The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1912-03-12
SECRETARY OF COMMERCE AND
LABOR SAYS INCUMBENT
IS THE MAN.
MEASURES ARE ATTACKED
Speaker Decries Initiative, Referendum,
and Recall and Says That They "Are
Advocated by Men Ambitious for Of.
flee and Generally Avoided by Men
of Local Affairs"

Indianapolis, March lin speech
lauding President Tafts administra-
tion as complete fulfillmcnt of all
the republican PLATFORM promises of
1908, and a strict continuation of the
policies inaugurated by Roosevelt, Sec
retary Nagcl of the department OF com
merce and labor, made vigorous at
tack tonignt on the advocates of such
governmental changes as the Initiative,
referendum and recall. Mr.. Nagel de-
clared that public men were attempt
ing to confuse the public mind. that
they were busy making promises to
which they cannot successfully be
held" that the recall Of judges would
make trimmers OF men, and deter
men of independence and capacity
from seeking positions of trust
1T was conceivable so years ago
that as a result OF our internal strife
that might have been two republics"
he said. 1T Is conceivable today that
II some of the suggestions impatcntly
put forward at this time to prevail, the
question may arise whether or not
there shall be one republic. Against
such "a contingency II behooves every
disregard of every other considera- :
ton"
The efforts of President Taft to car
ry out the pledges of the party. he
said, had brought no aid from his re-
publican detractors.
For the last three years" said Sec
rotary Nagel, lin period of unfailine
| struggle TO realize and bring into ac-
tion every pledge that was made III
the name of the republican party, there
has been uttered by them scarcely q
word of approval of those things ac-
complished.
Nostrums.
Instead. they have filled the all
with nostrums, the acceptance oi
which they pronounce TO be the sole
test, of the progressive spirit. Instead
of aiding to fulfill what has been
promised solemnly in the name of tht
people. 1t is proclaimed tnat the initia-
tive, the referendum and the recall OF
| officials, including judges, and of ju-
dicial decisions. shall from now OF
be the test OF progressive republican
| Ism.
"To President Roosevelt" said Sec
retary Nagel, belongs the credit Of
arousing the people to the full value
of the laws to protect them against
monopolies and combinations. Mr.
Roosevelt first brought the interstate
commerce laws into full effect" ht
said, and President Taft has devoted
himself to carrying out the pledges
and policies inaugurated by Roosevelt
and indorsed in the national platform
of 1908.
THE pledges Of that platform hav'
been kept" declared Secretary Nagel
Further remedies We're necessary
said Secretary Nagel, to make corpora.
tion control effective
This task Is still unfinished" sale
Mr. Nagcl. 1T were better that vs.
apply ourselves to the practical per
formance of 80 important pledge than
to fill the public ear with vague prom
ises of the fufllment of visionary de
sires.
THE initiative, referendum and re
call are advocated by men who ar
ambitious for national office and gen
orally avoided by men who have to d.
with local affairs"
l. The adoption of these proposals, h
said, would mean tnat the constitu
tion, to all intents and purposes. whel
its guarantees are most needed, !
abolished"