New-York tribune., 1912-08-15
Attorney General Points to His
Belief in the Efficacy Of the
Constitution.
PUBLIC WELFARE HIS AIM
MIR. Wickersham Declares Much
of the Opposition to Taft Is
Due to Impartial En-
forcement of Law.
LEY Telegraph 70 The Tribune.


General Wickersham addressed a large
audience at the assembly here to-day Oh
the policies and the record Of the iai'
administration. He took up In detail the
platform on which Mr.. Taft was elected
the trust question, the tariff ana man!
other issues, and warmly defended the
Presidents course.
Referring to the Payne tariff law. MI
Wickcrsham said the prejudice against II
had been created largely as the result oil
criticism by those who were not belieN-
crs in the principle of protection to
american industry. which had been the
distinctive feature of every RepuollcAh
platform from 1860 to 1908. He said th'
Payne act did begin a downward revision
in tariff making, both by reduction oil
duties and by increasing the free llst' IL
established a maximum and minimum
rate ana the germ Of tariff commission
The act also established a Court of Gus
toms Appeals and greatly improved the
machinery Of customs collection.
PIedues carried out.
Nr Wickersham then said that at the
opening Of the regular session OF con-
.rcss i'm lqlq-10 the President addressed
himself to the accomplishment of the re-
naming legislative programme embodied
in the party platform. and the result Of
his persistent efforts. in the face of con-
tinued opposition of the most critical ana
at times even indicative kind, was the
enactment Of more valuable constructive
legislation than had ever been passed by
congress at any one session. He enum-
Grated list Of these statutes The most
conspicuous and important of them ALL
and the one which was the subject Of the
greatest controversy and opposition, was
the railroad bill.
Mr.. Wickcrsham reviewed the pro-
visions Of the bill as finally passed, and
rcfuted vigorously the charge that as IN
toduced it was wholly bad or partly
bad" and pointed out that the larger part
Of the provisions of the act as passed
were such as the President had recon-
mended The opponents OF the bill, he
said. impaired its provisions by defeating
the efforts 10 carry out the pledges of the
platform: by inserting provisions author
izins the commission and shippers TO
intervene in suits in the Commerce Court;
prolonging litigation through the author
ization of appeals from interlocutory or
ders in tho Commerce Court, and by re-
quirng applications for temporary in
functions 10 stay orders Of state commits
sions to be heard by three Judges.
Mr. WiCkersham referred 10 the Presi-
dents record of enforcement Of the laws
Ilc pointed out the indictments of rem-
hers q the so-called wire pools many Of
whom we're personal friends of the Presi-
dent: the indictments Of many prominent
representatives Of powerful labor organ
izations for violations of the statutes reg
ula,ing the carrying Of dynamite between
the states. the indictment OF Dan"
llama and other individuals and cor
pora,ioBs in Northern Ohio for taking
railroad rebates which brought upon the
President the bitterest hostility Of power
nil business and financial interests, and
resulted in giving to Mr. Roosevelt ef-
fective aid in his primary campaign in
Ohio
The prosecution of the United States
steel Corporation as an illegal monopoly
came. ne said, "as surprise to the
financial world. because they, in their
arrogance. had assumed that no admin
istration would lift'a hand against that
powerful combination
10 Dissolution Of Trusts.
MIR. Wickersham referred 10 the prose
culion Of a long list Of trusts and COM
binatioiis Friend and foe have been
treated alike lie said, and it may be
truthfullv said, with some cynicism as
well as with some sadness. that the abuse
which has been visited upon the Presl-
dent has been in large measure because
he has enforced the law against friend
and foe alike, without fear and without
favor"
lie spoke OF the term OF President Taft 9
administration as period of unexampled
prosperity. he referred TO the high trib.
ute paid 10 the President by the conf
dence in his patriotism and integrity OF
purpose shown. in the attitude OF the
country when. year ago, he sent twenty
thousand troops to the Mexican border.
lie said:
II does not require any great stretch
OF magination to fancy the feeling with
which under some other Presidency the
announcement OF such movement would
have been attended But the American
people know that such action by Presi-
dent Taft was evidence OF determina-
ton TO protect the lives and property
or American citizens and 10 avoid, not
seek. foreign cntangiements or war with
our next door neghbor.
The difficult situation in Cuba, the deli
cate negotiation resulting successfully In
The treaty with Japan and the treaties
of arbitration with Great Britain and
France. negotiated by President Taft.
constitute gems In the crown OF his ac-
complishments.
The President believes fervently In the
efficacy OF our constitutional government.
lie is deeply opposed TO the obliteration
OF those constitutional restrictions TO
giving immediate effect to popular agita-
tion which are advocated by those who
would substitute a government Of men
for one Of laws.
Upholds Constitution.
lie never has been willing TO sacrifice
constitutional restraints and legal re-
strictions to attain even the most ap-
narentiy- meritorious or popular object.
arc now securing and will hereafter
realize all those objects which, on mature
consideration. a majority Of them deter
mine to be necessary 10 the public well
fare. by working through our form OF
constitutional government
He believes that the destruction OF
the checks and balances esta ablished in
our Constitution would open the door
to government by excited r1inorities
and would destroy that security of life
liberty, property and the pursuit OF
happiness for which our forefsthers
fought in securing our independence
and for which our fathers fought in
preserving the federal Union. These