The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-12-01
TAFT'S
own VIEW Of HIS
ADMINISTRATION
An Authorized Interview on
His Own Acts, Past and
Future
TARIFF REDUCTION WILL
Be UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Winona Speech Would Be Repeated
in Substance But Not in Form We're
the Opportunity Again Offered-WM
Take Democrats 1t Their Word.


Take Democrats It Their Word.
New Yor':, Dec. LIN the current
issue Of the Outlook there appears an
article entitled President Taft's Own
View. an Authorized Interview" In
which the president discusses current
topics with an interviewer, as follows
in part:
Speaking of the tariff issue. Mr.
President, IL you could begin your ad-
ministration again. would you repeat
your Winona speech tomorrow" the
interviewer asked.
I'm phraseolo' no; in effect, yes.
Had ! known as much as do now,
] should have realized that there are
some things one cannot leave to be
speech to stenographer on the cars
between stations, and glanced through
it. only enough to straighten its gram
mar: 1t was sent out by the press with
correspondingly little ceremony. SO
that papers received it In all sorts OF
shapes. If had prepared it two OF
three weeks before and revised 1t de-
liberateiy. as ought to have done.
should have clarified several passages.
And, particularly. I should have
changed the sentence where I pro.
ever passed. The comparative would
have been better description than the
superlative: for, whatever its short
comings. the act still contains less to
be criticized than it's predecessors. and
It did, as a whole. revise the existing
schedules downward.
II had no fault to find with either
Democrats or insurgents for trying to
reduce any duties they chose: what
object to is disturbing the business Of
the country today, when there is moth
ing better than guesswork to proceed
upon, and then disturbing it afresh six
Information is before us do not join
in the charge Of Inconsistency against
the Democrats for compromising with
LaFollette on the wool schedule instead
of standing by their own figures. II
they could -nt get all the reduction
they asked for. they were quite justi-
fed in taking what they could get
MY chief criticism on their tariff ac-
ivities last session was that they were
willing to send to me Hesitation 50
crude and i'll digested that they must
have. known. If they had paused to
think, that I could not possibly ap-
prove IT,"
Reduced Cost of Living.
''Js your tariff reduction program
based on the theory that 1t will bring
about corresponding reduction in the
cost of living?"
II think that that effect is greatly
over estimated. My chief objection to
needlessly high tariff is that it nour-
slant temptation to the formation of
little trusts. which often are more
directly oppressive to the consumer
than big ones"
"Mr. President there is your tariff
board. You have been sharply critf-
cized for making It up Of men who
are not tariff experts"
And that is true: they are not. If
1 had been appointing a board of tariff
experts I could not have got along
with less than twenty-five. in order
subject. What undertook to do was
to make up board of trained investi-
gators. capable of managing thor
ough inquiry into costs of production
and of analyzing its elements. First,
Mr.. Macveagh wrote to friends in
leading universities. asking each to
give me list Of the economists con-
sidered by them hest equipped for the
task in hand. Professor Emery's name
" on VII ali lIle llStS duU at the Top OF
half Of them. so I made him chair
man of the board. Page comes from
the University Of Virginia.: Sanders is
an authority On agriculture: Reynolds.
in interpreting and enforcing the tariff
laws for four years. had presumably
learned the ins and outs of that busi-
ness: and Howard I regarded as tke
ablest southern representative in con-
gress in my day. These men made no
pretense of being tariff experts: they
employ all the expert help they need.
pie would that the present prosperity
OF the treasury is due in no small
measure to the existing tariff, which,
all its faults. is
revenue producer. There is a good
deal more that can be said for that
act. It gives lis maximum and mini
mum tariff proviso which ! deem of
the highest importance. and which
to increase our foreign trade
with the Philippines. which has made
the islands more prosperous than ever
In their history without injury to any
American industry. It gave the author
Lty that I used to create and appoint
a tariff hoard. which. though not the
I sought. is doing a most
useful work: and 1t imposed corpora
tlOn tax. on Whlch ! mad set my heart,
but which at times despaired Of get
ting through"
Income Tax.
''Now that you have launched your
project for constitutional amend
ment. you probably have in mind some
particular form Of general income tax
TO recommend to congress when it is
free to act?''
I'm way. yes. believe, on prin.
,iplc. In general income tax The
,nly good arguments against it are
hat 1t is inquisitorial. aud that II Of.
'ers a temptation to perjui. 1.t III
would not resort to the ordinary in
'ome tax except in an emergency like
var. when would have it graduated,
10 that those citizens who had most
II stake should bear a correspondence
arEe share Of the burden of the com.
non defense. In time of peace ri
Hould avoid temptation to perjury and
would confinc the government to taxes
hat do not involve such inquisitorial
Methods In their collection"
Supreme Court Decisions.
MIR. President, suppose you have
noticed Mr.. Bryan's comments on vour