The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1907-11-19
BRYAN AT
BANQUET
DISCUSSES TARIFF AND THE
PRESENT FINANCIAL CON-
DITIoNs.
NEED PATRIOTISM
Democratic Leader Classes Man Who
Draws Money From Bank With the
Man Who Refuses to Go to War to
Defend country-Refuses to Join FL
nanciaA Chorus Knocking Roosevelt.

Lafayette, Ind, Nov. 1S.-William J.
Bryan received an enthusiastic wei
come when he addressed the members
of the Jackson club, a local demo.
cratic organization, at their banquet
tonight. Seven hundred plates were
provided for, of which number As were
at the table at which the distinguished
Nebraskan sat. In addition probably
$500 others were present.
Mr.. Bryan said that after serving
in two campaigns he did not feel like
volunteering again, although he would
accept the presidential nomination IL
1908, II drafted" He said he was
glad the unprecedented discovery ot
gold had taken the money question
out Of politics.
"But want to say" said the speak.
er. "that our arguments on the money
question advanced in 1896 have been
indicated not by the republican party
hut because God Almighty took pity
on the poor people Of the world and
opened up to them vast storehouses Of
gold"
Denounces Tariff Revision.
Mr.. Bryan denounced tariff revision
as proposed by the republicans, and
accused the republican party of bad
faith in promising revision. "The de-
lay Of single year means much to
the people Of this country, and they
are being defrauded out Of hundreds
OF millions Of dollars in the meantime.
The people are ready to let the demo
Gratis reform the tariff" asserted Mr..
Bryan.
The speaker declared that President
Roosevelt should not be held respor-
sible for the present financial strin-
gency. Mr.. Bryan placed the blame
on the "Wall street gamblers"
Mr.. Bryan expressed himself as in
favor Of the postal savings sbank and
said that he believed it to be better
plan than an asset currency.
1--WE are in the midst of a financial
stringency that is in some respects
more acute than that of 1893," he said.
'T am not going to blame the president
or a republican administration, but |
know who would be blamed If I were
president.
Law Viotators to Blame.
eff I were president, every cross
roads republican would be blaming
me. The panic of 1873 came 12 years
after the republicans took power, and
IL years before they surrendered
power to the democrats. am not 60
ing to blame the president, because |
don't think the blame should be laid
at his door. am going to do him the
justice to say I won't join the chorus
Of eastern financiers who want to
make him the scapegoat. Those who
violate the law should be blamed, not
those who have turned on the light
recently.
"There is no excuse for the people
being afraid that their banks are not
solvent. What is the cause of this
panic? The president is not to blame.
Who is to blame? The republican
leaders who had control of the coun-
try for AZ years. They have so chained
the nation to Wall street that when a
Wall street gambler fails our 'busi-
ness world trembles all over the coun-
try.
"The common people and not the
Wall street gamblers should handle
this situation. The man who will draw
out his money now when he does not
need it is in the same class as the
man who would refuse to aid his coun-
try in time of war. This is time
when great patriotism is needed"
,