Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-04-14
DIVISION BALKS PROGRESS
Secretary Fisher Calls President Taft
the True Progressive.
TINE FOR CONSTRUCTIVE WORK
Executive Takes Progressive Atti-
tsde ON vital Questions--
Tariff and Trust. Are
the Issues.
(From q staff corre.pondenil

NsN"f n RNeAh @OtAt1ituutDNsl
LINCOLN, April l3-ospecial Telegrsm.)
Walter l. Fisher. secretary OF the
Interior in the cabinet OF President Taft,
spoke last night In the Oliver theater
In behalf Of -the presidents candidacy for
denomination. There was a good sized
crowd present, In fact, exceptionally good
considering the fact the speech was only
announced one dny IN advance and was
not advertised at all except the announce
ment In the morning paper
Mr.. Fisher made no effort at ford
oratory. no appeal to passion. ana uttered
not single word OF abuse TO any rival
candidate or opposition party. After set
ting forth what the president had done
along the line Of constructive progressive
work. he appealed to progressive repub-
licans not to defeat the purpose by d.
viding forces simply because they dif-
fered as TO method or by temperament
took different method OF reaching the
result.
Secretary Gives Record.
The secretary prefaced his address by
few words. personal Just to show, he
said. that he had a right to speak as a
progressive and that he knew what a
progressive was, telling OF his connection
with the conservation league, the move
ment for ballot reform. the initiative and
referendum, his labors on the commits
sion TO investigate the issuance OF stocks
and bonds BY transportation corporations
and other movements. previous TO enter
ing the cabinet. and In addition said that
while he now supported Taft because he
believed him to be the constructive
statesman needed TO carry on the work.
he had been urging the nomination Of
Roosevelt for the presidency six years
before he went on the ticket as & candi-
date for vice president
Taft True Progressive.
1T Is not a time now for the agita-
ton whose providence is to stir up senti-
ment. for that sentiment Is now aroused.
II Is the time for a constructive states
man. and this President Taft has shown
himself TO be-"
Secretary Fisher said President Taft
had taken a progressive attitude upon
all vital questions
He believes in reducing the number of
elective officers. which Is the short bal
lot He believes In the direct primary
and in the presidential preference vote
at the direct primary: he believes In the
increasing but conservative use Of the
referendum; and the only application of
the recall which he has opposed Is the
recall Of judges.
Upon all those questions" said Mr..
Fisher. genuinely progressive men disa-
gree about the form In which. and the
extent to which these changes in gov
ernmentaI methods should be adopted
by the states. To make them the test In
the selection OF a republican nominee for
the presidency Is to divide men who
should act together. The real issues, Of
next November are to Be federal issues,
such as the tariff and the regulation OF
the trusts.
work of Tariff Board.
Here again the difference between the
militant reformer and the constructive
statesman is well illustrated In the atti-
tude and action Of the president. His
tariff commission has for the first time
given to congress and the country the
real facts upon which constructive tariff