The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-04-18
SECRETARY FISHER
CONTINUED from Page Nine)

abuse, ne mas demonstrated courage, !
patience and ability and has made real /
and definite progress both in legislB- /
ton and administration. He has shown /
that he is more interested in curing |
evils than in denouncing them, in NOV. |
ing steadily and surely forward than |.
in talking about the dcsirability of
moving forward
His Obligations TO President
These, it seems to me, are the
qualities peculiarly needed now in the
presidential office. 1t would be false
modesty for me to ignore or 70 ex
pect others to ignore the fact that
the judgment thus expressed is the
opinion of a member Of the cabinet,
subject to such conscious or uncon-
scious influences as arise from that
association, but I hope the personal
note will be excused when | say that
the appointment was not sought, but
as offered under circumstances th9t
compelled acceptance and that i'm
posed no political obligations of any
kind; that no such obligations were
then or have ever been suggested,
and that the personal and official as
ISOLATION has at least afforded the
opportunity to form an accurate opin-
ion of the character and the capacity
of the president and of his ideals and
methods
Denounced as a Radical
The people of Chicago do not need
to be told that l am ana have been an
earnest advocate of progressive poll
cies. In fact, have been enough of
a progressive to have been denounced
as a radical. l still stand for those
policies and it is due to the president
to say that no department head could
ask from the chief executive a more
intelligent appreciation, a more help
full cooperation or a more uniform and
answering support than | have re-
ceived in the work of the department
of the interior.
"He is a conservationist who appre
ciates that conservation will be a use
flu! and enduring policy only to the
extent that we make it a practical and
conservative policy. He has, there
fore, not contented himself with re-
serving coal fields and timber lands
and water power sites, although he
public interest, but he has been chiefly
interested in securing laws under
which these Withdrawals can be restor-
ed to development and effective use
His vigorous support of leasing law
for our public coal lands is a case in
point So it has been with respect to
other important and progressive poll
cies.
Praises Taft's Tariff Stand.
Whatever may be thought of the
tariff law that was passed during the
first year of his administration. it
must be remembered that many of it's
duties were reduced as a result of his
insistence, and that through it he not
only obtained justice for the Philip
pines, but has, done more than any
other man to establish the policy for
which the progressive republicans
have for years contented-the policy
of revising the tariff not as log roll
ing patch work, but schedule by
schedule, after accurate information
has been obtained by a nonpartisan
and competent commission.
ITO his initiative was due the
amending of the federal statute for
the regulation of railroads, which has
enabled the interstate commerce COM
mission to make it's power effective.
TO his courage and prompt action was
due the suspension of the general ad-
vance in railroad rates, and this &C.
ton was subsequently justified by the
unanimous decision of the interstate
commerce commission.
Antitrust Act Attitude.
"He appointed the railroad securi-
ties commission, of which | happened
10 have been a member, and he APP
proved its unanimous recommendation
of effective publicity in all matters
connected with the issuance OF rail
road stocks and bonds, and of giving
the authority and the means with
! which to make physical valuation of
railroad property. Why has his mes,
sage not been effectively followed UP
by those of his critics who have 81
vehemently advocated these policies
for years?
For years the demand of the prog,
ress'vc9 has Ecen that the Sh4r,aau
antitrust act should be enforced and
it's efficacy be determined ny uGe
courts. President Taft has enforced
the act until those who have violated
it no longer regard it with contempt
None has been clearer than nc that