Evening star., 1912-03-10

CHICAGO. March 9.-Preeident Taft to-
night gave a new definition Of . political
progressive In a speech at the banquet
of the Swedish-American Republican
League Of Chicago. He eliminated from
consideration as real progressives those
who look to socialism for relief from evils
in government; declared that his 'dis-
inguished predecessor deserved most OF
the credit for awakening the public to
the need for action. and argued that
progressive is that progressive does
pointing to some of the achievements or
qualified under that definition.
THE term 'progressives. said the
President includes all OF those who
have been moved to efforts OF reform by
the necessity for legislative and govern
mental action to deprive corporate cap
itaI and undue vested privilege Of politi-
cal power. and to bring about proper
popular and governmental control and
regulation of the use of capital In leg1ti-
mate avenues and for legitimate pur-
poses.
Handsome is that handsome does
said he. quoting the old maxim IAN
administration which has been success
fully progressive In deeds Is entitled to
the approval of the people. The present
republican administration. In what II has
accomplished in legislative and execu-
tive action. is able TO point to many real
steps both i'm the way of avoiding any
disturbances Of business. In the way Of
regulating the use of corporate privilege
and preventing its abuses. and in the
preservation for the public what belongs
to ii as we'll in ameliorating the
legal status Of certain classes OF the
people, and in increasing the functions
Of the government for the benefit OF
the whole people.
Assumes Character of Crusade.
Turning from those he considered pro-
eressive to those that hold too radical in
their desires for governmental changes.
the President continued:
1.-The progressive movement has as
sumed the character OF q crusade and
many radical remedies were suggested.
the carrying out OF which would only be
less destructive than the threatened fatal
course of the disease. There were mary
who had long attacked our present Ia
stitutions, as the basis of all injustice
and inequality, and their voice becams
louder and more distinct. and was lis
tened to with much greater favor than
ever before in the history Of the coun-
try.
1.-THE growth OF socialism in this coun-
try is a noteworthy incident in showing
the extreme to which many would 60
in the solution of the problem which
am discussing.
.The futility OF every social's:ic scheme
which destroys the right of property To-
the uplift Of humanity is that IL is inl-
possible to find :: sufficiently strong mo-
tive for labor for saving. Withoa.
this the wealth of the world could not
increase to meet the demand for the
living and comfort and increased physi-
cal happiness of the growing population"
The banquet was given In commemora-
ton of the fiftieth anniversary Of the bat
tie between the Monitor and the Merri-
mac, and the President referred to that
first fight of the ironclads as sort OF
starting point for set speech. There
is nothing more inspiring in the history Of
the world than the story Of the achieve
ments Of the republican party since tha
Monitor received her baptism Of fire." he
said.
Encyoachments Of Big Business
Mr. Taft pointed out that the progress
sive movement practically began with
the present century. Two decades OF
enormous expansion in all lines Of en-
deavor in the United States previous to
1900. he declared, were responsible for
encroachments of big business In the
field of politics, and II finally became ap-
parent that these encroachments must be
stopped and that legislation must be en-
acted that would hold In restraint the
corporate and vested interests. It was
in this connection that he brought In .
reference to Col. Roosevelt.
..During the administration Of my dis
tinguished predecessor and by his appeals
to Congress and to the public. the people
CONTINUED on Eighth PsgsS