Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-01
PRESIDENT TAFT SOUNDS
KEYNOTE OF HIS CAMPAIGN
Address to Committee Notifying
Him of His Nomination by
the Chicago Convention.

In accepting the republican nomination
Tor the presidency, after being notified
at the White House today, President
Taft said:
'Mr. Root and Gentlemen of the Notifi-
cation Committee:
Il accept the nomination which YOU
render. | do so with profound gratitude
TO the republican party. which has thus
honored me twice. I accept it as an ap-
prevail of what / have done under It's
mandate and as an expression OF con-
fdence that in a second administration l
will serve the public we'll. The issue pre-
scented to the convention. over which your
chairman presided with such just and
even hand. made a crisis in the party
life. A faction sought to force the party
to violate valuable and time-honored
national tradition by intrusting the power
of the presidency for more than two
terms to one man. and that man. one
whose recently avowed political views
would have committed the party to radi-
cal proposals involving dangerous changes
in our present constitutional form OF rep
resentative government and our indie
pendent judiciary.
This occasion is appropriate for the
expression of profound gratitude at the
victory for the right which was won at
&HiCdSu- DIV tNdt the
party was saved for future usefulness 1t
has been the party through which sub
stantiaily all the progress and develop
ment in our countrys history in the last
fifty years has been finally effected. II
carried the country through the war
which saved the Union. and through the
greenback and silver craZes to a sound
gold basis. which saved the countrys
honor and credit. II fought the Spanish
war and successfully solved the new
problems of our island possessions. 1t
met the incidental evils of the enormous
trade expansion and extended combina-
lions of capital from 1897 until now by
successful crusade against the attempt
of concentrated wealth to control the
countrys politics and its trade. 1t enact
ed regulatory legislation to make the rail-
roads the servants and not the masters
OF the people, Ii has enforced the anti
trust laws until those who were not con-
tent with anything but monopOlistc con-
troll Of various branches OF industry are
now acqueScent in any plan which shall
give them score for legitimate expansion
and assure them immunity from reckless
prosecution.
Alive to Modern Demands.
The republican party has been alive
TO the modern change in the view of the
duty of government toward the people
Time was when the least government was
thought the best. and the policy which
left all 10 the individual. unmolested and
nnaided by government. was deemed the
wisest Now the duty of government by
positive law 20 further equality of oppor-
tunIty in respect of the weaker classes in
their dealings with the stronger and
more powerful is clearly recognized. 1T
il in this direction that real progress
toward the greater human happiness is
under our Constitution such tendency to
so-cailed paternalism was impossible.
Nothing is further from the fact. The
power OF the federal government to tax
long been exercised. and the admiration
one feels for our Constitution is increas-
ed when We perceive how readily that
instrument lends itself to wider govern
mental functions in the promotion of the
comfort of the people.
The list OF legislative enactments for
the uplifting Of those of our people suf-
fering a disadvantage in their social and
economic relation 10 others enacted by
the republican party in this and previous
administrations is long one. and shows
the party sensitive 10 the needs of the
people under The new view of govern
mental responsibility.
Thus there was the pure food law and
the meat inspection law TO hold those
who dealt with the food of millions TO
strict accountability for its healthful
condition
The frigh.ful loss Of life and limb to
railway employees in times past has now
been greatly reduced by statutes reouir-
ing safety appliances and proper inspec-
ton. of which two important ones were
passed in this administration.
he dreadful mining disasters in which
thousands of miners met their death
have led 10 federal mining bureau and
generous appropriations TO further dis
covery Of methods for reducing explosions
and other dangers in mining.
The statistics as 10 infant mortality
anu a. 10 the too early employment of
children in factories have prompted the
creation Of children's bureau, by which
the whole public can be made aware OF
actual conditions in the states and the
best methods of reforming them for the
saving and betterment OF the coming
generation
The passage of time has brought the
burdens and helplessness Of old age 10
many OF those veterans of the civil war
who exposed their lives in the supreme
struggle 10 save the nation. and recog-
nizing this. Congress has added 10 previ-
Gus provision which patriotic gratitude
had prompted substantial allowance
which may be properly characterized as
an old mems pension.
BY the white slave act We have sought
10 save unfOrtunates from their own deg
radiation. and have forbidden the use OF
interstate commerce in promoting vice.
Compensation Of Workmen.