Three Vigorous Speeches on Taft

An enthusiastic meeting of about 100 members of the Taft Club, held last night in the Union, was addressed by three very prominent and interesting men closely connected with the Taft interests of New England.

Before the speeches, President Bacon read a letter from Secretary Taft in which he expressed his thanks to the members of the club for their kindly interest, which he greatly appreciated. Mr. Taft said, however, that he did not expect to be in Boston in the near future because of numerous other engagements. It was also announced at the meeting that Postmaster-General George Von L. Meyer would probably speak to the club on April 10.

The first speaker of the evening was Hon. James J. Myers '69, of Cambridge, ex-speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Mr. Myers mentioned, in opening, that he had been closely connected with the political clubs of the University since 1888 when he was a member of the Harrison campaign committee. Speaking of the candidates of the Republican party, he said there were really only two, Taft and Hughes. Although Hughes is a strong and energetic worker, he is a single-handed player, a fault which cannot insure a strong administration. He lacks the important element of team play, which is Taft's strongest point. Secretary Taft is best fitted for the presidency because of his large experience gained from his beneficial rule of the Philippines, his building of the Panama Canal, and his knowledge of Cuban affairs.

The next speaker, Mr. John C. Cobb, president of the Boston Associated Board of Trade, and manager of the Taft campaign in Massachusetts, told how the campaign was progressing in Massachusetts. From his recent trip to Washington, he said that no candidates are mentioned there, and that there are only two parties, drawn on sharp party lines: the administrative, who are for Taft, and the reactionary allies who are for no particular candidate but for the defeat of Taft. In New England the reactionaries are endeavoring to defeat Taft by having the delegates go to Chicago uninstructed, and the only way to combat them is for the people to vote at the caucuses, which are to be held on March 31, for the delegates pledged to vote for Taft. In closing, he said that if the reactionary allies succeed in defeating Taft, Hughes, or possibly a Democrat, Bryan, would be nominated.

The last speaker was Mr. Samuel J. Elder, of Winchester, a prominent Boston lawyer and Yale graduate. He said that it was gratifying to see that Harvard was supporting a Yale graduate, Taft, as strongly and sincerely as Yale, a few years ago, had supported Roosevelt, a Harvard man. He said that both Hughes and Taft stand for civic honesty and the purity of the country, but that Taft, because of his superior equipment and indomitable courage, was the better man. In closing, he said that Taft should be elected for he has always stood by the President and his principles. And these should be continued, for they make for the industrial and economic liberty of the people.