Springfield weekly Republican. [volume], March 05, 1914, Page 4, Image 4

About Springfield weekly Republican. [volume] (Springfield, Mass.) 1851-1946

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TAFT HELPS WILSON
REMARKS ON INTERVENTION
VERMONT A TROUBLE CENTER
FIGHT FOR COLLECTORSHIPS
Senatorial Situation in Green Moun
tain State Attracts Attention—
The Alabama Campaign—
Other States.
From Our Special Correspondent
Washington. D. C., Sunday, March 1.
Ex-President Taft on bis recent visit to
Washington did a friendly turn for his
successor. Probably few people who read
his statement declaring that intervention
in Mexico would be most unwise, paused
to think bow helpful that may be to the
administration at this juncture. At no
previous time have the jingoists. and alike
those who, for more or less selfish reasons,
want us to go across the,border, been press
ing President Wilson so hard. Critics
began to multiply, with the wide agitation
over the killing of W. S. Benton and the
interposition of Great Britain in his be
half. Then there came the hanging of
an American citizen, resident of Texas,
who had. been lured across the border
near Hidalgo. Gov Colquitt of Texas de
manded authority to send his rangers
across the border, which, of course. Wash
ington eonld not permit.
This and much more has made the Mex
ican status at Washington decidedly acute.
Republicans in Congress, especially the
House, were growing rampant. It was
then that ex-President Taft arrived, as
head of the American bar association, to
appear before the House judiciary com
mittee and to deliver an address before
the national geographical society. Presi
dent Wilson invited him to luncheon at
the White House, where there was op
portunity for discussion of Mexico.
The ex-president’s announcement anew
against intervention followed, and was
most timely for Mr Wilson. It should
be borne in mind that Mr Taft still stands
forth as the national leader of the re
publican party and will till another candi
date is nominated for the presidency.
When he spoke out again against inter
vention. the ex-president clapped the lid
on further opposition speeches in Con
gress, and thus quieted one feature that
has been annoying to Mr Wilson. While
the ex-president did not undertake to ap
prove President Wilson’s policy in so
many words, the inference was unavoida
ble that he felt in sympathy with what
is being done. Whether Huerta should
have been recognized is something Mr
Taft did not discuss. But President Wil
son has been pressed of late to send ma
rines to Mexico, to order a detachment
of troops across the border for Benton’s
body, and the like, which acts, he has been
holding, would be unwise.
Mexican Outlook Dark.
And it. is quite certain now, with the
president and the ex-president in accord
as to intervention, that Congress will have
fewer Mexican discussions for a while.
In the meantime opinion grows at Wash
ington that the Mexican situation is most
perplexing and promises to remain so in
definitely. The public seems to be realiz
ing this. Villa and Carranza have been very
disappointing. The ho;»e that they would
pacitiy Mexico has been vanishing here
at Washington. Revolution has been rag
ing in Mexico now for more than three
years. Level-headed men from Texas,
familiar with conditions to the south
ward. say that the revolution between
Huertistas and Carranzistas may easily
last two or three years yet. There may
be nothing to do (short of intervention),
but allow the bandits and the factions
to fight and fight Jill they are utterly
worn out. True, the country may be
devastated by that time and the large
property interests of foreign residents de
stroyed. The prospect just now seems
one of despair.
Incidentally ex-President Taft's course
is in keeping with the genera] republican
attitude under this administration regard
ing foreign relations. There have been
individual exceptions, but the republican
minority in the Senate (where foreign re
lations are chiefly handled as far as Con
gress has to do with therm and, in some
degree, the republican minority of the
House, have sought to help rather than
binder the president. The Senate had
Mexican outbursts months ago. but these
were silenced after the republicans of
foreign relations had been admitted into
the president’s counsels at the White
House.
The demonstration, almost unprecedent
ed, which President Wilson was given by
congressmen of all parties when, during
the special session he delivered his special
message on Mexico, is not forgotten yet.
And during the contentions over arbitra
tion treaties, some of the president’s strong
and influential supporters were on the re
publican side. Instances might be multi
plied, all of the same purport.
Ex-President Taft’s declaration is all
the more noteworthy, because in confiden
tial communications to Washington
friends he has. on recent occasions, re
ferred to certain administration proceed
ings in a spirit of levity, not to say sar
casm. But he would hardly be expected
to agree in toto with an administration
opposed to him politically, and naturally
has bis private ideas about our foreign re
lations, as do republican senators, who
kick in the corridors and committee
rooms, but join the friendly column when
ever there is a test which becomes of per
manent record.
It may happen that republicans of Sen
ate and House will save the president’s
bill for repeal of canal toll exemption.
Many democrats there are committing *
. themselves in opposition. As far as the
Senate is concerned republican votes will
undoubtedly be necessary if the bill is to
pass.
Vermont's Two Collectorships.
For one of the two states which voted
for President Taft and the republican
ticket, and a small state at that, Ver
mont is somewhat the center of political
interest at Washington just now. There
have been more patronage squabbles to
the square inch in Vermont ever since
March 4 last than in any other state of
the Union. Some of the big ones are
right to the fore. It happens that in
the Green Mountain state are two of the
best customs plums in all the land. The
collector of customs at Burlington used
to draw from the government about $16.-
000 a year in salary and the collector of
customs at Newport got only a little less.
After New York and Boston, which are
the two largest customs ports in the coun
try. come these Vermont' places, although
under the reorganization of the customs
service some months ago the salaries are
not as fat as once was. Nevertheless,
these positions are worth about SSOOO a
year each now, which in small cities like
Burlington and Newport, are more lucra
tive than even the SBOOO salary for the
collector of Boston, when the salary is
measured by what it will buv in the re
spective localities.
Washington has had an idea there were
none but republicans in Vermont, but
I these patronage scrambles have convin -ed
administration officials that the Vermont
woods are full of demo'-rats. The canni
dates and their supporters have come
right down to Washington and camped on
official doorsteps awaiting the day and the
hour when President Wilson scuds the
papers to the Senate.
Mayor .1. E. Burke of Burlington, who
has six times held that office, has been the
most picturesque democrat of them all.
There is Washington interest in a t er
mont democrat, an erstwhile blacksmith,
who could maintain political control over
the chief city of the Green Mountain
state so long. Burke wants the good of
fice of customs collector at Burlington,
and as a progressive democrat out for big
office, has as a running mate F. .1. Pape of
Barre, who is regarded as the progressive
democratic aspirant for the collectoi'ship
at Newport, headquarters of the .Mem
phremagog district. Great quantities of
imports from western Canada come in
over the railroads which lead across the
border and down into Vermont. "Tom
Brown, the democratic national commit
tee man from Vermont, and leader of a
faction whose opponents say he is a great
trouble maker in Vermont polities, has
been figuring in these collectorship c°n
tests. to say nothing of the high old
wrangles the Vermonters arc constantly
bringing to Washington over the filling of
post-offices with democrats good aud true.
While democratic politicians from Ver
mont travel mneh Washingtonward, behold
also republican emissaries. Democrats have
no chance to win the United States sena
torship toga, which William P. Dilling
ham now wears. The republicans are cer
tain of it. but judging from the numerous
messages flying back and forth between
Vermopt and Washington these days, there
is uncertainty what republican will have it-
Senator Dillingham himself is something
of a national figure: ditto Charles A.
Prouty, long a member of the interstate
commerce commission, and now .in charge
of the stupendous task of obtaining the
physical valuation of all railroads in the
United States which can be regarded as
interstate lines. Judge Prouty wrote a
letter weeks ago. stating that his health
would not permit him to run for the United
States Senate, which was supposed to
leave a clear field for Senator Dillingham.
But no. There is a Vermont contingent
that wants Mr Prouty in the running and
he has shown a willingness to yield. Only
a few- days ago Vermonters interested in
the matter sent a trusted one to Washing
ton to talk with Mr Prouty about it.
Mr Prouty Willing.
”1 will not make a campaign." said he.
“but it the people in Vermont want to vote
for me in the primaries for the nomination
of a senator I can't prevent them from
doing it.’’ That is taken to mean there
will be votes for Mr Prouty and that, to
all intents and purposes, he will be a can
didate. If he wins the nomination, which
will be equivalent to an election, he will
be glad. If he does not win, Mr Prouty
will not feel he has cause to grieve. With
this development Senator Dillingham is
stiffening his campaign and word is going
forth to his friends in all parts of the
state.
As a matter of fact what is happening in
Vermont as to its senatorship is happen
ing in many other states right now. The
biggest and most interesting campaign for
the election of one-third of a United States
Senate is in reality in full swing. It will
grow in intensity as the spring months
come. MUeh interest at the capitol still
centers in the contest between Representa
tive Underwood and Representative Hob
son for the senatorship in Alabama. That
will be decided by primary vote next
month. Hobson is away in Alabama, “pi
rootin' ” up and down and delivering a
splendid series of stump speeches. Under
wood is staying on his job as majority lead
er of the House. Underwood’s campaign
is described here lately- as looking up and
his friends now have more confidence of
his winning than they had a few weeks
ago.
MR TAFT ON HIS SUCCESSOR.
Pays a Warm Tribute to Mr Wilson’s
Personality—Expects to See Him
Renominated.
[From Article in the Saturday Evening
Post!
Never before, in its recent history cer
tainly, has the democratic party exercised
such self-control. It is due to the circum
stances and to Mr Wilson’s masterful per
sonality and attitude. First, he knows
what he wishes, and. second, he is deter
mined to get it, and his party associates
are convinced of both facts. Of course
criticism, threats of insurgency, and pro
fanity under the breath are present in the
democratic lobbies, and prophets are not
few who predict that the break is coming
soon. But I think not
The people, or at least the rank and file
of his party, sympathize with the presi
dent. They are pleased with his success
in putting his measures through. The mem
bers of the opposite party may, and gen
erally do. disapprove his economic and
financial policies, but they do not ask or
welcome obstruction to them. It is a real
satisfaction to one who knows the atmos
phere of Washington to note the success
of a strong character in the White House
in dealing with the situation and improv
ing the opportunity it offers.
As the administration wears on, as the
patronage is largely distributed, as the
wounds increase that are inevitably in
flicted by decisions that cannot be avoided,
the factional opposition in the party will
increase, and tend to show itself in the
open. But if the policies of the adminis
tration embodied in the statutes do not
quickly prove to be injurious to the coun
try, I cannot think insurgency will amount
to anything substantial. The party is
proud of itself in its wise course, and it
will not depart much from it until the
country at the polls shall indicate disap
proval of what has been done.
I fee] as if I could view the matter from
a judicial standpoint. I rejoice in the ex
istence of a situation in which the party
in power is fulfilling its promises made in
the platform, and is doing so by following
the guidance of the head of the party,
who is charged by the people with the
party's responsibility.
In saying all this I am not intending to
express approval of what is being done on
its merits. But I hope lam enough of a
sincere believer in our representative sys
tem of popular government to acquiesce in
the judgment of the people expressed in a
national election, and to wish to see that
judgment faithfully carried into law and
executive action. Upon the result the par
ties will doubtless go to the country and
discuss the wisdom of the policies prom
ised and executed, and invite a considera
tion of them in the light of the event.
In the meantime a fair opponent of the
administration will be glad to have the
dominant party act as a unit, do the things
pledged, and be responsible for them. That
is clean cut. That is sportsmanlike.
President Wilson can have no motive dif
ferent from that which would naturally
actuate the party as a whole. He Wishes
to benefit the country by effectuating the
party policies, and he hopes thereby to
enable the party to retain its power. Does
the party wish to do other than this? Of
course not.
It is true that something is said in the
democratic platform in favor of only one
term for the incumbent of the presidency.
That ought to be construed to be a declara
tion in favor of a constitutional amend
ment imposing such a limitation, in which
the term might be lengthened to six or
eight years. Four years is generaly not
loug enough to enable an executive to
work out satisfactorily all his national pol
icies. But if the declaration was intended
to limit. Mr Wilson, we may be sure that
the success of his legislation will make
the one-term plank aa if it had not been
written; whereas if his measures prove in
jurious to the country and are failures,
then the deluge will come to bury the
THE SPRINGFIELD WEEKLY REPUBLICAN: THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1914.
whole platform, the president, and the pres
ent democratic majorities in defeat.
President Wilson has inaugurated the
practice of delivering his important con
gressional messages in person. I thiuk this
is an excellent innovation or, rather, res
toration of «n early custom. Jefferson re
fused to continue it. It has the great ad
vantage of emphasizing the importance of
the subject-matter of the measure the
president presses, aud of focusing the eyes
of the people on ; t in such a. way as to stir
Congress up to the wisdom of considering
it. But a republican president could hard
ly have brought the custom back to life.
We can amuse ourselves by imagining the
torrent of oratory and denunciation that
would have followed any such action by
an executive to whom the professed dis
ciple of Jefferson in Congress did not owe
party allegiance. The awful specter of
monarchy would have stalked before a
startled people, and it is doubtful how
respectfully their shocked representatives
would have listened to “these speeches
from the throne."
G. 0. P. HARMONY MEETING
BORAH AGAINST ALL MONOPOLY
Idaho Senator Assails Party's Stand
on Regulation of Bl« Corporations
—Foraker Criticises Wilson.
Ohio republicans assembled in large
numbers at Columbus, 0., Thursday to at
tend a dinner intended as a “get-together’’
for republicans and former progressives.
They heard D. Meade Massie of Chilli
cothe, a former Roosevelt republican, char
acterize Gov James M. Cox as "a common
enemy against whose democratic machine
all good citizens should unite," and Sena
tor William E. Borah of Idaho argue for
a national policy of absolute obliteration
of monopoly. Senator Borah also ex
pressed the personal hope that Ohio soon
would enter the ranks of woman suffrage
states and predicted that equal suffrage
would become nation-wide eventually
through adoption by individual states and
not by a federal constitutional amendment.
Whether the meeting Thursday was ac
tually a “get-together” between republic
ans and progressives was a question of
dispute. Republican leaders asserted that
20 per cent of those attending the dinner
voted the third-party ticket in 1912. Charles
L. Thurber, secretary of the progressive
state executive committee, gave out a
statement denying that many members of
the progressive party are returning to the
republican fold. He said: "The repub
lican meeting in Columbus to-day is not a
getting together of republicans and progres
sives but merely a getting together of the
old stand-pat republican crowd.”
A demonstration took place when former
United States Senator Josejh B. Foraker
was called to the speakers’ stand. He as
sailed President Wilson’s Mexican policy,
terming it a “pusillanimous policy” and
criticized the president for urging that
American ships pay tolls through the Pan
ama canal.
Senator Borah’s Speech.
Pleading for all men who believe in the
principles of the republican party to aid
in its rejuvenation as a genuinely progres
sive party. Senator Borah, declared that
“even if the republican party was at an
end I could never join the third party so
long as it stands, as it now stands, if I
correctly understand its leaders, on this
question of monopoly.” “Monopoly,” said
Senator Borah, “is 10,000 times worse
than black slavery—it is the father of
class domination, the molder of chains both
for the body and the soul. and cannot ex
ist in any form with safety to the people
in a Republic. Here, sir. is where I could
never be a third party- man. Upon this
issue I would have to disagree with them,
even if I agreed with them upon all oth
ers.
“Mr Beveridge, who has spoken to you
eloquently and effectively, says that trusts
and monopolies are the richest, ripest fruits
of civilization. He says in print that the
beef monopoly, the steel monopoly, the
Standard oil monopoly and all monopolies
are the result of the combination of genius
and energy, and of great benefit to the
people. These industrial organizations.”
he says (speaking particularly of the beef
trust, the Standard oil company and the
steel trust), “have steadied the whole
commercial world and have extended the
period of prosperity by the steadiness they
have given to the commercial and finan
cial world. More than that, he says, they
hare actually caused, compelled, the or
ganization of labor on modern lines.
"I do not know just what he has refer
ence to by 'modern lines.’ but I hardly
presume he refers to the fact that an in
vestigation two years ago disclosed that
the steel trust worked men 12 hours a
day and seven days in the week. The
president of one of these great trusts or
monopolies says, according to his inter
views now. that he would like to be man
aged and regulated a little, but not dis
membered in any way. Mr Perkins, the
most persistent and powerful voice in the
United States now of the third party, says
that it is the thing to do, that these mo
nopolies are the proper thing and all they
need is a little regulation.
"I cannot imagine a more harmonious
affair than my friend Beveridge as attor
ney-general and Mr Perkins as the head
of a board engaged in the regulation of
monopolies. But I pay to Mr Perkins the
tribute of consistency. He refuses to turn
his back on the method by which he made
his great fortune; he thinks it a good sys
tem. The harvester trust with which
farmers are quite familiar, is the ideal
way to his mind of doing business and the
ideal way of being managed.
“I am not assailing Mr Beveridge or
Mr Perkins as individuals. I am dis
cussing their views and policies which they
call progressive views, but which I look
upon as the views belonging to that time
in English history when Queen Elizabeth
and other English sovereigns thought that
monopolies were the richest, best fruits of
civilization and therefore granted monop
olies to all her favorite lords and support
ers.
"Mr President, our institutions, and the
legitimately earned property of this coun
try. are just as safe and no safer than the
average standard of citizenship is high,
and monopoly destroys self-reliant, inde
pendent citizenship—the only guarantee
under heaven or among men for a repub
lic. A republic is strong enough to de
stroy. but never could be strong enough
to regulate monopoly. Some of these days
all political parties, because the people will
rise in their might, will take up this prop
osition of monopoly and declare in terms
unmistakable that a republic and monop
oly cannot exist under the same flag—will
declare that we will put the man in jail
who organizes a monopoly and practices
monopoly as quickly as a man who organ
izes a combination of thieves and takes
our property in another way. Do not
misunderstand me to oppose regulation
and control within certain lines, but regu
lation and control should always be in aid
of and for the purpose of destroying mo
nopoly."
If monopoly ever gained complete control
of the country, he said, in less than half
a century the people would “rise like their
forbears and at the cost of treasure and
blood free the republic of monopoly, un
fetter the limbs and souls of men as Lin
coln. Sumner and Garfield did in former
days.”
Coarts Not Standing; In the Way.
The charge that the courts stand in the
way of destroying monopoly he described
as a “shambling, shifting cowardiv pre
tense.” raised to "conceal the tin willing
ness to do what ought to be done." Sen
ator Borah told how a distinguished sena
tor had recently placed in the Congres
sional Record as “evidence of prosperity
the rise in stocks aud bonds.” and added
that the next morning a paper published
that there were 350,000 men out of. em
ployment in New York city. While the in
dustrial commission “advised ns In plain
words that ws were up against the propo-
sition as a government of caring for the I
thousands and thousands of the unem
ployed and hungry.” .
"This is the prosperity which these com
binations brought." he continued. "This
is the ‘steadying of business' to which the
eloquent senator from Indiana refers. I
know people are afraid we will disturb
business and that is the thing which has
kept us from action until business is no
longer free. No, legitimate business need
fear, while on the other hand if we were
to release the boundless energies of 90.-
000.000 of people to a real new freedom
we would experience an era of prosperity
such as we never have known.”
Senator Borah reviewed the history of
the republican party and its achievements,
denied that it was reactionary, and assert
ed that "a party which was the party of
progress from 1856 to June 22 at 5 o'clock
p. m„ 1912. did not undergo a complete
transformation notwithstanding the fact,
it is conceded, that a vast amount of vir
tue then departed.
“I would not stand here,” ho said, “and
defend the old system of holding party
conventions, a system which 1 i.ad cp
posed years before It was broken down.
But. on the other hand, I utterly reject
the proposition that the millions ot men
and women who constituted the republican
party could be changed in character or
purpose through the wrongdoings of an
antiquated and moribund system of hold
ing conventions."
Senator Borah denounced the demo
ocratic tariff revision, declaring that it had
put the farmer on a oie trade basis. "I
do not understand how our third party
friends can indorse that policy.” he added,
"and yet it received the votes of all the
declared members of the party in the Sen
ate and most of the members of the party
m the House. Ido not see why if a man
believes in those policies he should not
join the democratic party outright.”
SHERMAN LAW IS ADEQUATE.
Opinion of G. W. Wickersham, Former
Attorney-General.
George W. Wickersham. former attor
ney-general of the United States, delivered
an address in Philadelphia Thursday night,
before the American academy of political
and social science. His subject was "The
relation of the federal government to In
dustrial combinations,” and he spoke in
part as follows:—
‘The Sherman law is adequate to reach
any private monopoly without further leg
islative aid. Under it every one of the
great trusts has been dissolved, or is now
defendant in a government suit. No or
ganization, except defendants in pepding
suits, exist to-day which could be called a
private monoply. No combination has been
formed in the United States since the de
cision in the Standard oil and tobacco
cases.
“Distinction should be made between
corporations which are nothing but de
vices to hold stocks of competitive cor
porations, and the ownership by one cor
poration of stock in another made neces
sary by conflicting provisions of state law-s.
The bills pending in Congress don’t dis
criminate between normal processes of
necessary business co-operation and abuses
of such processes. Constructive legisla
tion should discriminate between the past
and the future.
“Some properly constituted administra
tive body should be created, with power
to disintegrate or readjust existing com
binations so as to create normal competi
tive conditions. Congress should declare
principles to guide such a commission, re
quiring it to accomplish that result with
as little injury as possible to public in
terests and due regard for vested private
property rights. Mere size should not be
a criterion as to the extent or character
of disintegration. Relative amount is im
portant. No company should be left with
so large a proportion of the business in
volved as to give it a controling interest
enough to exclude sound effective competi
tion. Discrin^nat-ion should be made be
tween corporations engaged in domestic
trade and thokehi foreign commerce. The
commission’s decision as to the legality of
the organizations resulting from its action
should be conclusive in favor of defendants
and government alike, subject only to a
right of appeal to courts on questions, of
law.
‘The recommendation to further define
by Jaw the meaning of the antitrust law is
based on the misconception of that stat
ute. Bills now pending in Congress do
not tend to make certain any existing un
certainties. They introduce new ques
tions, and would give rise to greater un
certainty.
“The state of public opinion on this
question is expressed in recent laws .of the
different states. In 15 states laws have
been passed containing provisions similar
to the definitions bill now pending in Con
gress. In 10 states within the last four
or five years provisions of those statutes
have been expressly modified so as to ex
cept from their operation particular forms
of corporate organization. Public opinion
so expressed recognizes that such drastic
restrictions as those contained in the pend
ing bills are unwise and impracticable,
and that co-operative effort not amounting
to undue restraint upon commerce or the
creation of monopoly, must be permitted.
“Legislation should be enacted that no
railroad corporation shall hereafter acquire
an iterest in an interstate railroad except
upon finding of the interstate commerce
commission that such acquisition would
not unduly restrain interstate commerce.
Railroad companies should then be ex
empted from the Sherman antitrust law.
Control of the commission over rates and
practices of railroads is so comprehensive
that reason for subjecting interstate car
riers to the antitrust law no longer ex
ists.
“AU pending proposed legislation adds
restrictions, imposes conditions upon cor
porations, tells them what they shall not
do. The problem of the relation of the
federal government to co-operative indus
trial business can’t satisfactorily be
solved until Congress legislates affirmative
ly, declares what can be done, and throws
the protection of the national government
about those who act in conformity with
its laws.”
REPUBLICAN PARTY SLOGAN.
Ban quet of Party Leader* in Thia
City.
“Work! Work! Work!” was the pre
campaign slogan crisply framed by re
publican leaders Saturday night for
the activity of the old party during
the coming three months. Local lead
ers of the party banqueted in the
Nelson-Haynes hotel in this city, and,
with three members of the state com
mittee as chief enthusers, laid out the
preliminary plans for the fight for
supremacy which is to be made next sum
mer. The dinner was given by the re
publican city committee for State Chair
man Edward A. Thurston of Fall River,
Secretary Frank B. Hall of Worcester
and Treasurer George A. Bncon of this
city. These men declared that the old
party is revamped, that thousands of the
stragglers will return to the fold, and that
victory will come this year.
But to swing the strength of the party
into the fight, the leaders must spend the
next three months in the hardest labor
they have ever faced in their political
careers. The new schemes of the state
leaders, they insist, are bound to win and
the new device for financing the move
ment is the most important of all. “We
will raise money by many small contribu
tions instead of by a few large ones," ex
plained Treasurer Bacon, “and the owner
ship of the party hy the moneyed few will
forever he squelched. This party is for
the people and especially for young men.
I believe it will attain greater vigor this
year right here in Massachusetts than it
has ever shown."
If Lieut Becker is guilty, why can’t the
fact he proved in a second trial? This is
District Attorney Whitman’s job. Try,
try again.
REFORM OF LEGAL PROCEDURE
WOULD OIL WHEELS OF JUSTICE
Ex-President Tait at Congressional
Hearing Defends Federal Judiciary
Against Popular Criticism.
An appeal for simplification of court
procedure to facilitate the administration
of justice was made to the House judiciary
committee in Washington Friday by a
delegation of noted lawyers headed by
former President Taft. Speaking as pres
ident of the American bar association. Mr
Taft said lawyers of the United States
were practically a unit in believing simple
rules of practice should govern in all
courts, federal and state, and he strongly
urged passage of a pending bill intro
duced by Representative Clayton, chair
man of the committee.
The Clayton bill would empower the
supreme court of the United States to
lay down rules for the conduct of com
mon law practice in federal district courts
as it has already done in equity procedure.
, The procedure of states where these courts
are located now governs them, and it was
pointed out Friday that usages and
rules of procedure built up by the Legisla
tures of the various states have obscured
the purpose of law in intricate mazes of
technicalities that have served particular
ly to protect men of wealth.
Mr Taft said to the committee that there
was nothing in the constitution to prevent
administration of justice in the United
States with the same dispatch that marked
Eng'ish court business. During the dis
cussion the former president departed
from specific consideration of the pending
bill and dealt with the popular outcry
against the judiciary as it is now con
stituted. He believed, he said, that the
federal court system was the bulwark of
American liberty and that appointment for
life was fundamental in maintaining that
system, but he admitted that defects had
arisen, all of which he thought could be
cured by legislative enactments sneh as
that before the committee. A study of his
subject, he suggested, might be made by a
paid commission, with the approval of the
supreme court. Referring to the investiga
tions of several federal judges now in
progress. Mr Taft declared it was a
wholesome thing for Congress to exercise
this power. “I think it is an admirable
thing," he said, “for these judges to under
stand that they are being watched.
One of the troubles with life appoint
ments for judges, Mr Taft said, was that
the temptation was strong to build up
about themselves “judicial families.”
Lawyers know, he said, that it was often
a dangerous thing to make any charge
against a court clerk before the judge
who had appointed him. That temptation
could be removed by Congress. Mr Taft
insisted, and the courts as they are now
constituted could be vindicated without
resort to the recall, which he believed
harmful. He thought appointments of
receivers by federal judges should be
made from a list furnished by the inter
state commerce commission.
Mr Taft said he wished to call the com
mittee’s attention to one fact: “You can
safely consider this bill,” he said, “since
it has the approval of the progressive
party and of Mr Root and myself. I want
the committee to get that fact; that where
two so widely divergent views agree upon
a thing, it is probably a thing to be de
sired.”
President Wilson and Attorney-General
Mcßeynolds have already expressed their
approval of the pending measure, and it
is expected that when it is received in
Congress it will be speedily passed by
both houses. The list of speakers at
Friday's meeting included, in addition to
Mr Taft, Judge Alton B. Parker of New
York, Senator Root of New York, Louis
Brandeis of Boston, Dean Roscoe Pound
of Harvard, Frank B. Kellogg of Min
neapolis, Judge Henry Wade Rogers, and
Thomas W. Shelton, chairman of the uni
form judicial procedure committee of the
American bar association.
THE PROGRAM OF CONGRESS
TRUSTS AND RURAL CREDITS
Two Subjects on Which Legislation
is Surely Duc Bclore Adjournment.
Trust legislation and a new law to en
hance rural credits before adjournment of
Congress are the only measures on the
“must" list of the administration for the
present session of Congress, it was made
known in Washington yesterday. This,
of course, excepts the necessary appro
priation bills which now are being rapidly
disposed of.
Senator Ashurst has given notice that he
will press the constitutional amendment for
equal suffrage in the Senate, but his ef
forts to fix a time for voting on it will be
persistently opposed by deihocrats and re
publicans alike. The constitutional amend
ment for prohibition probably will not be
taken up at this session.
A general dam and water-power bill is
being formulated in the House interstate
commerce committee and it probably will
be ready within a fortnight to report to
the House. The purpose is to induce pri
vate capital to promote navigation in shal
low streams through hope of profit from
the use of water-power generated. Secre
tary Garrison has outlined the administra
tion views in a letter to Chairman Adam
son proposing a measure under which the
power concerns on navigable streams as
public utility companies would secure au
thority from both state and federal gov
ernments.
Plans to reorganize the scheme of gov
ernment of Porto Rico are under way in
the House committee on insular affairs
where to-day Delegate Riva and Frank
Martinez of San Juan, representing the
unionist party of the island, will explain
the Riva bill designed to grant citizen
ship with a view to ultimate independence
Secretary Garrison has stamped the bill as
impractical and said the United States
has no intention of granting independence.
Secretary Bryan to-day will appear be
fore the House committee on foreign af
fairs to explain the Mexican situation. The
project for a national University is met
with almost unanimous approval in the
House committee on education which to
day will resume hearings on the Foss bill
to provide for the establishment of such an
institution at the national capital.
Three big hearings are planned for to
morrow. Both sides in the fight for a
woman suffrage constitutional amendment
will open another battle before the House
judiciary committee; the rules committee
will have a public hearing on the Manahan
resolution to investigate charges that the
Chicago and Duluth boards of trade and
the Minneapolis chamber of commerce con
trol the country's grain markets; and a
general bill to regulate grazing on the pub
lic domain will be under discussion at a
hearing before the public lands committee.
Vice-President Leguia of Peru, who is
returning from London to take the presi
dential office left vacant by the exit of
Guillermo Billinghurst, must not be con
founded with his elder brother, Augusto
B, Leguia, who was president before
Billinghurst and was exiled last summer
for an attempted revolution. The new
[nesident, Roberto F.. Leguia. is 48 years
old. and has held several important posi
tions in the government.
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE-
MEN LOVED GEN CHAMBERLAIN.
The Ardent Testimony of .One Who
Served in His Old Regiment.
7'o the Editor of The Republican :~
1 wish that I might express in words the
feelings that came over me this morning
as I looked at my Republican and saw
almost the first thing the. notice ,of the
death of Gen Joshua L. Chamberlain. As
1 think 1 am the only man in this vicinity
who was a member of the 20th Maine
regiment, which he sc gallantly command
ed, 1 wish that I might say a few words
regarding this splendid soldier.
1 was transferred to his regiment from
the 2d Maine the last of May. 1863, under
circumstances which made it hard for
those who were put in a strange regiment,
and it was there that those men trans
ferred came to learn the sterling qualities
of this man. He seemed to feel with us
the unpleasant features that were ours as
we were placed in different companies,
among new faces, and he—from what I
have since learned—urged upon the officers
and men of bis command to show us that
we were to be received with all considera
tion and shown all due courtesy, which
soon won from us the devotion and love
which increased with the months and
years that we were under him.
The afternoon of the 2d of July. 1863,
on Little Round Top at Gettysburg, amid
the awful carnage, gave us to see what
was in the calm, quiet man who watched
every portion of his line with the care of
s father, now speaking to an officer here,
stepping to the side of a dying man with
a word of comfort, restoring to his rank,
from which he had been unjustly reduced,
one of the brave men who was dying: and
in every way striving to encourage the of
ficers and men in that hour of death strug
gle. Then leading his men in the final
charge that drove the enemy from our
front and saved the day at Gettysburg.
All the way through the Wilderness,
with its terrible days of fighting, down to
Petersburg, on the afternoon of the 18th
of June, where he was so terribly wound
ed —from which wound no one expected
him to recover—and from which he was a
constant sufferer down to his death. Back
to his command in time to command a
brigade at Five Forks, doing splendid
work on the Quaker road, and in the fight
on the 30th and 31st of March and April
1 leading his men in splendid movements
that called for the commendation of Gens
Grant. Meade, and Sheridan, aud receiving
from Gen Grant what he said had been
too long delayed, bis promotion to be a ’
b rigadier-general.
The days passed quickly from that time
on until the finish came at Appomattox.
How proud we were on the 12th day of
April when Gen Chamberlain asked for
his old regiment to be a part of the com
mand which was to receive the official
surrender of the confederate forces. Oh,
I could say so many things this morning
about the splendid man who has just been
mustered out and gone to join the major
ity of the men who lived and were a part
of those glorious days!
A noble man. a splendid soldier, a wise
statesman, popular governor of the state
from which he enlisted, and in al) the
walks of life one whose life was a con
stant uplift to those who came in contact
with him. How his men loved him! At
the regimental reunion in Lewiston, Me.,
in August, 1912, the men who gathered
there were so wrought up on his entry to
the hall that they wept and laughed and
cheered until it seemed that the town it
self could hear us.
Well, I will stop, for I know I am un
able to say but a bit of what might be
said of this man who has just passed on.
I loved him as a brother.
Edwin S. Wetherell.
Co D. 2d Maine regiment, and Co E,
20th Maine regiment.
Thompsonville. Ct., February 25, 1914-
FAVORS NATIONAL PROHIBITION.
To the Editor of The Republican :—
I address this communication tb the
dear public for whom our legislators are
so solicitous, to show how we are de
ceiving ourselves by the toleration of the
alcoholic beverage industry to prevail and
continue its very damaging work in our
country. I desire to help develop public
sentiment in favor of national legislation
to pass the following amendment to the
constitution now before the national Con
gress in both branches:—
Section 1. The sale, manufacture for sale,
transportation for sale, Importation fo r sale,
aud exportation for sale of. intoxicating
liquors for beverage purposes in the United
States and all territory subject to the juris
diction thereof are forever prohibited.
Section 2. Congress shall have power to
provide for the manufacture, sale. Importa
tion and transportation of Intoxicating liquors
for sacramental, medlcina.l, mechanical, phar
maceutical or scientific purposes, or for use
in the arts, and shall have power to enforce
this article by all needful legislation.
I most sincerely believe that there has
never been a more serious and important
proposition before the American people
since the Declaration of Independence
than the enactment of this amendment to
the constitution. The alcoholic beverage
is more damaging than any form of hu
man slavery, war, famine or pestilence; in
fact, it is human slavery of the very
worse form. When the drink habit is
formed it becomes a disease more dreaded
and difficult to remove than most any
other known disease and more damaging
and dangerous to human lije and bur
densome in its detail of expense through
the legal, charitable and reformatory and
correctional necessities of the people than
any other expense of our state and na
tional government.
It is very seriously important that this
amendment should be passed and pn
forced without delay to save our people
in the country from further distress so
burdensome and build up human life on a
more noble basis, free from intemperance
and its many attendant vices.
Chables N. Pbouty.
Spencer, February 21, 1914-
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP.
Judge Bumpus on the Experience of
Holyoke and Other Places.
To the Editor of The Republican:—
The report of the gas and elsctric depart
ment of the city of Holyoke for the year
1913 furnishes such a vivid illustration of
the great saving which municipalities can
make by awning their water, gas or elec
tric works, if the same are managed hon
estly and efficiently, it may be worth while
to briefly state the experience of Holyoke
in this regard.
I happened to be on the commission to
value the plant when it was taken over by
the city from the company in 1902. Our
appraisal, together with all expeuse of lit
igation, totaled $815,458. To-day the value
of the plunt is $1,650,000 (plus), toward
which the surplus earnings nave contrib
uted nearly $700,000. a profit which.to that
extent has been applied for the benefit of
the city and its inhabitants. Meantime
the price of gas. which in 1903 was $1.35
per cubic foot, has been reduced to $1; the
net price of electricity from 18 cents per
kilowatt to six cents per kilowatt, and the
price of arc street lights from $1 each to
45 cents.
Taking into account the large increase
in the output, since 1903 and the present
prices as compared to the earlier ones here
is a natural saving of substantially S3OO -
000. which, capitalized nt 5 per cent,
shows a credit of $6,000,000. Doubtless
a large part of this saving is due to the im
provement and enlargement, of the plants
since the city has owned them, and the
reduction in prices have naturally followed
This has undoubtedly been largely due to
the excellent management of the superin
tendent of the plants, a local government
bent upon securing the most beneficial re
sults for its citizens, and the Supervision
of the state gat and electric light com
mission.
WhUa it h verv orobable that in into
duction in the price of ;as and electricity
would have taken place if the Holyoke
water-power company had continued to
hold the plants during this time, yet the
chances are, judging from other causes,
not so great a diminution in prices would
nave taken pla<‘e.
While upon this topic, let me say that
in cases of .this kind in which J have been
interested throughout the state I have
been struck by the advantages which have
accrued to municipalities where private
companies have been established! In most
instances such companies have began busi
ness upon a small output and several years
have elapsed before they have secured any
profits Meantime the communities in
volved have, as a result of the introduction
ot gas, water, or. electricity, secured ad
vantages on account of these benefits in
the growth m population, etc. This ad
vantage is of course mutual as between
the company and municipality and natural
ly adds to the value of the property mak
‘nft what is known as a going plant. When
such planus are taken over by municipali
i'ert to > / disposition to ob-
ject to the payment of the property as a
live one. but inasmuch as the company by
its enterprise has created this profitable
whv 8 a P r nt ’ th ii e sePllls tobe no reaßnn
allowed p amou ? t ^ould not be
Booked for the same. I have found in mv
as P a rX e m,,ni ‘'ipalities have
as a rule, at the time of paying for the
vet^know' 8 ? 1 a ^ ards ware excessive,
yet I know of no instance where it has not
tuhued out that the municipality could af
ford to pay the amount levied upon it and.
instead of losing, have gained thereby.
Boston. February 28, l^i^ BUMPUS.
EUGENICS. ' I
To the Editor of The Republican:—
The attempts to breed human beings on
the basis of the breeding of cattle, horses
and hogs, cannot succeed in perfecting
humanity. How many great men ever
had great sons. How many great poets’
sons were also great poets? How many
grout philosophers reared philosophers of
note in their own households? Shake
speare, the world s greatest poet, was not
the son. nor again the father, of a great
poet. But he probably inherited the
imagination and other poetic qualities of
both parents; a combination just suf
ficient to make him. what neither of them
were. And so of great merchants, great
inventors great commanders, great states
men, and others. This form df inher
itance accounts likewise for the failure
Of sons of excellent men sometimes to
equal the average of men. They inherit
from both parents—though we know not
how—qualities which alone in each are
well enough, but when doubled in the
sons are defects.
Nerves make and unmake values in hu
man offspring, yet the how of these
processes is not. sufficiently well known to
be utilized for great improvement of man
kind; but certainly it is not in following
the swineherd’s methods, spite of the oft
saying that the hog has a great deal of
human natur’ in ’im.” Soul, sentiment,
hope, heart and love must have freer
course ere man be glorified,
~ „ Perry Marshall.
A etc Salem, February 28, 1914.
WHO HAVE THE CHILDREN’S JOBS!
To the Editor of The Republican:—
Under the new child labor law children
under 16 are not allowed to work in fac
tories and stores more than eight hours a
day. Who then, we ask, have the jobs at
which these children formerly worked?
All these jobs are filled. Somebody,
old or young, has each one of them and
is getting pay for it. When an older
minor or an adult has it, we may reason
ably conclude that he needs it and that
without it he would be an added unit in
the company of the unemployed.
Most of these jobs are filled by the
children themselves under greatly im
proved conditions. Various agencies are
diligently seeking accurate information
concerning the children discharged, chil
dren re-employed on an eight-hour basis
and children Who have returned to school.
Conditions differ widely in different places.
Wild statements have been made, grossly
exaggerating the number of those thrown
permanently out. of work. A bugaboo
has been raised in the shape of crowds of
young hoodlums ranging the streets as a
result of this law. A careful aud reliable
investigator has searched for weeks for
these “hoodlums.” But the largest crowd
of boys idling because of the new law
she has yet found was one crowd of three.
In nine-tenths of the cities and towns the
hours have been adjusted, or very largely
adjusted to the law and the children have
been reinstated. Quite universally there
has been some annoyance to the employers.
These naturally feel some irritation. To
most of the children the law has brought
immense relief. Instead of being pulled
out of bed at 5 o'clock they can now
sleep until 6 or 7. Instead of rising too
early and spending every hour of day
light in the factory they have at least
an hour more for needed sleep and an
hour for out-of-door play or for reading
or helping at home. It’s a big boon
for the boys and girls. Does it cost, too
much? Do employers, when they think
of it, really wish to coin these two hours
of a child’s day Into dividends? Can the
state afford to let them do so?
Charles F. Bradley.
Boston, February .28, 1914-
WOMEN VOTERS IN CHICAGO.
The Recent Primaries and Comments
Thereon.
[From the Chicago Tribune.]
Virtually the same proportion of wom
an voters went to the polls as male, but
undoubtedly thousands of women were re
strained by the desire to avoid a declara
tion of party affliation. Otherwise if it had
been for no other reason than to make use
of a new power they would have voted. If
approximately 160.000 women were inter
ested enough to register, indifference did
not keep over two-thirds of them at home.
Policy dictated their conduct. Their
party affiliations have not been declared.
They are free to make their choice in a
subsequent primary. Chicago has now
more than 100,000 voters of no declared
party. They remain the unknown quan
tity in local politics. They have con
tributed a good deal to nonpartisanship
and independence.
(From the Chicago . Daily News.l
Within the year women have been given
the right to vote' in Dlinois for all offices
save those named in the state constitution.
Yesterday, in the city primaries Chicago
ans serenely watched women manfully ex
ercise the right. That is not all. Various
women worked vigorously for party alder
manic nominations, employing methods
similar to those that have been employed
by the male of the species full many a
year.
One of the woman candidates, it seems,
had supplied herself with cigars, which
she distributed at the polling places
among the man suffragists, meanwhile de
livering verbal sweets to her sister voters.
Another of (he candidates went from
precinct to precinct in an automobile, to
which was affixed a large banner bearing
her name and the words. “Candidate for
alderman.’’ Still another, in her excur
sions about the ward, caused her ‘‘man
agers’’ to issue withering attacks upon
her political opponents.
From all of which it is evident that
woman has arrived politicolly in more
senses thnn one.
READY FOR WEBSTER’S SEAT.
(From the Boston Post.]
Citizen John F. Fitzgerald caused a Sen
ate attendant to grin with delight in Wash
ington.
He was in the capitol on business and
dropped into the upper chamber. When
near Senator Lodge’s seat he dropped into
it. saying in a most matter-of-fact way:—
"It feels natural!"
When the attendant told him that Dan
iel Webster once had that seat Citizen
Fitzgerald again remarked:—
“It feels natural.”
The attendant gasped, then grinned.