The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-20
DROP The RECALL
Taft Says the Bun Moose Have
Abandoned It.
Because It Had Become . Bur-
den to the Party.

washington, Oct. 20.@The United
States should draw from the Euro
pean war a lesson regarding its own
conduct, said ex-President William H.
Taft. in an address here today before
the American Bar association. In
discussing the charges of violation Of
treaties by European nations, Mr..
Taft said that this country should put
itself in such a position that it could
fulfill to the letter the obligations inn
posed by it's treaties. and he recon-
mended legislation to that end.
In his address, delivered as presi-
dent of the American Bar associa-
ton, Mr.. Taft said also that the Pro-
gressive party was departing from
1.-The preposterous nostrum' of the
recall of judicial decisions because it
apparently had bes ONE a burden to
the party.
In speaking Of the European war,
Mr.. Taft said that President Wilson
should have the warmest approval
and sincerest cooperation in his eff
forts to maintain the strict neutrality
of this country.
Concerning this country's obliga-
tions under it's treaties, Mr.. Taft said:
And now that we are discussing
compliance with treaties and the ef-
feet of treaties Of arbitration and OF
peace upon the chances of war. Is 1t not
a good time for us to clean our own
house and to put ourselves In a posi-
ton where we can fulfill to the letter
every treaty we have entered into? We
have made many treaties Of friendship
and pease indeed. treaties with all the
world-in which we have assured to
aliens, subjects or citizens OF the other
party to the treaty, resident within our
borders, due process of its law In pro-
lection Of life, liberty and property. But
we now withhold, however. from the
same authority that makes the treaty
the power to fulfill its obligations. A
statute of a dozen lines would put 1t
into the power of the president to in
stitute judicial proceedings, civil and
criminal, in courts of the United States
to punish. q violation OF the treaty
rights Of aliens and enable him to use
the government to protect against
their threatened invasion. In our past
experience we realize that mob violence
committed through race prejudice
against aliens will never be punished
by state authority, and there is MOTH
ing that a high strung peOple-and 1t
is peoples now who largely control the
matter of war and peace-resent so
much as the mistreatment OF their TEL
low countrymen living under the flag
of foreign government that has stip-
u1ated and pledged Its honor to give
them protection"
| The speaker denied that the granting
to the president of such powers as he
outlined would be unconstitutional.
Turning to the antitrust legislation
Of the Wilson administration Mr.. Taft
analysed the trade commission act and
| the Clayton act.
Insofar as the field of general inter-
state trade is within the practical range
| of supervision and regulation" he said.
1.-The machinery adopted. 1t seems to
| me, is as effective as any could be. %
With one minor exception, he added.
the field of illegal and criminal effort
i in respect to restraints of interstate
i commerce is not enlarged under the
new acts, which he characterized as in
many respects merely declaratory of
existing law.