The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-06
BRYAN ANSWERS TAFT.
Says the Secretary Will Be Known as
the Great PostpOner.

Oklahoma City, Sept. 6-Ten thousand
persons heard William J. Bryan mere
reply TO the recent address of Secretary
of War Taft upon the Oklahoma-1ndlan
Territory political situation in ConVen-
ton Hall, and 5000 persons, unable to
secure admittance to the auditorium,
attended an overflow meeting nearby.
Mr. Bryan was enthusiast cally received.
In addition to scoring Secretary Taft for
placing his personal ambitions above
the welfare of the people of Oklahoma
and attacking the views of the secretary
of war on national politics, Mr.. Bryan
declared that the constitution OF the
proposed new state was even better
than that of the United States.
Some Things. He Said.
Mr. Bryan said:
Secretary Taft in his speech made IN
this territory a few days ago advises the
people to reject the proposed const1tu-
ton and postpone statehood until an
other enabling act can be secured. AT
first blush one might suspect that the
secretary's advice was due to his per
sonal interest in the next election he
might be accused of advising the post
ponement of statehood with a view 10
keeping seven electoral votes out OF TINS
Democratic column, but the more gen
erous view to take of the matter IS that
his advice resulted from his habits OF
thought. He is inclined to postpone
everything. He promises to acquire the
made not long ago at Columbus ONO
he announced himself as in favor q
tariff reform, but he would postpone II
until after the next election. He also
made an elaborate argument in faVor
of the income tax, but he would post
pone it indefinitely. He agreed with the
president in regard to the wisdom OF an
inheritance tax. but that, too, he would
postpone until more convenient season.
He did not seriously object to the valua-
ton of railroads, but he did not declare
for it Immediately. He is on the way
to the Philippines to tell the F11plnos
that, while he thinks they ought to nave
self government after a while, he wants
it postponed for the present. 1t IS not
strange. therefore. that he should yleld
to his ruling spirit in the matter OF
statehood and tell you to put it on
Objections Answered.
Mr. Bryan took up one by one, MI
Taft's objections to the Oklahoma con
stitution and argued against the sound-
ness of the secretary's contentious. MT
Bryan continued:
"The secretary, after picking out ev--
erything that seemed Objectionable ano
ignoring every provision of the consul
tuition that seemed good, proceeded &c
make an argument in favor or RepuD-
lican policies in the nation. he askTo
you to cast your lot with the Hepupll-
can party rather than with the Demo
cratic party. If he had been frank VIII
you, he would have told you that tne
only popularity the Republican party
has is due to its adoption of a part o.
the Democratic platform. But II hs
had told you that, you Wouio nay "a
piled that it would be bettsF 70 e JolL
| the Democratic party and ieao a return I.l y
than to join the Republican parry any
| follow hesitatingly after tne DelIlo
cratic party has pointed -ouI the wy
He appeals to you to staho Dy Plolec'
tfon although he did not enter INTO any
argument on the subject. rave you
read his Columbus speech! II SO, yol
/ Viii find in it an arraignment OF pro
| lection as we have it today-an appea
| for a revision of the tariff, but ne para
| ives the force of his own speech p0
| nostnoniny the tariff reform until aftel
! RI election. Tariff reform IS nevel
Undertaken by the Republicans just az
| fer a Republican victory because the
ia+orv is taken as an Endorsement OF
- Dolicv and is never undertaken be
| fora an election for fear it will inter
4e-e with another Republican victory.
Imperialism.
"Secretary Taft also made a plea il
| fax-or of imperialism. Well, the peo
| Me Of Oklahoma have had enough ex
| narience with carpet-bag government
| 70 know something about a colonia
| Motley. If officers appointed by tn
| federal government are so unsatisfac
| tory. what must be the feeling of tn
Fflipinos against officials of anothe
| race sent across the ocean to admins
ter a government? I am glad that sec
| rotary Taft has referred to the Philip