The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-03-12
NAGEL LAUDS
YAFT'S WORK
DECLARES PRESIDENT
STOOD BY PLATFORM.
Points Out Work of Administra-
ton Against Trusts and Reg
ulating Business.
)enounces Initiative, Referendum
and Recall as Impractical
and Misleading.

INDIANAPOLIS. March 1I.-In n
speech lauding President Tafts ad-
ministration as a complete fulfillment
OF all the Republican platform pledges
OF 1908. and a strict continuation OF
the policies inaugurated by President
Roosevelt. Secretary Nagel, OF the De
partment OF Commerce and Labor. to
night made a vigorous attack upon
the advocates OF such governmental
changes as the initiative, referendum
and recall.
Secretary Nagel declared that. pub
lie men were attempting TO confuse
the public mind; that they. were
busy making promises to which
they cannot be successfully held;
that the recall OF judges would make
trimmers OF men," and deter men OF
Independence and capacity from ac-
cepting positions OF trust"
'It was conceivable fifty years ago
that as a result OF our internal strife
there might have been two republics"
he said. at Is conceivable to day
that IL some OF the suggestions impa-
tient'y put forward at this time are
to prevail, the question may arise
NHtAuCI UT uOI thttt DC Oht ht
public Against such contingency.
IL behooves every citizen 20 set his
face in absolute disregard OF every
other consideration. personal or po-
liticai"
Secretary NaCel denounced the
charge that President Taft had aban-
dored the principles OF the last ad-
ministration.
"If the recall OF judges and decisions
had been embodied in that platform"
he said. cit is safe TO say that there
were men then. as there are men now.
who could not stand upon such plank
and who could not support the favor
lite candidate upon such a platform.
because they would regard these prin-
ciples as subversive OF the funda-
mental principles OF representative
government"
Trust Control.
He referred to the activity OF the
administration TO control corporations
and prosecute monopolies.
Further remedies were necessary,
said Secretary Nagel. TO make corpor-
| alton control effective, but President
Taft's critics were giving him no aid
In getting such remedies, he said.
This task is still unfinished" said
Mr.. Nagle. 1T is pressing for de
cision. IL were better that we apply
ourselves TO the practical performance
OF so important pledge. than TO fill
the public ear with vague promises
for the fulfillment OF visionary desire.
| The initiative. referendum and recall
are advocated by men who are am
bilious for national office, and gener-
ally avoided by men who have TO do
with local affairs. Each Is busy
making promises to which he cannot
be successfully held"
Blow at Constitution.
The adoption NJ those proposals" :"
he said. would mean that the constl.
tuition. 10 all intents and purposes.
when It's guarantees are most need
ed. In abolished
1T means that the determination
OF What Is right. and therefore what
Is constitutional. must be left to the
author OF the nostrum Itself" said
Secretary Nagle. 1T means one-man
power. as pure democracy always has
meant and always will mean. II is
not progressive. II Is reactionary: for
by Its teachings every people tina,
have ever eXperimented with these
Doctrines have gone 10 their destruc-
ton"
Secretary Nagel declared that the
Republican party had always ben pro
grssive. but that nov We are asked
20 prove our allegiance 20 the proRrss
sivf principles BY Jumping OF the
political horizon