The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-08-01
TARIFF NOT RESPONSIBLE
FOR HIGH COST OF LIVING
The Supreme Issue, Declares the Nom-
ihee, Is Maintenance of Nations In
stitutions and Preservation Of Con
'stitution, Now Threatened.
(By Associated PreSs.)


Taft's formal speech of acceptance of
the nomination of the Chicago con-
gention was delivered here today to
the official committee of notification
headed by Senator Root and few
invited guests.
Although Mr.. Taft defined in detail
the issues of the campaign as he saw
them. he reserved the right to ampli-
fy his stateme9t in a letter as the
campaign develops.
The supreme issue that confronts
the voters, the President declared, was
that of the maintenance of the ma
TONS institutions and the preserva-
tion of the Constitution, threatened he
said, on the one hand by the Demo
cratic party and on the other by those
Republicans who had left the party
to try their fortunes in a new one.
Next in Importance Mr.. Taft plac-
ed the tariff. In the proposals of the
Democrats for reductions in the pres
ent schedules, he said, lay danger of
business depression and hard times.
The Republican principle of revision
only where scientific investigation
shows 1t necessary, marked the
straight road to continued prosperity
and commercial peace.
In discussing the tariff, the Presi-
dent said that it was untrue that to
its doors could be traced the high cost
of living and pointed out that condi-
tions of living were alike over the
world. A political promise could not
remedy such condition he said.
AS an issue only less important
than the tariff the President placed the
regulation of trusts. He said the
Sherman law had been enforced with
success but added that specific acts
of unfair trade should be denounced
as misdemeanors that such acts might
be avoided or when committed punish
ed by summary procedure. Interstate
business enterprises, he said should
be offered a federal incorporation law.
Aside from those issued the Preai-
dent pointed to the record of the
Republican party and particularly
during his own administration as an
earnest of what it might be expected
to do in the future II the people re-
turned It to power in November. He
attacked the Democrats at other points
: than the tariff. making special refer
ence to the refusal of that party in
the House of Representatives to con-
tinue the naval policy of two battle
ships a year. Taft did not mention
either Colonel Roosevelt or Governor
Woodrow Wilson by name but refer
red to each. While he did not accuse
either of embracing the doctrines of
socialism, many of the proposals they
had made, the President said savored
of it strongly. He closed with a
review of his administrative achieve
ments and appealed directly to the
conservative voters of the Democratic
party to join with the Republicans at
the polls.
'T know that in this wide country
there are many who call themselves
Democrats who view, with the same
aversion that we Republicans do, the
radical propositions of change in our
form of Government that are reckless
ly advanced to satisfy what is suppos-
ed to be popular clamor.' said the
President
"They are men who revere the Con-
stitution and the institutions of their
Government with all the love and re-
spect that we could possibly have.
men who deprecate disturbance in
business conditions, and are yearning
for that quiet from demagogic agita-
tion which is essential to the enjoy
ment by the whole people of the great
prosperity which the good crops and
the present conditions ought to bring
us.
"To them I appeal. as to all Repub-
licans, to join us In an earnest effort
to avert the political and economic