Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-09-27
TAT 7 WARNS j. 8.
AGAINST POWER
Of DICTATOR
Defends Payne Tariff Law as
Maker of ProSperity-Tariff
Revision Promised.

NEW YORK, Sept. 2I.--A warning
that the control Of trusts through Fed
eral Incorporation and regulation would
create a monstrous monopoly of power
which. in the grasp Of an unprincipled
man. could be used to perpetuate his
authority and make him dictator who
might be overthrown only by a reVo-
ution. is sounded by President Taft In
an interview printed in an evening pa
.ner CThe World here.
Discussing this phase of the Progress
sye platform. the president is quoted
as saving
1T would create the most monstrous
monopoly of power in the history of the
uor}d--~a power as much greater, as
much more autocratic, than that OF q
Caesar or Napoleon, as the business
interests Of the twentieth century are
greater. more dominant and far
reaching than were those two thou
sand or a hundred years ago An un-
prncipled man with such power in his
grasp could perpetuate his authority
perhaps under legitimate forms, and
become 4 dictator until his hold could
b. shaker loose only by revolution
Discussing the tariff, the presi7en.
promised a reduction on a scientific
rather than haphazard basis. say
Ia:
Promises Tariff Revision.
TIRE tariff should be revised so far
as may be necessary to keep prices
TIM heMg eXorbitant, SO that. as |
a,f~ explained in my speech of &C
,.n,asr. the manufactures shall Sc
rata on. enough protection to pay the
s,ac of nigh wages which obtains and
olg,r e. obtain in this country and Sc
ruse % 81 sonable profit from the bust
less. 7 his may be done by the contin-
iance = tariff boards Investigations
uja ne facts. which would enab G
congress and the people 10 know whar
rge Ja"ff as to each schedule ought t.
be, TINS American public may rest ss
,:ea that, should've Republican parIi
Is restored 70 power In all its legisa-
tive branches, all the schedules in the
presar' tariff of which complaint is
mad. viii be subjected to Investigation
anC report without delay by q compe-
tent and impartial tariff board, and TO
the reduction or change which may be
neoessar ~ TO square the rates with
facts So far as excessive prices might
he due TO Illegal combinations they can
be dealt with under the antitrust law"
The president stated that the policy
u the Republican party is not TO shut
nut foreign manufactures, but to foster
American manufactures and to keep the
2 American workingmsn employed.
Defends Payne Law Again.
As to the Payne tariff law, the presi-
tent saws:
The Payne law has. no more to do
with advancing the cost of living than
me latest Atlantic cable tariff On the
contrary, it has enabled the American
worker to meet the cost OF living and
maintain his family in comfort. Under
the operation of that law. prosperity
has been gradually restored since the
panic II 1907. Practically every able
bodied man who Is willing 20 work has
work, and IN some of the large indus
trial cen$ere aR well as in other parts
Of the country, the demand for laloorers
Tar exceeds the supply. City hotels
have been thronged with buyers from
All sections OF the Union. who report
ready sales and empty shelves. Farm
ers were never better off. Every le-
climate industry 10 looking forward TO
still greater prosperity, provided the ma
TONS progress shall not be halted by
the benumbing glacier of free trade or
the destructive lava stream OF an
archy."
The president, after intimating that
he would call an extra session of con-
sress for tariff revision, was asked:
DO YOU mean to say. Nj. President
mat you will call an extra session to
revise the tariff" The president re-
piled:
My statement is sufficiently ex-
n,cit."
The president declared that womans
surfra GO is an issue to he decided by
the states. and concluded with the dec
aration that he feels sanguine Of re-
election.