Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1911-09-18
TAFT SOUNDS
CAMPAIGN NOTE
Challenges His Old-Time
Political Enemy William
Jennings Bryan
ANTITRUST LAW is GOOD
Opposed to Any Amendment
That Would Imperil Victories
Coined Thus Far.

Detroit, Mich, Sept. 1S.-President
Taft, at luncheon with the board of
commerce here today, made the first
OF what may be termed the political
speeches of his six weeks tour of the
country. He took up the trusts" and
clearly outlined his views concerning
them. He defended with vigor the de-
cisions of the United States supreme
court in the Standard Oil and Tobacco
Trust cases and there was distinct
campaign note in Mr.. Taft's challenge
to his ancient political enemy, Will
lam Jennings Bryan, to point out what
particular contract or restraint OF
trade he would condemn which would
not be condemned within the defini-
ton of the statute as laid down by
Mr. Chief Justice White.
Mr.. Taft added rather significantly
that persons who do not understand
the decisions and really do not under.
stand the law, have had a great deal
to say about them. It was not fair
tc the court, he declared to say that
it had read the word reasonable" into
the antitrust statute.
Il am entirely opposed to an amend
ment of the antitrust law" said the
President. ''1t is now valuable gov
ernment asset and instrument. Test
ed and brought into beneficial use by
twenty years of litigation and con
struction by the highest court, why
should we imperil its usefulness by
experiments
Cheers for Taft.
A crowd of several hundred persons
gathered in the rain at the station and
there was a cheer as the president s
automobile whisked by.
Taft Was Once Newspaperman.
At the breakfast, where the presi-
dent was entertained by Milton A. NC
Rae, and fifty more newspaper editors
and proprietors, he spoke briefly OF
his former connection with newspaper
work in Cincinnati.
Il an starting on long trip, gentle.
men," said Mr.. Taft, "and ask your
prayers both for my mental and physi.
cal we'll being. This trip, may say
was not entered into malice afore
thought. Some times when l contem.
plate it, hold my breath. But, being
in, am going through with it,
Senator Smith Joins Party.
Senator William Alden Smith Joined
the presidents party today and will
make most of the trip through Michi'
gan.
Grange Boycotts Taft.
Following breakfast, the president
was taken by special trolley to Pom
tiac, where he was scheduled to make
a brief address before returning to the
state fair grounds to assist in opening
the annual exhibition there. Two Of
the smaller oranges of the state. 10y
cotted the fair this year because OF the
invitation extended to the president
basing their action on the presidents
reciprocity campaign.
socialistic Agitation.
The outcry for amendments follow
ing the supreme courts decision, tn,
President said, had resulted in pro
!, posals prepared without real under
standing of the law and he added tina
while the agitation might serve tn,
purpose Of promoting "unreasonabl,
and unreasoning discomfort, it certain
| ly ought not to be considered seri
ously."
| Mr.. Taft referred to the fact tina
Immediately after the trust decision
were handed down by the supreme
court, Senator LaFollette spread Of
the public records a quotation from
one of the Presidents messages a
being at variance with the "rule o
reason" laid down by the court.
4 The President asserted that hi
views as expressed in the messag
were in exact accord with the dec
sions.
Downpour Of Rain.
Mr.. Taft reached Detroit early te
cay after an all nights ride fror
Erie, Pa. He left his train in dow
pour, but while breakfasting at tn
Detroit club, the clouds began to CIV
way and there was a promise OF SUI
shine for the outdoor events on th
program.