Evening star., 1912-11-17
PRESIDENT TAFT
SINGS SWAN SONG
AS NATIONS HEAD
Thoughts Humorous and
Serious Expressed in Pres
ence of Lotus Club.
TALKS OF THE PROBLEMS
WHICH FACE THE NATION
Closes His Address With Toast to
His Successor.
INCIDENTS IN HIS EXPERIENCE
Chief Regret, He Declares, Is Fail
ure of Peace Treaties-Believes
History Will Do Him
Justice.
Closes His Address With a Toast to
His Successor.
INCIDENTS IN HIS EXPERIENCE

NEW oINN, 4\oNSlIlD(l H.
President Taft sang his Swan
song as chief executive of the
nation tonight. As the guest OF
the Lotus Club the President re-
sponded to the toast, "the Presi-
dent in a speech which many OF
his hearers considered the most
remarkable he has ever made.
He shifted from grave to gay and
from the philosophy which he
said four years in the White
House has taught him to dis
cussion of problems which face
the nation.
He laughed at the outcome of
the election; smiled when he
spoke of some of the plans OF
President elect Wilson and
touched with gentle sarcasm
William Jennings Bryan.
Things He Advocates.
In his serious moments the Presi-
dent earnestly advocated the admission
10 the halls Of Congress of members of
a Presidents cabinet; declared that a
six-year term in the presidency was
enough for any man; advocated strong
~ the placing in the civil service OF
practically every officer in the govern
ment service. and limited broadly that
Congress should provide for ex-Presi-
dents SO that they need not lower the
dignity of the position they have held
when they enter into private life.
His chief regret, the President sald,
was that he had been unable to indu-
ence the United States Senate to ratlfy
the arbitration treaties with france
and Great Britain. In spite OF that
fact he asked mis- audience to believe
that he would leave office with the
deepest gratitude to the American peo-
pie for the honor they had given him.
and with the belief that enough prog
ministration to warrant him feeling
that he had done real good fDr MS
country His humorous references 10
the burdens of the White House, to his
successor and TO the Mr.. Bryan brought
forth round after round of applause.
The President closed his speech with
toast TO his successor.
Heath and success TO the able. dls-
IL AsE
= 10 be-and he raised his glass while
hts hearers rose to their feet-.the next
President OF the United States.
President Taft's Speech.
President Taft said in part:
4 saw in the name OF your club the
possibility that you were organized to
furnish an opportunity for a swan song
to those about TO disappear. | con-
cIuded that ii was We'll to cast an anchor
to the windward and accept as much real
coincidence l couId gather in Such a
hosplt@ BILE presence as this, and there
fore. my trends, l accepted your invita-
t0n and am here.
''lon have given me the toast of The
President II is said that the office or
PTesldent is the most powerful in the
world, because under the Constitution It's
occupant really can exercise more discre-
tion than an emperor or King exercises
in any OF the governments of modern
Europe. ! am not disposed to question
this as a matter of reasoning from the
actual power given the President in the
constitutional div sion of governmental
functions, but | am bound TO say that
the consciousness of such power is rarely
ii ever present in the mind of the ordi-
nary Individual acting President, be-
cause what chiefly Stares him in the face
in carrying out any plan of his is the
limitation upon the power and not its
extent.
..Of course there are happy individuals
who are abe entirely 10 ignore these
limitations, both in mind and practice,
and as 10 them the result may be dlffer-
ent. But to one whose training and pro-
feSson is subordinate to law the intoxi-
cation of power rapidly soDeis of in the
knowledge Of its restrictions and under
the prompt reminder of an ever presen,
and a not always considerate press, as
wei as by the kindly suggestions that
not lnfrequenLy come from that hall ol
Congress in which impeachments are
initiated and that smaller chamber in
Wh.c they are tried.
In these days of progress. reform, up
lift and improvement a man does not
show himself abreast of the age unless
ne has some changes 10 suggest. 1t is
the recommended change that marks his
being up 10 date. Ii may be a chang
only for the sake of change but il is
responsive to public demand. and
therefore, lets propose it. 1t is contrary
TO my own love for the dear o,d Con-
stitUtion TO suggest any alteration in its
terms, lest II be regarded as a reflection
upon or criticism Of tnat which has
been put 70 the sacred use for 10 years
of maintaining liberty regulated by law
and the qua antics OF the right OF the
minority and the individual under the
ri.le OF the majority. ut yielding t.
the modern habit, and just to snow tha,
though / am a conservative i am not
reactionary, / venture the suggestion
that Ii would aid the efficiency OF tn.
executive ana center MS energy anC
attention and that of his subordnates II
the latter part of his adninistrat ton upor
what is purely disinterested public
service if he were made ineligible afte
serving one term of six years either t,
q succeeding or a non-consecutive term
Necessary to Be Specific.
81 am little specific in this matte
because it seems necessary to be SO II
order to be understood. / don't car