Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-11
JACKSON DAY BANQUET
BRYAN AND TAGGART ADDRESS,
ED PARTY GATHERING.
Chairman Reviews Late Campaign-No
Chance to Win Despite Money
and Speakers.

Several national leaders of the demo-
cratic party and many prominent state
democrats broke bread at the eighth an
| nual banquet of the Jackson Club, held in
honor Of the memory of Andrew Jackson,
at Lafayette, Indiana, last night. Follow
ing the feast there were addresses in which
William j. Bryan received the largest share
of applause. but National Chairman
Thomas Taggart was also accorded an ova-
ton.
There were many prominent Illinois, Ohio
and Michigan democrats present, and nearly
every county in Indiana was represented.
More than 500 persons sat down at the
first table.
Letters of regret were read from several
prominent men who were not able to at
tend. One of these was from Melville e..
ingalls,, president of the Big Four railway.
In his letter Mr.. ingalls, suggested an in
come tax as proper solution of the prob
lem Of taxation.
After addresses by Mayor Dugan of La
fayette, John w. Kern of indianapolis,
Owen p. Thompson of Jacksonville, ILL.,, and
Mayor Hoffman of Indianapolis, National
Chairman Thomas Taggart arose. There
was burst of applause as he began speak
ing. Mr.. TagSart, in responding to 1.-The
Future of Democracy said, in part:
1T is but fair that I should say on this
occasion that during the campaign l re-
celNeu from the executive cOmmllteo not
only earnest and loyal cooperation, but
from every member at all times, courteous
and considerable treatment. There was
never the slightest friction, nor an unpleas-
ant incident occurred between any member
of that committee and myself; nor was
there ever the slightest attempt it's part
CT on the part of any member to usurp any
of the functions of the national chairman.
In view of many publications on the sub
ject by partisan newspapers, 1 deem it
duty to make this statement,
Money and Speakers.
''While our committee solicited no money
for corrupt purposes, it had ample means
for the legitimate purposes of the. cam
paign. There was no lack of literature.
The pest democratic orators in the country
We're everywhere upon the stump and to
them on this occasion l wish to extend my
thanks and appreciation of their valuable
services.
But with all this-an apparently compact
organization, a candidate whose personal
character was irreproachable. ample means
for all legitimate purposes all the literature
that could be used, and with the country
ablaze with unsurpassed oratory-we en-
countered political reverse, almost I'M
paralleled. a disaster caused by hundreds
of thousands of democrats failing to vote
and by many others voting the opposition
ticket"
Mr.. Taggart reviewed briefly the last
four presidential campaigns. Of the 1901
, Campaign, he said:
The results prove that very large pro-
portion of the democratic voters were not
satisfied with the work of the national con-
venticn, and on election day they made
their protest. Still, l do not believe that
any other candidate on any platform could
have been elected. There was no objection
to Mr.. Parker's personality, but those who
We're in the battle of 1896 felt that they had
been called upon to retreat rather than to
advance, and declining to retreat, revolted.'
Bryan Tells Party's Need.
William Jennings Bryan was the last
speaker Of the evening For some time the
applause that greeted him as he arose con-
tinued, and with smiling countenance he be-
gan speaking. Mr.. Bryan spoke, in part as
follows:
What the democratic party mosts needs
today is to be animated by the spirit of
andrew Jackson as it approaches pending
problems. 1t suffered overwhelming de-
feat last November, and the prime cause OF
that defeat is to be found In the fact that
it lacked this spirit. 1t cannot hope either
to win or deserve success until it becomes
in reality a Jackson party, and, like Old
Hickory is ready to take the peoples side
of every question Without stopping to count
the cost or to measure the prospects of i'm
mediate success"
Mr.. Bryan also outlined his we'll known
views regarding the labor question. finance,
Imperialism and the trusts, and discussed
the tariff