Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-13
TAFT ATTACKS CRITICS
President Defends His Administration
and Scores Insurgents and Demo-
trsnehmsnt q Peril to Country.

New York. Feb. 13-President Taft
last night explained the policies which
his administration seeks to carry out.
replied to the attacks which have been
made upon his administration, and
criticised the course taken by the dem
ocrats and insurgent republicans. and
predicted a victory for his policies in
November. His speech was made at
the Lincoln day celebration OF the New
York Republican Club. In some Of the
proposals made by the progressives of
both parties the president sees peril to
the constitution and national law.
with the effort to make the selec-
ton of candidates. the enactment of
legislation. and the decision Of courts
depend on the momentary passions of
& people necessarily informed as to the
issues presented" he said. such ex-
tremists would hurry us into condition
which could find no parallel except in
the French revolution or in that bub-
bling anarchy that once characterized
the South American republics.
such extremists are not progress
sives-they are political emotionalists
or neurotics who have lost the sense of
proportion and that clear perception OF
the necessity for checks upon hasty
popular action which made our people
who fought the revolution and who
drafted the federal constitution the
greatest self-governing people that the
world ever knew"
Discusses Tariff and Trusts.
The president then told of the legis-
ation enacted by the republicans TO
curb financial monopolies and prevent
their control of financial and political
affairs He then discussed the tariff.
saving the republicans will continue to
uphold the policy of tar1ff repre-
senting the difference OF the cost OF
production here and abroad. He also
urged scientific revision. schedule by
schedule after a nonpar,lsan board ilaa
ascertained all the facts.
The president turned to the proposal
of the democratic congress to cut down
the military and naval power OF the
country. saying:
1--WE have an army OF moplie troops
not more than one to thousand or
population. and now II is proposed o!
our democratic friends in congress 10
reduce that army by eliminating one
third Of our cavalry. They would cut
out some of the hest cavalry In tn.
world. Ave regiments, which are needed
for a nucleus Of a larger army should
we ever be called suddenly into war
For the same reason they propose to
depart from the time honored practice
Of adding to our navy each year two
battleships by cutting them off alto
gether this year Certainly the dimi-
mutton in the additions to the fleet
ought not to be contemplated until the
Panama canal is completed.
Shows Deeds Of Republicans.
II have said this much to show that
the republican party since it's begin
ming. more than fifty years ago. has
always been a progressive party and It
has always recognized its responsible
ity by action. 1t has never hesitated to
assume the burden Of new legislation
to accomplish good results. and it has
never allowed its respect for the con-
stitutional principles upon which this
government is founded to interfere
with remedial action and progressive
legislation within the limitation OF
those constitutional principles to make
the government more useful to the
people.
IF we have a record in the last ten
years. and especially in the last three
years. of responding to popular needs
by legislation specifically adapted to
afford the proper remedies. why should
we not be sure Of winning vote of
confidence from the people?
1T is true We were beaten in 1910,
but that was by a detection Of republic