The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10
Gives Credit to His ''Distin- guished Predecessor for
 Awakening People
ELIMINATES ALL WHO
 LOOK TO SOCIALISM
Explains Words in Regard to Ability of People to Goern Themselves. Reiterates Belief That
 Check Is Needed

Chicago, March 9-President Taft to- | night gave new definition of "poli- | tical progressive" in a speech at ths banquet of the sh-American Re- publican league of Chicago He elim- mated from consideration as real pro- gresslves all those who look to social ism for relief from present day evils In government, declared that his dis 1 tinguished predecessor" deserved most credit for awakening the people to the need for action and argued that pro
 gressive Is that progressive does,"
 pointing 10 some of the achievements of
 his administration as proof that it has
 qualified under that definition. 1 The term 'progressive.'" said the President, includes all of those who
 have been moved to efforts of reform 1 by the necessity for legislative and
 governmental action to deprive corpor- l ate. capital and undue vested privilegs 1 of it's political power and to bring
 about proper popular governmental
 control and regulation of the use of
 capital in legitimate avenues and for Legitimate purposes
 l Handsome is that handsome does.
 said he, quoting the old maxim. An administration which is successful is
 entitled to the support of the people,"
 Considers Radical Progressiyes
 Turning from those he considered Iprogressives to those he held to be
 radical in their desires for govern
 mental changes, the President con- tinued:
 The progressive movement has as- sumed the character of a crusade and
 many radical remedies were suggested,
 the carrying out of which would only
 be less destructive than the threatened 1 fatal course of the disease. There are many who have long attacked our present institutions as the basis of all injustice
 and Inequality and their voice become
 louder and more distinct and Is listened
 to with much greater favor. I 'The growth of socialism in this coun- l try is noteworthy incident in showing tho extreme to which many would 70 in the solution of the problem which am discussing.
 l Socialistic Scheme Futile
 .ffhe futlity of the socalistie scheme
 which destroys the property for the up- lift of humanity is that 1t is impossible
 to find sufficiently strong motive for | iopoi UT ipI SaNliE. Without labor tho 1 world could not rise 10 meet the cost of living and comfort and physical happi-
 ness of the growing population" | The banquet was given in commemora-
 ton of the fftieth anniversary of the bat | tie between the Monitor and the Merrl-
 mack and the President referred to this
 as sort of starting point for his polit- l ical speech.
 | There is nothing more inspiring in the l history of this country than the story or tho achievements of the republican party since the Monitor received her bap- l tism Of flre." he said.
 1 MT Taft pointed out that the progress
 sive movement practically began with tho
 present century. Two decades of enor-
 nous expansion in all lines of endeavor l in the United States previous to 1900 l he declared, were responsible for en- I croachments of "big busness'' in the field
 of politics, and 1t finally became apparent 1 that these encroachments must be stopped and that legislation must be en-
 acted that would hold In restraint tho l corporate and vested interests. It was l in this connectioa that he brought In .
 reference to Colonel Roosevelt.
 Refers to Roosevelt
 During the administration of my | distinguished predecessor and his ap- peals to Congress, people and especial l l2 business communities were reused
 10 the necessity for action" he said.
 The great public beneht arising from this movement cannot be oVerestf-
 mated. It put the people on guard in every state and in every community'' The antitrust law and the Inter state commerce acts 10 control law breaking corporations. both were pass
 ed some time before. said MT. Taft I But he continued. "the. first step and the most important was the stir l ring Of the people to the nature Of the crisis that they had to meet and the
 obstacles that they had to overcome" | Once again. in the course Of this speech the President explained what | he-believed the American people were fitted to do in the way Of governing themselves He made it clear that he wished 10 correct an impression that he had declared the people unfit for self government
 | In conclusion the President pointed | to acts of his administration to prove
 its progressiveness. He said in part: "In the history of politics from time to l time new phrases are coined 10. char
 acterize new issues and new move-
 ments. One of the terms which has
 come into constant use today is pro
 sressiye.' and 1t Is supposed to indicate
 the opposite of reactionary or 'ultra-
 conservative
 | His Definition of Progressive | Men differ to what progressive
 policies are, but perhaps We can reach
 a definition that will suit everybody. L. Government Is framed for the greatest
 good for the greatest number and also 1 for the greatest good for the individual ] and the problem present is the. balancing 1 of these two objects Tn sucn a way that 1 objects may proceed side by side. While 1 We would not part with the right of prop- ] ertY, and while possibly in certain dhec- 1 tions We might be willing to modify the character of it's where il has turned | out to be an abuse. in the ease of the antitrust law. what We are all struggling