The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1907-08-30
BRYAN REPLIES
TO SECY. TAFT
NEBRASkAN COMPLAINS OF BE.
ING MisREPREsENTED BY
WAR SECRETARY.
WORD "STRADDLER" IS USED
Democratic Leader Says the CoIum.
bus Speech viii Disappoint Those
Expecting Busle Note In
Favor Of Reform.

Lincoln, Neb.-William j. Bryan's
reply to the speech of Secretary Taft
at Columbus, o., Is given out. Sec.
rotary Taft Is condemned as a "strad.
der on nearly all the important is.
sues, and criticized for not taking ad-
vanced ground In reform. Mr.. Bryan
complains also that his own position
has been misrepresented by the secre-
tary. Mr.. Bryan says:
Secretary Taft's speech win prove
a disappointment to those who expect
ed a clear bugle note in favor Of re.
form. There Is not a single question
on which he takes a strong, advanced
position. On the railroad question he
is in favor Of preventing watercd
stock, opposes the consolidation of
competing lines and the duplication of
directorates. So far so good; but he
does not advocate the ascertaining OF
the value of the roads or the reduc.
ton of rates. He even defends the
president from the charge of favoring
the reductions made by the states.
The railroads may object to his rhet-
orical denunciation of abuses, but they
will hardly be scared by his remedies.
On the trust question he thunders at
unlawful trusts, but not only does not
recommend new legislation, but takes
the position that a monopoly may not
be harmful. He seems to lean to-
ward the idea that 1t must be con.
yictod of Gonna harmful aot-apd tbi,
throws the burden of proof upon the
government. He recognizes that re-
straint is more difficult when one
corporation swallows up a lot Of 9TH
er corporations; that 1t involves
enormous labor on the part of the
bination because the proof of the gist
of the offense lies underneath an al
most limitless variety of transactions,
and yet he is opposed to the license
system which would enable the gov
eminent to absolutely prevent a
monopoly. In other words, he gives
the benefit of the doubt to the cor
poration instead Of to the people. He
thinks that putting one or two trust
magnates in the ~penitentiary would
have a healthy effect, but he used SO
many qualifying words that one is left
in doubt as to what he really favors.
After submitting an argument III
support of an inheritance tax and a
graduated income tax, he concludes by
saying that he is not in favor Of
adopting either of them now. At some
future time he may adopt them if
they are needed.
"He comes out strong in favor of
government by injunction, but does
not take any position on arbitration
and election Of senators by the people.
"He takes a rap at socialism, de-
nounces the initiative and referendum
and presents an argument against
government ownership Of railroads.
He is stronger in stating what he
opposes than in stating what he IA
vors and he-unintentionally, of
course-misstates Mr.. Bryanss posi-
ton on several questions.
HE makes out a strong case in IA
vor of tariff reform, but when he
gets to the remedy he goes no farther
than the republican leaders have gone
in former campaigns. He wants
enough tariff to cover the difference
In cost of labor here and abroad-the
excuse fgiven for the present tariff
and he wants the tariff reformed by
its friends. Tariff reform by the
friends of the tariff is a farce and a
fraud and the secretary runs away
from the conclusions which would
naturally be drawn from the sta
tistics which he presents.
"The conservatives may object TO
his speech because 1t admits many
democratic contentious, but no real re-
former will find encouragement In IL.
1t is a straddle OF the most important
issues-a compromise instead Of fght
for reform"