New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-10
TAFT URGES CURB
ON RADICALISM
Saws Extreme Reforms
Have Halted Progress
of Nation.

Seattle. Sent. 9.-Ex-President Will
lam H. Taft to-day told the American
Bankers Association, in convention
here. that practically all of the radl-
cal reforms attempted in connection
with politics, railroads and big bust
ness" had failed of their purpose
causing the nation to halt in its prog
ress. and that there must now be d
"retracing to the line of moderation
and justice"
THE leviathan of the people cannot
be stirred to such action as has oeen
taken and stop short at the line OF
moderation" said Mr.. Taft. THE hos
tility of legislatures and Congress
came to be directed against all success
full investment of capital without dis
elimination. Nothing is so timid as
capital, and nothing II so easily able
TO lake care of what il has.
eve are all in the same BOAT. The
prosperity of one class Is dependent on
Tho prosperity of all. This is no rea-
son why we should not repress lnlus-
tice and punish abuse OF power. But
il is a reason why We should not IN
dulge in excess.
I'VE must promptly grant increased
rates to the railroads when conditions
require il. We should repeal the full
crew bills that impose upon the rail-
roads the burden OF employing unnec-
essary labor. In curing these excesses
there is no reason why we should not
retain the real progress we have mace
in dethroning p!utocracy.
Mr.. Taft attacked other radical re-
forms. On the recall of judges ne said:
THE tenure of judge or the right
of the individual litigants is to depend
on the chance and uncertainty OF one
popular election. In the nature OF the
case. the people cannot be advised OF
the legal arguments pro and con, even
if they could understand them. Again,
tie power Of a reckless press would be
enhanced and justice and equity would
play little part in the result.
"The evil tendency Of such so-called
reform is in the destruction OF the
sancti:y of our constitution. Under
the initiative anu hO
greater consideration by the people is
required in the passage Of constitu-
tional amendment than in that of any
temporary and unimportant measure"
The convention adjourned to-day.
James X. Lynch. of San Francisco, was
elected president, and Peter X. Goebel,
of Kansas City, Kan, vice president,
for the ensuing year.
The convention hall was crowded
this afternoon for the address Of Mr..
Taft, who was introduced by President
Law as a man of humor and a cheerful
loser
81 shall try to give you" said Mr..
Taft, in beginning his address, IAN
eptome Of the political events of a
generation, in the climax Of which
performed tragic part"
The convention adopted a set of
resolutions offered by Robert +. Mad
dox, president OF the Atlanta Chamber
of Commerce, on the declaration OF
belligerents making cotton contraband.
II resolved:
THAT this convention commends the
President of the United States and the
State Department for the efforts which
have been air, ady made looking 70 a
modification Of the said contraoand
order and that IL is a hope OF this
convention that these efforts VIII be
continued until the threatened peril TO
this great industry Is averted.