Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1913-01-10
DEFENDS HIS ACTS
PRESIDENT TAFT MAKES A VERY
NOTABLE SPEECH AT
NEW YORK.
CLAIMS time WILL PROVE HIS IDEAS
His Remarks at Republican Re-organl.
zation Dinner Are Pointed-Asserts
Belief In Popular Government
-Favors Arbitration.

New York.-President Taft presided
here Saturday night at what he styled
his own political wake" He made
the funeral grafton over his political
corpse; asked modest praise for the
deeds that he did while he lived in
the White House; recited at length
the causes that led to his demise" and
attacked the enemies he held respon-
sible for his taking off.
The president did this in speaking
at the republican reorganization" din
ner given at the Waldorf-Astoria to
over the country. He spoke for more
than an hour. His defense of his adj
ministration was the executive results
it has produced; his reply to personal
criticism was that he had been more
misunderstood than blameworthy. His
attack upon his political opponents
confined almost exclusively to the pro-
gressives-was not bitter, but sorrow
full.
Old Ideas to Prevail.
In spite of all the misrepresentation,
the unrest, the present-day desire for
change, the president said, he saw in
the future return to the old ideas of
government, the awakening of the peo-
pie to an understanding that social
changes must be made slowly and with
sure steps. He closed with an appeal
to republicans who left the party to
return and join hands with the millions
who remained faithful.
Union With Democrats.
Let us ask our opponents, the dem
ocrats, the many who love the con-
stitution and the blessings it has
brought, to unite with us in its defense
1t must be a campaign of education
among the common people for the ben
eft of the common people against the
poison of class hatred, the fanaticism
of unbalanced enthusiasm and the
sophistry of damagogic promise"
Refers to Roosevelt.
In the course of his speech the presi-
dent made his first public reference to
Colonel Roosevelt since the close of
the campaign, asserting that probably
100000 voters, normally republican,
cast their ballots for Mr.. Wilson Gin
order to avoid the danger of Mr.. Roose-
. velt's election"
Would Arbitrate With England.
b New York-President Taft declared
himself as unequivocably In favor of
Il arbitration of the Panama canal tolls
in the event the pending negotiations
between Great Britain and the United
States fail in bringing about a settle
ment.
This was the first public declaration
of the president regarding his attitude
toward the question. He was speaking
at a luncheon given in his honor by
the International Peace Forum.
Takes An Unequivocal Stand.
81 am willing, and indeed I would
be ashamed not to be willing" he
said. Ito arbitrate any question with
Great Britain in the construction of
a treaty when we reach the exact issue
which there is between the two ma
tons. There need not be and public
doubt on that subject so far as this
administration is concerned. When
there is a difference that can not be
reconciled by international negotiation
and adjustment then we are entirely
, willing to submit 1t to an impartial
tribunal
Il am hopeful that we may get It
: either to settlement or to submission
before the administration in which /
have the honor to be a dissolving view
shall cease, but it may not be, because
these negotiations move slowly. But
am glad to take this opportunity to
say that If the time comes there will
, be no doubt about what / will do in
respect to the submission of that ques-
ton, as far as my power goes, to an
impartial tribunal for it's settlement, If
that is necessary"
clews Says Country Is Wrong.
The presidents remarks apparently
! were prompted by a declaration in a
speech by Henry Clews, the banker,
asserting that for President Taft's ad-
: ministration ito concede the right to
, arbitrate the difference would be a
splendid achievement" but holding
= that 1--WE are In the wrong and would
most likely be defeated if 1t should 90
? the The Hague for decision"
, Mexlcans Threaten American Miners
Washington.-Fear is felt for the
l safety of fOur Americans In charge ~