiveness, plead
ed guilty to being a very poor politi-
clan acknowledged again his ambi-
ton had lain in the direction of the
loffice Of chief justice rather than the
presidency, admitted he had undoubt-
edly made many mistakes. but assert
ed as president he had tried to do what
he though to be right. What the fu-
ture holds for him he didn't know. He
declared he was nat allied with the ex-
tremists of his party, either conserva-
tive or progressives, but had tried to
take a middle ground between the two.
But we middle of the road people
believe we are the real progressives, 3"
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 SO for a time, the public in the
end would distinguish between the
fact and ''fustian,' and would recognize
the difference between substantial pro-
gress and platform declarations.
The 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
iect had come earlier in the day when
he addressed the working men in a
local mandatory, where agricultural
implements are made.
Il was sorry to hear that in Canada
they do not care to have closer com
mercial relations with us" he said
IF reciprocity had been adapted, we
could have got on agricultural inn
Iplements into Canada at a substantial
decrease. But guess we can get
along"
The presidents political speech fol-
lowed a luncheon given in 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
lOglesby Governor Deneen could not
be present because of his broken leg
The Lorimer faction was represented.
Leaders wed with each other in
| pledging their support to President
Taft, and predicted amid 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 speech, Mr. Taft
sketched his early 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, he said he would
have vetoed bills under any condi-
tions, even if it cost me my life | say
that with all earnestness possible, be-
cause what l did was the result of a
conviction as deep-seated as any prin-
ciple l ever had"
Mentioning specifically the veto of
the Arizona statehood bill the presi-
dent said
Il just vetoed that because ] could
not do anything else
Referring to the split in the republi-
can party, Mr. Taft said he was en-
deavoring to go "along in the middle
of those two-progressives and reac-
tionaries In line with this idea, they
had been brought under a condition of
regulation that has satisfied them. The
country is 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 we'll make j
up our minds to that, gentlemen"
my friends, l did not expect to
make a political speech this after
noon" he said in conclusion What |
the future is know not. I only know
this, that l am going ahead to do the
best can. and am going through this
country on this trip and try to ex-l
plain 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 be-
lieve the time has come for sober sec
ond thought l have confidence 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 it
until after We decided, and that is not