The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-10-31
TAFT DEFENDS
HIS POLICIES
His Trust Attitude Firm, Con-
SlStent and Effective.
OPPOSES POLITICAL NJSTRUMS
Recall OF Judges a Menace to indie.
pendenes OF observation-disclosures That
Attacks on the integrity OF His Nom,-
nation Are 8aseless and Vicious.

pendence OF Observation-Disclosures Ths'
p Attacks on the Integrity Of His NOM.
{ nation Are Baseless and Vicious.
President TAFT discusses the issues
Of the present campaign In the Satur
day Evening Post. lie takes his stand
squarely on the issue that with him
rested the responsibility OF maintaining
the high standard set up In the records
OF bis party and Of carrying out those
policies of his predecessors which he
declares have made good government
and RepubIicanism Synonymous.
The greater part Of his argument.
which is the first of three to be writ
ten by the chief candidates for the
presidency. Is devoted to a review OF
tariff legislation during his admins
tration aud to the reasons for opposing
the bills set before him for reduction
of schedules before they had been In
vestigated by the tariff board
He says he signed the Payne tnriff
bill because. above all, II provided the
machinery bv which alone. In his opin-
lon. a Just and intelligent revision Of
the tariff could be effected; because II
gave the executive power through
maximum and minimum rates to get
proper treatment for American prod
ucts from foreign nations: because II
imposed a tax on corporations and
paved the way for government insight
into their operations: because II pro
vided a means Of collecting revenue
quickly In case of emergency: because
II granted larger measure of Justice
to the Filipinos and finally because II
did provide for a material reduction
In tariff rates. not so much of re.
duction as he would have liked to get
but as much as he believed It was
possible TO obtain without the una
chinery Of the tariff board which the
law created He disapproved of tn
tariff bills since passed because he saw
In them n menace to the American
workman.
Coming to those measures Of his ad.
minlstration which have been passed
In the interests of social justice. the
president sets down first the railway
rate bill. which he describes as the
logical development OF the policy EN-.
bodied In the Hepburn act II gave
authority to the interstate commerce
commission in many details that hal
been lacking and added powers Of sn.
pervision over express companies, tele
graph. telephone and cable lines. II
authorized the institution of investiga
tons OF rates before formal complaint
had been made. the protection OF wa.
ter lines from unfair competition and
enacted long and short haul clause
that has proved valuable to many
President Taft asserts that bis trust
policy has been firm. consistent and
effective In spite of the enmlty OF
those business interests which he
knew II would arouse. He points out
that forty-four cases against trusts
were Instituted during the seven and
one-half years that Mr.. Roosevelt was
president. while during the less than
tour years Of his own administration
civil suits and forty-ive
criminal indictments have been
brought.
To what he styles the nostrums Of
he recall OF judges and OF judicial
opinions the president Is firmly oppos.
ID, holding them a menace to the indie
'endence OF the judiciary.
AS we listen to the demagogic OF
atuous reformers." he says. "let us
lot forget that votes are not bread. con
tltutional amendments are not work
eferendums do not pay rent or fur
Iish homes. recalls do not provide
initiatives do not supply EN-
'loyment or relieve inequality Of con
ition or opportunity. For any def.
lite plans from those who advocate
Innovations which will promote equali-
, Of opportunity and ameliorate hard
hips We listen In vain"
As to the Chicago convention. the
resident declares that no considera-
lon Of party veal or personal ambl,
lon would tempt him to stand as a
residential candidate did he not know
nat the attacks upon the Integrity OF
Is nomination are as baseless as they
re vicious.