Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-01-11
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS AT
BANQUET.

Several national leaders of the demo-
cratic party and many State democrats
sat down last night at the eighth annual
banquet of the Jackson Club at Laia-
yette, Ind, held in honor ofthc memory
of Andrew Jackson. Following the
feast there were addresses, in which Mr.
William J. Bryan received the largest
share OF applause, but National Chair
man Thomas Taggart was also accorded
an ovation. There we're many promi'
nent Illinois, Ohio and Michigan demo-
Gratis, and nearly every county in Indiana
was rel resented. More than 800 per
sons sat down ct the first table.
After addresses by Mayor George r.
Durgau. of Lafayette; Hon. John w.
Kern, OF Indianapolis; Mr.. Owen P.
Thompson, of Jacksonville, ILL.,, aud
Mayor Hoffman, Of indianapolis, Ma
tional Chairman Thomas Taggart arose.
There was burst of applause as he be
gan speaking. In bis address Mr.. Tag
gart said:
cit is but fair that | should Say on
this occasion that / received from the
executive committee not only earnest
and loyal cooperation, but from every
member at all times courteous and con-
siderate treatment. There was never
the slightest friction, nor an unpleasant
incident occurred between any member
of that committee and myself; nor was
there ever the slightest attempt on its
part or on the part of any member, to
usurp any of the functions Of the ma
tional chairman. In view of many pub
LEGATIONS on the subject by partisan
newspapers, | deem it duty to make
this statement. The national committee
had not only the cooperation Of the ex-
ecutiye committee but the earnest and
loyal support of every state and county
chairman and precinct committeeman
throughout the United States. The
work of the organization in so far as 1t
could be affected by all these committees
was carried on everywhere systematically,
and in those states we hoped to carry
the organization was as nearly perfect
as earnest work could make it. While
our COMMITTEES solicited no money for
corrupt purposes it had ample means for
the legitimate purposes of tire campaign.
There was no lack of literature. The
best democratic orators in the country
we're everywhere upon the stump aud to
them on this occasion | wish to ex-
tend my thanks and appreciation of
their valuable services. And in this
connection I want to say that no man
in America rendered more valuable
service, more untiring, unselfish and eff.
fective service than did William Jen-
nings Bryan. And, as the head Of the
national organization, | want, on this
occasion, to make the proper acknow-
ledgment aud to thank him. But
with all this--an apparently compact
organization, acsndidate whose personal
character was irreproachable-ample
means for all legitimate purposes, all
the literature that could be used, and
with the country ablaze with unsur-
passed OratOry, we encountered O
political reverse almost unparalleled
d saster caused by hundreds of thou
sands of democrats failing to vote and
by many Others voting the opposition
ticket"
William Jennings Bryan was the last
speaker o. the evening. For sometime
the applause that greeted him as he
arose continued, and with smiling
counlenance he began speaking. Mr..
BRYAN spoke, 10 part, as follows
What the democratic party mos
needs today is TO be animated by the
spirit of Andrew Jackson as it ap
proaches pending problems. 1t suffered
overwhelming defeat last November
and the prime cause of that defeat Ii
to be found in the fact that it lacked
this spirit" Mr.. Bryan outlined hii
well-known views regarding the labo
question, finance, imperialism and tn,
trusts, and then discussed the tariff
saving: at is suggested that we are t
have tariff commission to investigate
and report upon tariff revision, but a
that commission will report in favor OF
protected tariff or revenue tariff th'
question must at last be fought out II
Congress. and the commission will sim
ply delay action without materially at
fecting the result. The tariff canno
we'll be considered without considering tn
income tax, for no general reduction o
tariff can be made without either a larg
decrease in the expenses of the govern
meut or the establishment OF an iucom
tax. The consolidation of railroads, tn
giving of rebates, the making OF dis
examinations, the watering of stocks, tn
charging of excessive rates, and a cor
ruption Of public officials, all these ar
combining to force upon the public tn
consideration of the railroad question
President Roosevelt is just now enterln
upon a contest for the regulation of rail
road rates. and the democrats ought :
heartily support him in the position b
ia taking. While am anxious that th
virtue of government supervision an
regulation shall be fully tried, | nm
mvself inclining to the belief that publ
ownership is the only permanent cur
for the evils which have grown out Q
the management of the great arteries Q
trade bv a few individuals who have onl
their own pecunjsry interests in view
and who exploit the public 70 the exten
that the traffic will bear. believe ina
the federal ownership of trunk lines AM
~ c.a.. .~rsrshin of the network o