The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-17
President Makes First
Important peecHnce
His Defeat.|
PROPOSES TOAS
TO HIS SUCCESSOR
Feelings But Slightly A3saged
by Assurance That Htory
Win Right Him-Belkes
Himself More Harshly I'D
Unjustly Attacked Thu
Any Other President
Especial to The Times-Daspah b.

tSpSI9l 10 lHe 41"ee~A'uopop.J
New York. November 16.-Dtaring
himself In favor Of a single 4-year
term for the President and the mend
ment Of the Constitution ., as give
Cabinet omcers seats In the fnate.
President Taft made his hrst hpor-
tant speech since his defeat for teicc.
ton before the Lotus Club t1ight.
speech which ne himself cAed
swan song" Gently railing al VIII
liam Jennings Bryan's suggcstid that
ex-Presidents be given debating lower
without vote In Congress. Taft ,sed
with toast to the health AMI sue
cess Of the able. patriotic and Ssttn-
Eu!shed gentleman who Is to the
next President of the United Sites"
President Taft reviewed at hgth
the problems which the chief executive
must face and urged that the appint-
ments Of local patronage" pos be
taken from him to enable him togivs
more time to putting into effec the
pledges OF the party that electeds,im
Abiding humor usly to the cr!titsm
to which he has been subjected, the
President declared ,hat he foresa the
end Of "indiscriminate muckraing"
and unfounded criticisms Of pubiic,fh-
Gals. which he said had done save
bhJubItNc " many HS" - ooAS hs~A~s
FeeliaEs Slightly Assaaged.
Discussing the duties OF the Pfsi-
dent, he declared that, being mai %
judicial temperament. the ephemral
glory Of the Office soon passed and hat
the desire for recognition for the god
he has accomplished was but sligfiy
sssuaged by the pr onise that histry
would right him. a..-
Taft said that while al othrs
Presidents had been subjected to
fierce Ore Of criticism. he believed that
he had been more harshly treated Win
less reason than AIRY of mis- ,TedecO-
eors.
In supporatng his arsum$nt tht
CABINET oflcers should be givef seat
IN che S1suAse TO usest debate ~ qessea
tions Of state. the President sid thsf
while parliamentary rules decteed tfe
limit to the language which leoaioH
night use against each other. faiiea
to limit the extent 10 which tie deba-
tors might go IN faying the chff exec
utive. The presence Of Cabhet Of
fcers. he declared. would have salu-
tory effect on this practice. II Pres
ident said in part:
The legend Of the lotus eaurs was
that X they partook of the tuit OF
the lotus tree. they forgot " at mad
happened in their country. ah were
left In a state Of phi'osophic Aim. in
which they had no desire toireturn
TO It.
Il do not know what was In the
mind Of your invitation coanittee
when ! was asked to attend thu bar
quet They came to me before r cleo
ton At FIRST ] hesitated, lest when
the dinner came, by the eIed!on
should be shorn Of interest as sguest
and be changed from An actiN am
virile participant in the days toinss
Of the nation to merely a disSfvinE
view.
Opport.nity for .Swaa Se.s
Il knew dat generally on anlocca-
sion of this sort the motive I the
diners was to have 4 guest those
society should bring them more Hose
IL into contact with the great pres
ent and future. and not be meAly .
reminder OF what has been. But after
consideration I saw In the name Of
your club the possibility that you
were not merely cold. selfish seekers.
after pleasures Of your own, and that
perhaps you were organized to fur
n.sh consolation to those who m@lrn.
ctlivious to those who would forge an
opportunity for swan song 20 taose
about to disappear.
"You have given me the toas: OK
The President and ] take this tsas..
not merely as out OF respect TO the
ONCE and indicative of your love OF
country and as typical Of your loyslty.
but I assume for the purposes Of to-
night that . discussion Of the oSce
which I have held. and In whica
have rejoiced and suffered will be in
appropriate.
TT is said that the once Of Pr.si-
dent Of the United States is the most
powerful in the world. because under
the Constitution its occupant resl,y
can exercise more discretion than an
emperor or king exercises in any o.
the governments q modern Europe.
Il am not disposed to question this as
Q matter Of reasoning from the actsal
power given the President In the con-
etitutional division OF governmental
functions. hut I am bound TO say that
the consciousness Of such power Is
rarely. II ever, present In the mind o.
the ordinary individual acting as
President. because what chiefly stares
him in the face in carTyiES OFT any
plan Of his. Is tire Limitation on the
power and not its extent
sS0e as0Vy ExUesseoesU.
"Os course. there are happy indi-
vidua.s who are able entirely to ig-
eS.e these Limitations both IN mind
and practice. and 90 20 them the re-
suit may be different But TO one
whose training and profession 10 sub
ordinate 10 Isw. intoxicstion Of power
rapidly scoers on In the knowledge
or iss restrictions and under the
prompt reminder of an ever.pressut.
and not aIways conssdersts press, Is
well by the kindly suggestions that
rot iufreeuensiy come from that hall
Of Congress In which smpeachmeuss
ere ouoeiated, and In that sMalisr
ehambss In Which they are tried.
TN these days Of progress. reforms.
Uplsfss and improvements. q man does
Dot show himself abreast OF the age
unjess he has some changes 20 suggest.
u 10 the recommends change that
Rarks his being up-to-6see. II may be
Q Ooaags oaly Tor the sate q caoagA
=. O010sa0Ss0 . assA re0aA :