The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-08-02
Committee Visits White
House and Breaks
News to Him.
GIVES "KEYNOTE'
FOR CAMPAIGN
Republican Leaders Pronounce
Speech Best President Ever
Has Delivered. and Expect 1t
to Prove Forceful Cam
paign. Lite'aturc-Cere-
mony Short and Simple.

Washington. AuEus, i.-Repubi,car
leaders VINO crovdcd tho Eas, Room
Of the White House today TO hear
President Taft's sneccr accepting tho
par'y's nomination for tho irasidency
were confident to-nish, ina, his ad.
oress would be the real "kevno,e" for
the campaign. and expressed tho be.
lief that II was one Of the best speeche.
that Mr.. TAT, has delivered since he
entered tho White House Members Of
the Presidents Cabinet Republican
leaders such as Senators Root Lodge
Smoot Crane and Representatives.
Mann Payne and othe.s We're confident
that the Presidents address wi!i b.
used as a campaign document and sen,
broadcast over the country. 1, wa,
praised in high terms by scores Of tine
tnrons which filled the White uouss
TO witness the notification
The ceremony itself Mas short and
SIMPLE rh~ President and senator
Root spoke from platform raised !,
lew feet above the nocr Of tn l3as,
Room with tn. treasury and tho 90,
-"'f''o'- "a Nil' ~ 4AAf fifAst. with It's
blooming scarlet geranlums ana its
tai spreading green palms. as a back.
ground.
Mrs Taft Mrs. Leonard Wood wife
Of the chief OF stan OF tho army. Mrs
iseeckman Winthrop wife OF the A.
sistant Secretary Of the Navy. and Mrs
a. y McClintock. the only woman
present sat just below the platform
while around them in a half circle
were grouped the members of the com
mittee, Senators and congressman and
other Invited eucstf.
The affair WAS informal Most OF the
committee and Consressmcn appeared
In conventional dress. but former
Speaker Joseph Cannon who was told
Yesterday he could ,.ttend in his shirt
sleeves and be comfortable. was on.
Of the few TO wear a trock coat.
Enjoys tho Occasion.
The President apparently enjoyed the
occasion immensely. After his speech
ne disappeared in his private apart
men;s for few minutes. returned
wearing q silk house coat instead OF
his formal dress and acted as waiter
for Mrs. Taft and the other women and
mingled among the guests asked to
luncheon in the state dining room. AZ
ter tho last visitor had departed ne
motored TO Chevy Chase TO play golf
~ .AtA 'E'ilfl-l ' ld4 'lt- fs-l " GfQS. nos.
Webb. of New Jersey. and Chairman
Hilles, OF the Republican National Com
rnittee.
with several hundred politicians
present there was plenty Of discussion
about political subjects
senstor Newell Sanders. Of Tennes-
Sec. contributed to the excitement BY
Announcing that he had contributed 81,
600 to the Taft campaign fund The
"a, o,s,, ~ "a.
formation that so far no treasurer OF
the committee has been named, and Mr..
Hilles predicted that choice would
not he made for several days.
Defines the Issues.
Although MIR. Taft defined in detail
the issues Of the campaign as he saw
them. ne reserved the right TO amplify
his statement in a letter as the cam
paign develops.
The supreme issue that confronts
the voters. the Pres '-ent declared was
that OF the maintenance of the nations
institutions and the preservation or
the Constitution. threatened. he said,
on the one hand by the Democratic
party. and on the other by those Re-
puhlcans who had left the party to
try their fortunes in new one
Next in Importance Mr.. Taft places
the tariff In the proposal of the Dem
ocrats for reductions in the present
schedules. he said. lay danger OF bus
mess depression and hard times. The
Republican principle of revision only
where scientific Investigation shows It
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 door could be traced the high cost
OF living. and pointed out that con-
ditions Of living We're alike over the
world y political promise could not
remedy such a condition. he said.
As an issue only less important than
the tariff. the President placed the
regulation Of trusts. He said the Sher-
man law had been enforced with sue
cess but added that specific acts OF
unfair trade should he denounced as
misdemeanors thar such acts might be
avoided OF when committed punished
by summary procedure. Interstate
business enterprises. he said, should be
offered Fedora! Incorporation Jaw
Aside from those issues The Pres
ident pointed to the record OF the Re-
publican party and particularly durinz
his own administration as an earnest
of what il might be expected to do in
the future If the people returned il to
power in November He attacked the
Democrats at other points than the
tariff. making special reference 10 tho
refusal OF that party in the House
OF Representatives. to continue the
naval policy OF two battleships a year.
Taft id not mention either Colonel
Roosevelt or Governor Woodrow VIII
son by name. hu, referred to each.
While he did not accuse either of en-
bIacing tho doctrines of socialism.
many OF the proposals they had made
the President said, savored OF It strong
| ly. tie closed with review Of his
administrative achievements and ap-
pealed directly to the nserva;ave
: 1ContInned On SeXrnth ParnN