The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-11
GOLD AND DAVIS.
Taggars Says That Combination Beat
the Democrats.

Lafayette, Ind, Jan. 11.-Several ma
tional leaders of the Democratic party
and many state Democrats broke bread
last night at the eighth annual BAN
Quet of the Jackson club, held in honor
OF the memory of Andrew Jackson. Fol-
\ lowing the feast there were addresses,
4 in which William ]. Bryan received the
/ largest share OF applause, but the ma
tional chairman, Thomas Taggart, was
also accorded an ovation. 1t was ex-
pected that Senator Tillman of South
Carolina and Mayor Harrison of Chi
cago would be present, but neither put
In an appearance. w. R. Hearst also
failed to attend. There were many IL
linois, Ohio and Michigan Democrats
and nearly every county in Indiana
was represented. More than 500 per-
sons sat down at the first table. The
Coliseum was deliberately decorated
with banners and portraits
When the banquet was over and the
public was admitted, letters of regret
were read from several men who were
not able to attend
When the national chairman, Thomas
Taggart, arose there was a burst of ap-
plause.
Regarding the campaign of 1904 Mr..
Taggart said Judge Parker's nomina-
ton was favored by many who hoped
that the nomination of an eastern man
of high character, who had not faltered
in support of the party'S nominees in
1895 and 1900, whose official and per-
sonal life were without blemish, would
~. or fortunately. as you may happen
to look at it. Mr.. Parker's candidacy
was espouSed by many prominent men,
some of whom contributed to the cleo
ton of Mckinley and Roosevelt. A
platform was adopted in convention,
Mr.. Parker was nominated, then came
the celebrated gold standard telegram,
and Henry G. Davis was nominated for
vice president.
I'm the campaign which followed
the results prove that a very large
proportion of the Democratic voters
were not satisfied with the work of the
national convention and on election
day they made their protest. Still I
do not believe that any other candi-
date on any platform could have been
elected. There was no objection to
Mr.. Parker's personality, but those
who were in the battle of 1896 felt
that they had been called upon to re-
treat rather than to advance, and de-
Ginning to retreat, revolted-"
William J. Bryan was the last
speaker of the evening. For some
time the applause that greeted him as
he arose continued and with smiling
countenannce he began speaking. Mr.
Bryan spoke in part as follows;
what the Democratic party most
needs today is to be animated by the
spirit of Andrew Jackson as it ap-
proaches pending problems. 1t suf-
fered overwhelming defeat in Novem-
Der and the prime cause of that defeat
is to be found in the fact that 1t lack
ed this spirit. 1t can't hope either TO
win or deserve success until it be-
comes in reality a Jackson party, and
like Old Hickory is ready to take the
peoples side on every question with
out stopping to count the cost or to
measure the prospects for immediate
success President Roosevelt is just
now entering upon a contest for the
regulation of railroad rates and the
Democrats ought to heartily support
him in the position he is taking. If
with Democratic assistance he sue
ceeds in securing more strict regula- /
lions of the railroads engaged in in
terstate commerce, the public will re-
ceive the benefit ana the Democratic |
party will share in the credit, If even /
with Democratic assistance he fails |
the Democratic party will profit by |
the educational work which he is do |
ing and the railroad question will be
still more acute
while am anxious that the virtue |
of government regulation shall be /
fully tried I find myself 1nclintng to /
the belief that public ownership is the
onlv permanent cure for the evils
which have grown out of the manage |
ment of the great arteries of trade by |,
a few individuals who have only their
own pecuniary interests in view and
who exploit the public to the extent
that the traffic will bear it.. I believe
that the federal ownership of trunk |
network of local railroads will furnish
a solution of the problem. State own
ershfp of the many local lines would 7
give the people the benefit of public
own ership without the dangers of CEN
REALIZATION, and the federal ownership |
Of trunk, lines would answer the pur-
pose of interstate commerce