The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-03-12
CREDIT TO PRESIDENT
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Continued From Page One
there might have beer two republics
he said. 1T is conceivable today that
if some Of the suggestions impatiently
put forward at this time are to pre-
vail the question may arise whether or
net there shall be one republic.
Against such a contingency it be-
hooves every citizen to set his face in
absolute disregard Of every other con-
s~ideration, personal or political"
The efforts OF President Taft to car
~ out the pledges of the party, he said,
had brought no aid from his republic
can critics.
For the last three yetars," said
Secretary Nagel, during a period of
unfailing struggle to realize and bring
n action every pledge that was
made in the name Of the republican
party there has been uttered scarcely
a word Of APPROVAL by them of these
things accomplished. Scarcely a
hand was raised to help lift the bur-
den which the party by their consent
and approval had assumed.
Filled Air With Nostrums.
Instead they have filed the air
with nostrums, the acceptance of
which they pronounce to be the sole
test Of the progressive spirit. In
stead of aiding to fulfill what has been
solemnly promised in the name Of the
people, it is proclaimed that the in
itiative, the referendum and the recall
Of officials including judges and OF
judicial decisions shall from now on
be the test of progressive republican
ism"
Secretary Nagel denounced the
charge that President Taft had aban-
doned the principles of the last admin
istration. He declared that not one OF
those things for which the critics OF
the administration are now contend
ing, had been embraced in the last re-
publican platform.
! If the recall Or judges and decis-
ions had been embodied in that plat
form" he said, st is safe to say thav
there were not then. as there are men
now, who could stand upon such a
plank and who could not support
their favorite candidate upon such a
platform because they would regard
these principles as subversive of the
fundamental principles Of representa-
tive government"
Roosevelt Gets Credit.
To President Roosevelt, said Sec
rotary NageL belonged the credit for
%arousing the people to the fun value OF
the laws to protect them agains mo-
nopolies and combinations. Colonel
Roosevelt first brought the interstate
commerce laws into full effect. he
said; and President Taft had devoted
himself to carrying out the pledges
and policies inaugurated by Mr.
Roosevelt and endorsed in the nation
al platform of 1908.
THE pledges OF that platform lave
been kept" declared Secretary Nagel
Perhaps never in the history Of the
republican party have so many dis
tinct pledges of a platform been re.
deemed within one administration. Il
has been carried out with respect tt
its specific promises and according t
it's spirit. The president has be every
act redeemed the pledges of the plat.
form and his own promises
Further remedies were necessary
said Secretary Nagel, to make corpo.
ration control effective; but Presi.
dent Taft's critics were giving him nc
cid in getting such remedies. he said
This task is still unfinished saie
MT. Nagel. 1T is pressing for de.
ctsion. 1t were better that we appi,
ourselves to- the practical perform.
ance Of so important a pledge than K
fill the public ear with vague prom.
Uses for the fulhllment of visionary
desire. The initiative. referendum am
recall are advocated BY men who ar.
ambitious for national offices and gen.