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

&rW YORK. Sept IA warning
that the control of trusts through Fed
eral Incorporation and regulation would
create monstrous. monopoly Of power
which, in the grasp of an unprincipled
man, could be used to perpetuate his
authority and make him a dictator who
might be overthrown only by revo
luton. is sounded by President Taft in
an interview printed in an evening pa
per (The World here.
Discussing this phase Of the Progress
sive platform. the president is quoted
a : saying
1t would create the most monsrOus
monopoly Of power in the history Of the
vorld-a power as much greater as
much more autocrauc. than that Of
Caesar or a Napoleon. a 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-
principled man with such power in his
grasp could perpetuate his authority.
perhaps under legitimate forms, and
become a dictator until his hold could
be shaken loose only by revolution
Discussing the tariff, the president
promised a reduction on a scientific
rather than a haphazard basis say
ing:
Promises Tariff Revision.
The tariff should be revised so far
as may be necessary to keep prices
from being exorbitant, so that, as
have explained in my speech Of ac-
ceptance the manufacturer shall Sc
cure only enough protection to pay the
scale OF high wages which obtains and
ought to obtain in this country and Sc
cure a reasonable profit from the bust
ness. This may be done by the contin-
uance OF tariff boards Investigations
into the facts, which would enable
congress and the people to know what
the tariff as TO each schedule ought {.
be. The American public may rest as
sured that, should the Republican party
be restored TO power in all it's legisa-
tive branches, all the schedules in the
present tariff Of which complaint is
made will be subjected to investigation
and report without delay by a compe-
the reduction or change which may be
necessary TO square the rates with
facts So far as excessive prices might
be due to illegal combinations they can
be dealt with under the antitrust law"
The president stated that the policy
of the Republican party is not TO shut
out foreign manufactures but 10 foster
American manufactures and TO keep the
American workingman employed
Defends Payne Law Again.
As 10 the Payne tariff law. the presi-
dent says;
The PAYNE law has no more to do
with advancing the cost Of living than
the latest Atlantic cable tariff. on the
contrary, II 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 OF 1907. Practically every able
bodied man who is willing to work has
work, and in some of the large indus
trial centers, as well as in other parts
Of the country, the demand for laborers
far 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-
ultimate industry is looking forward 10
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 inttmatins that
he would call an extra session OF CON
gress for tariff revision, was asked:
DO YOU mean 10 say. Mr. President
that YOU viii call an extra session to
revise the tariff" The president re
piled.
MY statement Is sufficiently OK
plicit"
The president declared that woman's
suffrage Is an issue to be decided by
the states, and concluded with the dec
laratlon that he feels sanguine Of re-
election