New-York tribune., 1912-03-06
'ST|MSON DECLARES
HIS LOYALTY TO TAFT
Is RooSeyelt'S Sincere Friend,
but Cannot Support Him
for Nomination.
A MENACE TO PROGRESS
Secretary of War Denounces
Recall and Referendum-Calls
President Taft Reel
Progressive.

Secretary OF War and Republican candi-
date for Governor OF New York in 1910, de-
clared himself for President Taft tonight
and said that while he remained the sin
cere friend of Mr.. Roosevelt. he could not
support him for the Presidential nomina-
ton.
Mr. Stimson entered President Tafts
Cabinet last year, after consultation with
Mr. Roosevelt and with the distinct under
standing with the President that he would
be bound in no way to take part IN the
political activities of the administration.
In a speech before the Taft Club OF Illinois
tonight he declared his belief that presi-
dent Taft's administration represented the
highest expression of Progressive Repuo-
lcan policy.
81 am here tonight TO speak for the re-
nomination of President Taft" said Mr.
Stimson. ~ am now and always have been
a Progressive
Il am for Mr.. Taft because / believe he
has faithfully carried out the Progressive
faith Of the Republican party; that his ad-
ministTation stands for orderly. permanent
progress In our national government. and
that 10 refuse him the nomination on the
assertions that have been made against
him would be blow to that progress and
would put a premium upon hasty ami an
founded criticism.
Thinks Roosevelt kisIed.
Il entered into public life under the in
spiration Of Theodore Roosevelt l am a
firm believer in the great national policies
for which he has fought, and / now remain
his sincere friend. But believe that those
who are forcing him. contrary 10 his orig
inal intention, into the arena against Mr..
Taft are jeopardizins, instead of helping
the real cause of progress in the nation.
THE introduction of such a contest at
this time, dragging in, as 1t necessarily
will new and personal Issues which are
quite foreign to the great Progressive poll
cies for which the Republican party stands,
cannot fail to weaken WHICHEVER candidate
is eventually nominated in June If, as a
result. that candidate is defeated in Noyem-
Der, the government may be thrown into the
hands OF truly reactionary party for
years to come"
Mir Sumson said President Taft had de-
voted himself increasingly TO constructive
work along Progressive lines. The adminis-
tration was begun. he said, on a plan that
had 'the thorough approval and deliberate
Endorsement of Mr. Roosevelt" and 10 that
plan President Taft had adhered rigidly.
rs IL fair now 10 criticise him" Mr.
Stimson asked. because. in faithfully car
rylng out this pledge Of four years ago, In
performing this vitality useful though in
conspicuous work he has not dominated the
public attention with dramatic display
Taft Quietly Keeping Pledges.
President Taft pledged himself, said Mr..
Stimson 10 "a progressive development"
6f the work President Roosevelt had begun
ana the completion and perfection Of the
machinery by which the moral standards
set ny President Roosevelt may be main
tanned" Speaking OF President Tafts
achievements Mr. Stmson said
To this work Mr.. Taft has devoted him.
self He thus deliberately renounced more
striking methods OF reform, and set him
sell to the undyaInatic and incons Plcbous
public service which leaves OUT all thought
of a mans own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
lie has repeatedly, for example, urged
upon Congress TO place N the elassined civil
service virtually all OF the Presidential Of
fees: q measure which would at one blow
strike out most Of the enormous political
power Of the President.
The results of this deliberate self-a abne-
CATION are shown in the great legislative
ard constructive accomplishments OF his
term. Mr Tafts standards of administra-
tion like those OF Mr. Roosevelt have been
constantly toward purity and elevation in
our public service and our public life.
With great patience. with answering
courage, with absolute disinterestedness
in these eXcitsble times, when mems minds
f,,l ~ nd n
desire for experiment he has carried on
the burden OF administration and has car
red 1t forward i viii be rejection upon
our own power OF fair minded and candid
judgment II we do not recognize the merit
as we'll as the difficulty of that achieve.
ment now.
Roosevelt Ideas Denounced.
Certain methods Of government advocated
by many Of the Progressives, and in part
by Mr. Roosevelt. we're severely criticised
by Mr.. Stimson. He denounced the recall
OF Judges az destined to bring the courts
down into the welter Of politics" and de-
elared that it was no test Of Republicans
progressiveness 10 require his support for
systems that had been successful in certain
states. He added:
1t is mere narrowness and intolerance to
insist upon remedy which has proved
effective in one place. as the necessary
test OF sincere and intelligent reform in
another II Is even more erroneous 10 make
fidelity 10 one OF these schemes OF local
government In one OF the commonwealths
a test for what Is proper and appropriate
in the government OF the nation at large.
Mr.. stinlson said that the referendum had
apparently worked well in Oregon. but that
in Atty years trial I'm New York. as APP
piled 10 constitutional questions. II had
been failure.
SHOULD the national Republican who lives
in New York be read out OF his party"
he asked, because he declines to accept
the referendum as the best remedy TO cure
the abuses Of popular government in his
own state?
TT only confuses and dstracts to drag
into a national campaign the prejudices and
shibboleths which have arisen in the con-
tests of the different states. Mr.. Taft's ad-
ministration must be judged by the atti.
tude with which he has approached and
the success he has attained in dealing with
these national problems. and not according
to the views which any OF us may hold
Upon these local questions OF state ma
ckinery"
President Taft's Record.
The Secretary called attention 10 the IN
vestigations made under President Taft
into problems that had been the subject OF
serious controversy for years. The work Of
the Tariff Board, the Hsdley railway Sc
curites commission and the Hughes com
mission on second class mail matter were
typical. he said OF the methods sought by
Mr.. Taft TO ascertain facts lie continued:
! doubt II there has ever been an admin
istration where so many vital questions ~
progress were under careful, scientific in
vestigation and scrutiny by commissions OF
competent experts.
There is nothing dramatic about such