The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-10
TAFT DEFENDS HIS
ADMINISTRATION
There Fl as Be en- No
Distrust Of American
People.
PARTY PROUD OF
ACHIEVEMENTS
Attacks Those who Constantly
Fawn Upon the People as if
They Were Incapable of
Error"-Says Progressive
Is as Progressive
Docs"
Especial to The Times-plspatch.]

Especial to The mes-Dispatch.]
Chicago. March e.-President Taft
whirled around Chicago to-day for
twelve hours practically without in
Permission. and made six speeches IN
different parts of the city. From tho
time the President left his private car.
shortly before o'clock. until he re-
tired at midnight, he was almost con-
stan,ly on the go. The principal
speech was made tonight before the
Swedish American Republican League
at the Congress Hotel.
Although AIR. Taft's voice was
phasis and vigor. He denounced the
progressive extremists" who, the
President declared. endcavor to create
the Impression in the mind of the
people that every one who disagrees
with them is opposed to the advance
mcnt OF human welfare. and who i'm
DuEn the motives of honest officials.
The President scored the critics Of
his Lincoln Day speech In New York,
who, b. misquotlns him. put him IN
the position of opposing popular gov
crnment.
The President. declared with en-
rhatic gestures that he believed that
tho progress made by the people OF
this country under popular govern
ment was a vindicatson OF the theory
OF Republican form Of government
Mr.. TAFT denounced the recall Of
Judges and Of court decisions.
MIR. Taft arrived In Chicago carly
this morning from Toledo. where he
spoke last night. He began his visit
TO the Windy City by a conference OH
tho Illinois situation with Governor
Deneen. Roy Q. West. chairman OF she
State Republican Committee. and
others.
Mr.. TAFT spent the night at the
Congress- Hotel. He will attend church
service tomorrow morning. and in
the afternoon will make an address
TO the Polish and Bohemian sunday
school children. The President will
leave Chicago tomorrow afternoon at
$50 o'clock on the Pennsylvania Lin
tied. arriving in Washington late
Monday afternoon.
At the banquet of tho Swedish :
American Republican League the
President defended himself from the
charge that his attitude on public
questions showed "distrust of the
American people" and attacked those
who constantly fawn upon the people,
az IL they were Incapable of crror."
After pointing with pride" TO the
achievements OF the Republican party
in the past nfty years. the President
sad:
81 agree that g. party may serve the
pubic we'll and then cease to bo use
ful. and that 4 Ia in its performance
in the ,mmel ate past and the prob
ability OF its performance in the Inn
mediate future that We are to find a
reason for It's continuance In power.
In the history of politics from time
to time new phrases are coined to
characterize new issues and new move
ments One of the terms which has
come INTO constant use to-day IL pro
Sressivc,' and Il is supposed to N
d'cate the opposite OF rcactionary or
ultra conservative. Men differ as TO
what progressive policies are. but
perhaps we can reach definition that
will suit everybody by tracing the
history. OF the progressive movement
and it's ultimate Objects"
The President then traced the CON
centration OF wealth and the great in
dustral development that caused II,
TOR two decades prior to | 400.
The vast industrial resources of the
country in tho West which seemed so
cheap. were parted with BY the public"
he said. TO turn ups In the hands of
corporate agents and to have an enorm :
GUS value and a monopoiistic churact er
that completely changed the attitude
or the people and started them into
tho necessity for a direct change Of
policies. Then the money which the
had at their disposal 10
protect their privileges ana property
and even 10 extend them. was not in
frequently used to corrupt the iustru-
of government and to OBJ
struct the immediate expression OF the
Will of the people In the change OF
laws, the closer relation of every pub
lie utility corporation and tho closest
and narrowcst scrutiny in the further
granting Of public franchises
Aroused to Action.
During the administration OF my
distinguished predecessor and by his
appeals to Congress and to the public,
tho people. and especially business
communities, were reused TO tho ne
costly Of action. Tho great public
benefit arising from this movement
cannot he ovcrestimated. II put the
people on guard in every state and In
every commuuity. In the sphere of
national Legislation the antitrust law
and tho interstate commerce law were
both passed some. time before this
movement reached It's height. 'rho
problems to be mot We're new for this
country. The legislation adapted to
solve then. was n matter of expert
mcnt. The issues presented to the
courts in the construction of statutes
were full of difficulty and doubt, and
needed time and the presentation of q
number of cases and their considera :
ton before clarity could be affirmed
in the construction of the statute. The
first step and the most important, how
eyer. was the stirring OF the people to
the nature OF the crisis they had ia
meet and the obstacles they had to
overcome.
'"rhe term progressive, therefore
includes all OF those who have been
moved TO efforts of reform by the ne
oessity for legislative and government
tai action to depriXe corporate capt
tai and undue vested privilege of Its
(c,ontinuea ON Ninth Parel -