Norwich bulletin., 1912-05-10

Fpeech here tonight before the South ern California Taft association, Secre- tarv of State Knox made his first po- litical utteranCe since his return rom Central America He defended Presi- dent Taft against the criticisms by Colonel Roosevelt and attacked the colonel as a man prompted by whims' of 'imperious ambitions, vanities and mysterious antiquities" and as 'one who would break the rule of his party and his country and his own word to gain the seat of a friend"
 Compared With Assault of '61.
 The new nationalism' of Colonel Roosevelt was termed by Secretary Knox as violent assault upon the au- tonomy of the states, as the new na- fionalism of 1861 was upon the integ- rity Of the union.'
 Tn refutation of Colonel Roosevelts claim that President Taft'was unfit for re-eiection." Mir Knox cited the col oners language which in 1908 com mended Mir. Taft as the true friend of reform. the true foe of abuses"
 Effort to Confuse Situation.
 Declaring that this is perhaps one or the most extraordinary ante-con- vention campaigns within the history Of the party" Mir. Knox said that the effort so far has been to confuse the situation by dragging in issues with which states alone are cOncerned.'
 AIr. Knox then summarized and com pared the respective claims to reform achievements by Colonel R0aseve and President Taft and asserted that the presidents cOmplishments far out weigh those Of his predecessor.
 Disaffeeted Bosses With Roosevelt.
 If Mir. Roosevelt he said. claims that President Taft is seeking or has the support of the men who for years have stood for leadership in the repub- lican party and guided it's columns to victory. President Taft can reply that Air Roosevelt sought and had their support in his campaign in 1904, and that In many places now his interests are in the hands of rejected and dis affected political bosses whose political ofenses smell to heaven.
 IT Mir. Roosevelt claims that he is not in favor of reciprocity wstb Cana da, President Taft can point to the fact that before entering into that great agreement he consulted Mir. Roosevelt and obtained his hearty and unquali- fed approval Of it."
 Roosevelt's Eulosy of Taft.
 Mir Knox quoted an eulogy of MT. Taft by Colonel Roosevelt in 1908 as an answer tO the caloners assertion that President Taft Is unfit to succeed himself" He also cited passages of praise Of Mir. Taft in Mir. Roosevelt's speech as temporary chairman of the Saratoga convention in 1910.
 MT. Roosevelt the speaker contin- ned. ~has given no coherent reason for changing his just appraisement of Mir. Tsft's character and qualifications.
 If Mir. Roosevelt claims that Presi- dent Tafts actions have been incon- Hlstent with his declarations in 1908, President Taft can point among other examples to the following declarations by NIT. Roosevelt:
 Roossvelt's Consistency.
 Nov. 8, 1s04-'Under no circum- stances will l be a candidate for, or accept another nomination.
 Dec. q. l907-I have not changed and shan not change that decision thus Announced
 'Feb 25. 1sl2-T will accept the nomination for president if St Is ten dered me"
 The most conspicuous point of dif 1arenee between Taft and Roosevelt, Mir. Knox asserted, centered in the -new nationalism" proposed by Col enA Roosevelt
 The New NationaIism.
 This involves" he said, a new con- ception by Mir Roosevelt Of the CO., hssive principles by which the states gre bound together to constitute the United Stases of America
 We heard much of a new national Ism prior to 1861. It was also predi- cated upon a false conception of the nature of the union. Its Fundamental weakness was that some states claim cd the right to destroy the union by sepa-ating themselves from the union. That issue was decided by the most tragic war Of modern times-a war that carried grief into a million Ame1- can homes.
 Win Defend States as They Did Union. The new nationalism of Mir Roose- welt represents the other extreme. It is as violent an assault upon the au- tonomy of the states as the new ma fionalism of 1861 was upon the in tegrity Of the union.
 Who dares to prophecy that the people-the patient. undemonstrative pe0ple-whose full voice is never heard except in great crises, will not. when aroused to the danger of the substan- tia loss of independent statehood at as great cost defend the states as they did the union2'
 Party Not PIsything of One Man.
 Mir. Knox made an earnest plea that President Taft be given a second term, saving:
 This has been the republican rule, without exception. except one CPresi- dent Hayes), which SO forcibly empha- rizes the rule. and unless the republi- can party has become the piaything cf one man. prompted by his whims, bis lmperious ambitions. his vanities and mysterious antiquities 1t will not break the rule now by refusing a re- nomination to the man who has the Troud distinction of having received more votes than were ever cast by the American people for any other candi- date for president.
 For You to Decide.
 ~On the other hand. you have only one man who has served two terms as president. who would break the rule of his party and his country and his own solemn word Co gain the seat of his friend.
 'Tt is>for you to decide between them"
 HARMON TO BRYAN. Peerless One Asked to Publish That