Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31
HAS HOPE OF PEACE
Taft Does Not Believe Coal
Miners Will Strike.
BOTH SIDES WILL BE FAIR
Declares He Will Not Butt In on
Labor Controversy.
ADDRESS IN PHILADELPHIA
Insists He Is Neither Reactionary
Nor Pessimist-Is Progressive
and Optimistic.
BOTH SIDES WILL BE FAIR
ADDRESS IN PHILADELPHIA

PHILADELPHIA. March 3O.-President
Taft was in an optimistic frame Of mind
tonight when he faced several hundred
members of the Philadelphia Chamber of
Commerce in the bourse here. He told
them he believed the people were on the
eve of better times, that things were
growing better and that he believed there
would be no great coal strike. He said
he had no jurisdiction in settling strikes.
and knew enough to wait to see If You
were welcome rather than TO go putting
in" to a matter between parties who
knew their rights.
The President said he was not re-
dictionary, but a progressive that he was
not a pesSimiSt but an Optimist.
His speech at the bourse was the first
of several he delivered here tonight. He
arrived at pm. and was driven down
Market street to the bourse. There was
large number of people on the street.
but there was no especial enthusiasm.
From the bourse Mr.. Taft was driven
to the Bellevue-Stra tford Hotel. where
he addressed the Ohio Society of Phila-
delphia. Later in the evening he went
to Horticultural Hall nearby. where the
American Academy of Political and So
cial Science was holding the closing ses-
sion OF It's annual meeting.
An Important Function.
AT the bourse the President, after
touching on the proposed national cham
ber of commerce, said in part:
There is no Office that the government
performs more important for the individ-
ual in the community than the aiding of
business prosperity and the removal of
hcf on1 thnf i,tc rAp, rr-SSh
perity. 1t is when there is lots of busi-
ness doing, it is when everybody has
job, it is when the wheels of industry are
humming SO loud that you cannot hear
anything else that the wage Garner is
the happiest. 1t is when he is making
good wages and constant wages that
everybody in the community Is more
nearly happy than at any other time.
While L do not deprecate in any way
the movement for real reform and pro-
gress. provided it is sane and Is not
affected with the fads and disposition
to disturb these things that have been
useful to use for 100 years. L am never
theless conscious that there is no duty
ingtou as that of seeing to 1t that it in
terfereS as little as possible with the
business of the country and the progress
of the enterprises of the country. and
assists the inspiration of confidence in
those whose confidence is necessary TO
make business go and to bring about
prosperity.
Deprecates Persecution.
81 am in favor of enforcement of law,
but 1 believe that the law and business
can be squared in such way that those
who violate the law may be prosecuted
and there may be an absence of perse-
cution and no disposition to run amuck
just for the purpose of showing that the
government at Washington realizes it
has job and is trying to make people
think it has.
THE American people are the most
conservative people in the world. While
it does seem from the headlines, of the
newspapers as If they wish to discount
everything in the future and have all
progress ready the next morning for
breakfast, on the whole. when you get
down to the stratum of solid thinking
Americans. there are no people in the
world that are so conservative, that
recognize good thing with the certain
ty that they do, and are bound to ad-
here to that good thing as long as ii
serves them we'll.
They can talk about present govern
ment and its defects. We know the de-
fects better than anybody and we are
willing to point them out, but We also
know as We look about the world that
for 125 years we have had the best gov>
eminent ever created. That Is not going
10 make us reactiOnary and sit back with
a Smug satisfaction that shall reject
every movement for reform or any move
ment toward progress. IT, on the other
hand. does keep us same, and it does keep
us in condition of mind where we know
that there is no royal road to improve
ment.
Existing Machinery Sufficient.
Il do not say there may not be some
ot,4,
purpose than We have, but what I do
mean to say is that, generally speaking.
no new machinery is going to work to
make great progress that we might
not accomplish under existing machinery
If the individual only grows better and
better. and that 1t does not help matters
TO transfer from one machinery to an
other when the same defects are going to
interfere with the second machinery that
now appear in the first. And you are not
going to improve your community by as
sum1ng with respect to the new method
that it is going to work better when that
new method is going 10 require three
times as much popular attention to gov
eminent you give today.
Now, / am not a reactiOnary. 1 am q
progressive l am not pessimiSt, l am
an optimiSt, and | believe that We are
going forward. 1 believe that we are on
the eve of good times. l believe things
are growing better and / am delighted
TO know that there is solution Of the
soft coal strike In the west and l sin
cerely hope, and I believe l have some
| reason to hope, that the hard coal strike
in the east is near solution.
Has No Jurisdiction.
'Of course. as President of the United
States L have no Jurisdiction in such a
matter. 1t is only as a citizen interested
deeply in the welfare of all communities
that I would have the right at any time
to attempt by suggestion to help solve
the difficulties. and I hope know enough
| Il you are welcome, rather than to go
| butting into matters between parties who
| know their rights and are able to settle
| them and both of whom, l am sure de-
| sire a peaceful and satisfactory solu-
ton.
II am glad to believe that in this par
| ticular instance mediation will not be
| necessary: that there will be a satisfac-
| tory solution. because both parties are in
| that frame Of mind"
Speaks of "Noisy Reformers."
At the Ohio Society dinner Presiden,
Taft spoke of the recall of judges. de-
| Tended the Constitution. said that his
administration had been progressive and
pointed out some of the reasons why
he thought it was progressive. In speak
ing of the recall Of judges. the President
| said:
| Il am here 10 express my gratitude