Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-04-27
TAFT CHEERED BY
1900 NEWARKERs
CONTINUED from FiTst Psee.)

indictments ne has made against me.
He said that l distrusted the people of
the United States and did not believe
in them. Well. my friends. I know
that is not true and so ought he TO
know II, for he knows me well.
Il could stand charges against me Of
all sorts, charges that do not convey
any honor to me; / have learned to
bear a good deal and that which was
a tender skin when / entered Office is
now a hide thickened by experience.
"If l consulted my own wishes ]
should now be silent under his per-
sonal attacks and trust TO the future
to work out my vindication. But the
trouble is, I represent a cause. The Re-
publican party is fighting for a cause
under a Constitution granting liberty
to the people and an independent Judi
ciary.
81 cannot afford to have that cause
suffer because charges against me are
not refuted by reference to the facts.
In other words, 1 must, II / do my duty,
answer to the charges OF Theodore
Roosevelt. It isn't a pleasant thing
to do, neither is it degnihed for the
President of the United States to enter
into a personal controversy.
But l didn't seek this or bring
about this condition of affairs. My
back is forced to the wall and I'm
bound. if I have any manhood in me,
to fight.
Nov, Mr.. Roosevelt says I distrust
the people. I was born and brought
up a Republican, and my father In
stilled into my heart and soul a o
of the people and a love for popular
government. s
at sinks deep into my heart to hear
the charges that I'm an aristocrat and
an oligarch and I don't believe In the
American people.
"If there is a sincere thought, OF IL
I have any pride, it is because I am a
Republican and believe in popular gov
eminent, because 1t has shown itself
to be the best and most beneficial in
the world.
People Can Make Mistakes.
But, my friends, 1 want to say this.
confidence in popular government does
not require me to come before the peo-
pie and tell them to do something they
cannot do. 1t doesn't require me to
fiatter them and give out the impress
sion that they can't make mistakes.
TheyNcan. The greatness of the Ameri-
can people lies in the fact that they
realize they make mistakes, and I am
honest enough to tell them SO, even
though I know that every sentence /
utter nay be distorted In the mean
ing that I distrust popular govern
ment."
At this point in his speech the Presi-
dent reiterated his remarks concern
ing what he meant when he said that
|, this is a government "by a representa-
tive part Of the people"
Nov, I want to ask you. my friends,
whether taking my speech and distort-
ing 1t was a square deal?'
Cries Of No came from all parts of
the hall.
Roosevelt believes that every man
should have a square deal. then he
says that every man that is support
ing me La a boss and that every boss Is
opposing him; everybody in favor Of
me is a boss and those in favor of him
are political leaders"
! In making reference to Roosevelt's
: aligning the past movement in Illinois
? with the name OF Lorimer, President
Taft said, "Of all men in the world
Roosevelt knew that I was o a par
tisan Of Lorimer. and yet he led the
voters of Illinois to believe that I was.
What can I do but ask you the uues-
ton, Was that a squar deai?'
what Progressive Means.
Then he say I am q reactionary
and not a Progressive. A definition OF
these terms is rather difficult. I sup
posed a Progressive was a man who
did things and labored for the people.
1 find that is not so.''
Now, 1 don't think you ian deter
min a Progressive by his looks, or
the way his brain works with refer
ence to poetry. l think a Progressive
is determined by what is done"
The meeting was presided over by
Arthur B. Leach, of South Orange, who
was introduced by State senator Aus
ten Colgate as a business man and a
representative of the Business Mems
League"
Dimes In south Orange.
President Taft passed through this
city yesterday afternoon on his way to
the home of Mr.. Leach, 321 Scotland
road, South Orange, where fifty men,
members of the Taft Business Mems
League, were guests at a dinner. at
which the President was the guest of
honor. The Taft automobile, with
Major Rhodes. his acting military aide;
Secretary Hilles and secret service men
drew up at the curb in front of Mr..
Leach's home at 6 o'clock.
Mr.. Taft, after the speech, went to
the home of Clarence H. kelsey, in
East Orange, where he was a guest
over night.
Arrangements have been made for a
game of golf among the Presidential
guests on the Baltusrol links today.
The President will leave for Philadel-
phia this afternoon, stopping at Tren-
ton for a brief massneeting. which is
scheduled for 4 o'clock.
The President was preceded by Job
E. Hedges, of New York Nearly every
sentence pronounced by the speaker
was supplemented by laughter.