New-York tribune., 1912-03-12
NACEL RAPS TAFT CRITICS
They 0ut-Bryan Bryan in Their
Complaints, He Says.
CALLS THEM REACTI0NARIES
Initiative, Referendum and Recall
Advocated by Men Ambitious
for National Office.

IndianapoIis March lin speech
landing President Taft's administration as
complete fulfilment of all the Republican
platform pledges of 1908 and strict con-
tinuation Of the policies OF President Roose-
velt Secretary Nagel of the Department OF
Commerce and Labor tonight, made Wig
orous attack upon the advocates OF such
governmental changes as the initiative rel
erendum and recall.
Secretary Nagel declared that public men
were attempting to confuse the puphc
mind: that they were "busy MAXINE
promises To which they cannot be success
fully held" that the recall of judges "ouiu
make trimmers of men" and deter men
Of independence and capacity from accept
ing positions of trust"
"It was conceivable fifty years ago that
as a result OF our internal strife there
might have been two republics, ne saIu.
ut is conceivable to-day that II some OF
the suggestions impatIently put forward at
This time are to prevail the question may
arise whether or not there shall he one re-
public. Against such a contingency IL De-
hooves every citizen to set his face In ao-
solute disregard of every other considera-
ton. personal or political"
The efforts of President Taft to carry out
the pledges of the party. he said, mad
brought no aid from his Republican critics.
No Word Of Approval.
For the last three years" said Secre-
tary Nagel. during period OF unfailing
struggle to realize and bring into action
every pledge that was made in the name
OF the Republican party there has oeen
uttered scarcely word Of approval by
them Of these things accomplished. Scarce
ly a hand was raised to help lift the bur
den which the party by their consent ana
approval had assumed.
INSTEAD, they have filled the air with
nostrums, the acceptance OF which they
pronounce TO he the sole test OF the pro-
gressive spirit. Instead of aiding to rum
what has been solemnly promised In the
name of the people. II is proclaimed mat
the initiative. the referendum and the re-
call OF omcials. including judges, and or
judicial decisions. shall from now on be the
test OF progressive Republicanism."
Secretary Nagel denounced the charge
that President Taft had abandoned the
principles OF the last administration. lie
declared that not one OF those things for
which critics OF the administration were
now contendlng had been embraced in the
last Republican platform.
IF the recall OF judges and decisions had
been embodied in that platform" he said.
1T is safe to say that there were men
then. as there are men now, who could not
stand upon such a plank. and who couid
not support their favorite candidate upon
such a platform, because they would re-
gard these principles as subversive OF the
fundamental principles of representative
government"
To President Roosevelt. said Secretary
Nagel. belonged the credit for arousing the
people to the fun value of the laws 10
protect them against monopolies and COM
binations.
Colonel Roosevelt first brought the inter-
state commerce laws into full effect ne
said. and President Taft had devoted MN
self to carrying out the pledges and policies
Of Mr. Roosevelt. and indorsed IN the ma
tional platform OF 1913