Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-05-27
SAYS TAFT IS
FOE OF REFORM
cambridge Colby Lays Bare
Presidents Record.

progressive policies, cambridge Colby
of New York aroused the Republican
Citizens league to great enthusiasm at
the Hotel Oneco Wednesday night. He
laid bare the specious arguments used
by the Taft forces to discredit the for
mer president. At the same time be
denounced President Taft as a reac-
tionary and riddled the corrupt forces
behind him.
He said in part:
We want a mar not Of straw, but Of
iron; not Of excuses, but of faith and
action. We want to see pledges re
deemed, not forgotten, great works
advanced, not abandoned. The world
will not stand still, nor will this ma
ton. 1t will go forward. 1t must pro
gress, and a progressive must lead It.
1t Is not agreeable to catalogue the
fatlings or the failures OF the presi-
dent. Let US try to believe that he
has mean well. I will admit 1t. But
he has not done well.
He points with pride and satisfaction
to the reductio ad ebsurdum Of his
trust prosecutions and halls the judg-
ments in the Tobacco and Standard on
cases as among the triumphs Of his
administration, notwithstanding the
chuckles Of Wall street at the resulting
enhancement Of the securities Of these
companies and the Increase in the
price of their respective commodities.
The people see in these results a sting
ing modification and the breakdown
Of their struggle to curb monopoly.
But the president can see nothing in
the Sherman antitrust law but a mod
Ell statute and deprecates any attempt
by amendment to clarity Its uncertain
ties or reinforce it's provisions.
He professedly redeems his pre-elec-
ton promise of a downward revision
of the tariff with the Payne-Aldrich
bill. which he pronounced the best
tariff the world has ever seen," al
though It marks the top notch of tax
alton on the staples OF and
the accessories of life.
Hits at Commsrcs Court.
His commerce court, now under the
heavy shadow Of a scandal affecting
one Of its members, has proved more
effective as q barrier to the regulation
of commerce than a successful motion
in congress to strike out the enacting
clause II every bill ever introduced to
regulate interstate commerce.
In his foreign policy he has not only
brought us to the brink Of q serious
embarrassment in the assertion Of our
national policy and the defense Of our
honor through his Ill fated arbitration
humiliation of being parties to a
scheme to obtain an advantage over u
friendly neighboring power under the
guise of a reciprocal trade arrange
ment.
His administration has been an irri-
tant and source of retaliation to bust
ness, without any compromising prog
ress toward the solution of admitted
ills. Like quack indications, his var1-
Gus measures and proposals have sap
ped the patients strength without at
lacking the ailment.
The great policies of Roosevelt, in
augurated by his great victories for
the people against the standpatters
and ~reactionaries of congress, have
languished in Taft's keeping. Their
edge Is dulled. Their surfaces are
rusted. The peoples stake In the vigor-
Gus pursuit of these policies is impair
ed. The peoples interest has been be
trayed.
But, graver thar these specific short
comings, he has called back into grace
and countenance the discredlted enc
mics of the people and Of good govern
ment. He has set the toppled bo4ses
once more on their feet.
The insistent, country wide demand
of the voters Of the country that the
man under whose leadership the party
has won its most notable Victories shall
lead them out of the morass and back
to the safe footing of popular rule has
filled the stand pat cohorts of Taft
with anger and dismay.
Let us consider for a moment the
tactics they employ. First, last and
all the time-vituperat1on.
Mr.. Roosevelt has been denounced.
Everything that malice and hatred can
invent has been hurled against him.
This, however, is the common lot of
our greatest men, and have no doubt
he has the fortltude to bear it with
cheerfulness and resignation.
False Cry Of "Constitutionalism."
Mr. Roosava1t has haan ancusad ne
d~isrespect for the constitution. This
hollow cry of "constitutionalism' is 4
fine old stalking horse which has been
trotted out to impede and thwart every
piece of legislation in the popular In
terest since tho hrst congress which as
sembled at the birth Of the govern
ment, 1t Is Hike the murk of the cutie
Ash.
The national pure food law, adopted
In response to Theodore Roosevelt's
recommendation in his message to con-
gress In 1908, was denounced by Mr..
Henry Of Texas, today chairman OF
the powerful committee on rules, as an
attempt to overthrow the constitution.
The bill introduced In response to
Mr.. R~oosevelt's messag g Of 1908 and
1907, prohibiting campaign contrtbu,
lions from corporations, was denounced
as unconstitutional In congress.
The bill providing for the federal In
specion Of meats, introduced after a
disclosure Of the appalling conditions
"a the packing houses Of the vest, was
Ja,o--.~A