The Washington herald., 1912-03-12
SECRETARY NAGEL
ATTACKS COLONEL
Sharp Thrusts Aimed at Roosevelt
in Speech Opening the Cam
paign in Indiana.

indianapolis. March Il.-Charles Nagel
Secretary of Commerce and Labor, open
ed the Taft campaign in Indiana with g
speech here tonight. Secretary Nagel
refrained from attacking Roosevelt by
name. but his speech contained many
thrusts aimed directly at the colonel
These were the sharpest that have yet
come from anybody actively identified
with the Taft administration. Secretary
Nagel In effect accused the colonel not
only of having accepted and enlarged
upon Bryan's complaints. but of having
pre-empted- and expanded his remedies
Secretary NageI declared that this new
nationalisIn struck at the foundation of
the republic itself. After having re-
viewed the record CT the Presidents ad-
ministration. Secretary Nagel said:
Such is the record which some of our
critics say does not constitute popular
government; and yet It stands for the
fulf1llment of the last mandate issued
by the people to the leaders of their
own selection. Such is the record which
some Of our critics say is not progress
sive; and yet II stands for the fulfill
ment of a platform which was adopted
with the enthusiastic approval of the
very men who now make this charge.
Failed to Lend Aid.
What is the attitude of our critics,
and what have they to offer? For the
past three years. during a period of un-
falling struggle to realize and bring into
action every pledge that was made in
the name Of the Republican party, there
has been uttered scarcely a word of ap-
proval by them OF these things. accom-
rlished. Scarcely a hand was raised to
help lift the burden which the party
by their consent and approval had as
sumed. Instead they have filled the air
with nostrums, the acceptance of
which they pronounce to be the sole test
OF progressive spirit
Instead of aiding to fulfill what has
been solemnly promised in the name Of
the people, 1t is proclaimed that the in
itiative, the referendum, and the recall
OF officials, including judges, and in
judicial decisions, shall from now on be
the test Of progressive Republicanism.
The most significant feature Of this
modern agitation. this new natIonalism,
is that ii is not national at all In fact,
the initiative, referendum and the recall
are advocated by men who are ambi-
tious for national office and generally
are avoided by men who have to do
with local affairs. Each is busy making
fully held.
No Relief Provided.
1T is one thing to make complaints;
ii is quite another thing to provide the
relief. 1t is one thing to entertain the
people with declarations; it is another
thing to formulate a rule which is cal |
culated to promote the welfare of the |
people. 1t Is one thing 70 start an agf- |
tation; il is another to give II direction. |
In the past we have ever denied that |
there was much truth in Mr.. Bryans |
complaints but we have denounced his |
remedies. In the field of promises We
have conceded him a monopoly. To-day /
we have to confess that critics in our
own ranks have not only broadly ac-
cepted and enlarged upon his complaints,
but have pre-empted and expanded the
doctrine OF his remedies.
In the same breath these same critics
denounce the administration for having
abandoned the principles Of the last ad-
Obviously there is no |
for this. Not one of these |
new ideas was embraced in the last |
platform. If offered, their rejection was
not accepted as sufficient ground for
protest at the time. II the recall of
judges and decisions had ben embodied in
that platform, it is safe to say that
lntIG NtIC dS IQSTe are men
now. who could not stand upon such a
plank and who could not support their
favorite candidate upon such a platform
because they would regard these prin-
ciples as subversive of the fundamental
principles of representative government.
In platform and in performance the
history of the Republican party is pro-
yressive. but now we are asked to prove
our allegiance to progressive principles
by humping off the political horizon II
S time to halt"