New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-06
SLUCG|SHNESS, TAFT'S
DIAGNOSIS OF NATION
All Reforms Have Come Through
Representative Government,
Says Ex-PreSident.
HEART OF PEOPLE SOUND
Party Division Necessary, and
Groups Would Lead to Mega
ton, Yale Glass Is Told
New Devices Condemned.

lHy Telegraph TO The Tribune
New Haven, May 5-Professor William
Howard Taft told Yale men to-day in his
second lecture on government that the
real seat of trouble under our system
lies In the sugeishnes OF the people. who.
however, he added, could be counted
upon to rouse themselves. He said that
every reform claimed by radicals and
progressives had really been worked out
under representative government The ex-
President continued:
THE problems Of popular government
are difficult and complicated. The main
problem is so TO arrange its organi7f-
tions that the will of the majority may
be made effective. Men with experience
and special knowledge are better able to
perform the duties Of lawmaking than
those without these qualifications.
Under our representative system the
people ultimately govern. but they make
their will known through their represen-
tatives. Edmund Burke said that when a
member Of Parliament was elected he
ceased TO represent his district: he repre-
sented the whole nation. | wholly concur
with that opinion and view. although 1t
would send chils down the backs Of many
members OF Congress If they were to be
told that they were so regarded.
Popular government Is impossible
without parties. When | was in college
there was sort OF contempt for the
party man. but II we were to divide into
a dozen groups we should have only mega
ton; no government by majority would
be possible. Governments In Europe have
| the group system and miserable compro-
misses have To be made. II we are going
/ to have free trade policy. let Us have H..
Let the party in power vote for ii II
il Is committed to IL. Let's try II. but the
great thing that We desire in popular gov
eminent is to get on and TO make prog
rcss, not division into groups. The party
has solved the problem In England and II
will solve ii with us. In every party gov
eminent the leaders must agree on the
main principles and must compromise on
the minor issues Parties thus. In turn
adopt the representative system.
we have had rs years Of the repre-
sentative system. and are told that IL has
failed. What is the reason for the change
Many books have been written asserting
that there was capitalistc control OF
legislatures. and following the Spanish
war the nation led a crusade that swept
the people tlll combinations were regu-
lated.
Then came demand for the govern
ment changes. that are now being tried
in placcs-the recall and the referendum
We have been saved from corrupt ana
Al. fts4fst -
one must condemn corporation control OF
legislatures.
why r. such a change from our pres
ent system necessary To accomplish the
ends desired? What II there that cannot
be accomplished under the representative
form OF government? IL the representa-
tive form OF government at fault and TO
be- discarded because under IT these evils
arose? The trouble is that We have
ignored the real defect. the real cause.
which is deeper down. II Is the slug
gishness Of the people themselves
People. 10 get transportation. vote
bonds for railroad that proved burden
some. and then they condemn everything
when the bonds must be paid. Instead
OF blaming the character OF the repre-
sentativcs chosen. place the blame where
4, belongs-On the sluggishness and inertia
OF the people.
But all over this country the heart OF
our people is sound. They have aroused
themselves, and genuine progressive
measures have been enacted without any
OF these subterfuges which are some
times called progressive. In every case
where the reforms have been enacted II
has been done through the representative
system. The new devices are more likely
to produce lethargy in government than
the representative system has done"