The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-05-13
Former President Taft
Criticizes Social Re-
formers
DISOBEDIENCE
is COMMON
Popular Government in
Mexico Is Impossible,
He Says

Caustic criticism of the social re-
former and social agitator was
made by William Howard Taft, for.
mer president OF the United States,
in ar address to members Of the Re.
serve City Bankers association, In
the Hotel Statler. Friday night.
The occasion was the closing SEES
sion o. the bankers fourth annual
convention, and Mr.. Taft was the
guest of honor at the annual ban
Quet.
Mr.. Taft, who took as his subject,
Duties Of citizenship" deplored
that lac kof respect for authority
that is being manifested by some
Of the disturbing elements. He re-
terred to the present age as one Of
social crotionalism. and one that is
wrongfully seeking to place all per-
sons on Y common level.
SYMPTOMS of a growing disrespect
for tho laws were detailed by Mr..
TAFT. These are manifesting them
selves IN untold ways. he said.
History" be said, shows that
the rich cvaGc laws with lawyers
and money. Our interstate com.
merce commission and antitrust
laws are merely evidences Of the
attempt & the larger body Of citi-
yens to enforce respect for the tax
laws by the wealthy. All these are
evidences only too common.
"Oppositior to militia and state
constabul-ry by labor unions IL
merely an indication of this disre-
Gpect For the law, as Is the opposi.
lion to the federal power to protect
aliers.
"Bas'ca!!y, we must 60 back to
the family, for we find there the
!irst idea OF discipline. We nnd
disrcspect for parental authority
that goes unheeded. Go to the
school teachers II you wish to ind
Just how our children are lacking
in thei" sense Of respect for author.
ity. Witness the so-called school
strikes"
Popular government, such as the
United States has, is impossible in
Mexico, Mr. Taft declared.
"The Mexicans are not prepared
for such a gov eminent as ours" he
declared, they wouldn't know what
10 do with Il; they haven't learned
the lesson OF respect for authority
and restraint OF themselves. Our
form Of government, so great a
boon 20 us, would merely perpetu'
ate anarchy ir Mexico"
Othcors OF the bankers associa
ton wcre elected, Friday afternoon.
IS follows:
President, Percy II. Johnston,
vice-pros dent Citizens National
bank, Louisville. KY; vice-president,
James Ringold, cashier United
States National bank. Denver, Colo;
secretary. Herbert H. Owens, vice.
president Drovers & Mechanics Ma
t:onal hank. Baltimore, Md; treas
urer. II. J. Haas, assistant cashier
First National bank. Philadelphia,
Pa. D.rCctcrs--A. Breton, vice-pres-
ident Guaranty Trust Co., New
York. Thomay Hildt, vice-president
Aston Trust Co.. New York city:
James Y. L.eavell, assistant cashier
Mechanics & American National
bank. st. Louis, Mo-; II. 8. Rossell.
assistant cashier, Merchants Ma
tional bark. Richmond. Va; K. A.
Setter. vice-president Fifty-third
National bank, Cincinnati; o. o.
Howard Wolfe, assistant cashier,
Philadelphia National bank, Phila-
delphi., Ia; George B Smith, as
sistant cashier Continental CONNER
cial National bank. Chicago, ILL.,; z.
J. Hughes, assistant cashier FIRST
National bank Milwaukee. Wis; X.
II. Woodward, assistant cashier Col
orado National bank, Denver, Colo.