The Mena weekly star., 1912-03-14

OF A DESPOT|SN
hTaft AssaiIs ROosevelt's New The
cries and Defines Progsessiveness
as He Views II, but UphOlds
Relief in Popular Government

Chicago, March 9.-In an address
before the Swedish-American Re-
publican league of Illinois, Presi-
dent Taft tonight assailed the new
doctrines advanced by Theodore
Roosevelt as "the beginnings and
manifestations Of despotism."
The president was the chief speak
er at the annual banquet of the
league at the Congress hotel.
such a government" said Presi-
dent Taft in discussing the recall
of judicial decisions as advocated
by Col. Roosevelt in his Columbus
speech, would lack in uniformity
of law which is essential to justice,
and would produce that confusion
and those exceptions in the appli-
cation Of law which are the begin
Inings and manifestations of a des-
potism."
President Taft drew a sharp dis
tinction between those he consid-
lers real progressives' and pro
gressive extremists"
The president avowed himself to
be real progressive and pointed
to legislation enacted during his
administration as proof that he was.
President Taft defined the term
progressive as including "alI who
have been moved to efforts of re-
form by the necessity for legislat-
i've and governmental action to de-
prive corporate capital and undue
vested privilege of its political
power, and to bring about proper
popular and governmental control
and regulation of the use of cap
ital in legitimate avenues and for
Legitimate purposes"
Extremists OF Some Good.
Paying his respects to progress
i've extremists, President Taft adj
mitted that these persons are able
to attain, for a time at least, a great
popular support. The extremists,
he said, wrongfully endeayor to
give the impression that others
equally imbued with the necessity
for reform, but whose methods do
not contemplate the destruction of
the present government or of plac-
ing in jeopardy of life, liberty and
property, are reactionary and UNI
sympathetic with the cause of the
people.
The president asserted his belief
in popular government. He made
it clear, however, that he believes
more checks and safeguards should
be provided than are proposed in
the popular movements advocated
by extremists.
The man who tells the people OF
danger that may arise from mis-
taken and hasty action" said the
president, pays higher tribute tC
them than one who constantly
fawns upon them as if they were
incapable of error"
"The growth of socialism in this
country is noteworthy incident ir
showing the extreme to which
many would go in the solutions OF
the problem | am discussing.
The futility Of every socialist
scheme which destroys the right OF
property for the uplift Of human
lily is that it is impossible to find q
sufficiently strong motive for labor
or for saving. Without this the
wealth of the world cannot in
crease to meet the demands of the
living and comfort and increased
physical happiness of the growing
population"
The banquet was given in COM
memoration of the fiftieth anniver-
sary of the battle between the
Monitor and the Merrimac and the
president referred to that first fighI
of the iron clads as sort of start
ing point for a political speech.
There is nothing more inspiring
in the history of the world than the
story of the achievements of the
Republican party since the Monitor
received her BAPTISM of fire." he
said.