Arizona republican., 1912-04-13
Draws the Line Between Militant Progressive and Constructive
 Statesman
WARMLY DEPENDS
 ADMINISTRATION
Secretary Points Out That Federal Issues Are to Be Decided By
 Campaign
I [ASSocidted Press DiSbdtchl

LINCOLN. April 12.-Speaklng to- nisht in support of President Taft's
 admir- stratiOn. Secretary "s t!Ic In terior Waiier Fisher declared that "absOlutely regardless of the bricks that are thrown by either side" the
 president had pressed forward to the goal of accomplishment of real meas ures for the advancement of the
 interests of the whole people"
 You can be pretty sure" he said, that any public man is in the middle
 of the road when he is attacked by big business upon one side and by
 those who are seeking the advance
 of ersonal interests on the other Fisher said he entered the cabinet
 because nothing but lack of con-
 fidence in the sincerely high purpose of personal interests on the other"
 refusal of such a call
 Il became president of the Conser- vation League of America at the sug- gestion of Roosevelt and Clifford Pin chot." he said. 'I was for Roosevelt
 for president when he was only lieu tenant colonel In 1896. when he
 hadn't yet been nominated for gov ernor of New York. was one of a little group of enthusiasts from the city of Chicago who flung to the
 breeze a banner inscribed. For Pres
 ident in 1904. Theodore Roosevelt %
 The secretary declared confidence in President Taft had deepened into conviction with closer acquaintance and greater knowledge of the ability and energy with which he was all ways working for the promotion of
 public welfare
 T understand Senator LaFOllette recently told you he came to Nebras-
 ka because Nebraska people are pro-
 gressive' said Fisher That's the treason l have come to Nebraska. claim to be a progressive republican
 and I wish to say something to you about so-called progressive policies, and then return to the republican nomination for president.
 "I believe the position of President Taft has been misunderstood and misrepresented. I myself had the dis tinction of being under the suspicion Of both radicals and reactionaries. My claim to being a progressive IS based not upon mere advocacy of progressive policies in a theoretical, academic way. but on practical eff forts to secure definite results. es- pecially in movements for the short
 ballot, the direct primary. the ref erendum, and the recall"
 He said President Taft had taken the progressive attitude on all these. that the president believed in the
 direct primary, presidential preference lin an increasing but conservative use of the referendum" and that the only application of the recall he has op- posed is that of judges.
 Upon ali these questions said
 Fisher. genuinely progressive men disagree about the Iurm and extent | in which these changes in govern mental methods should be adopted by the states" To make them the test | in the selection of the republican nominee for the presidency was to divide men who should act together The real issues of next November l are to he federal issues. such as the
 tariff and regulation of trusts. Here again the difference between ! the militant reformer and the con structive statesman is well illustrat- | ed in the attitude and action of the president His tariff commission has 1 for the first time given to congress and the country real facts upon which constructive tariff legislation can be lframed. I think it is entirely within I bounds to state that not one of the presidents critics has made suc- cessful or even serious attack upon these reports"