The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-09-06
BRYAN RAPS TAFT
HARD IN SPEECH
Styles Secretary "Great
Postponer" in Address
at Oklahoma City.
WANTS CONSTITUTION ADOPTED
Personal Interest in Campaign,
Reason for Opposing I'm
mediate Statement.

Oklahoma City, Sept. Before an
audience of 10000 persons William ].
Bryan tonight attacked Secretary of
War, Taft, for his recent address upon
the Oklahoma Indian territory political
situation. An overflow meeting was
held, also. to accommodate 1000 unable
to secure admittance to the auditorium.
Mr.. Bryan was enthusiastically re-
ceived.
In addition to denouncing Secretary
Taft soundly for placing his personal
ambitions above the welfare of the
people Of Oklahoma, and assailing the
views of the Secretary on national poll
cies, Mr.. Bryan declared that the con-
stitution of the proposed new state
was even better than that Of the Unied
States.
Takes Up Tafts Speech.
Mr.. Bryan said in part:
Secretary Taft in his speech made
in this territory few days ago advises
the people to reject the proposed con-
stitution and postpone statehood until
another enabling act be secured.
"At first blush one might suspect
that the Secretary's advice was due to
his personal interest in the next cleo
ton. He might be accused of advising
the postponement of statehood with a
view of keeping seven ELECTORAL voters
out of the Democratic column, but the
more generous view taken of the mat
ter is that his advice resulted from his
habits of thought.
He is inclined to postpone every
thing. He promises to acquire the title
of the great postponer. He is on his
way to the Philippines to tell the Fill
to have government after a while,
he wants it postponed for the present.
He holds out to the people the hope
of another enabling act, but what as
surance can he give that a Republican
in Democratic state just before a
presidential election?
Struggle Lasts Fifteen Years.
you have been struggling for the
statehood for some fifteen years, and
now. when 1t is within wour grasp, he
asks you to exchange a certainty for
the delusive promise of another chance.
Does he control the Congress to such
an extent that he can guarantee i'm
mediate action. The two Senator'S from
his own state do not acctpt his advice.
His influence as a presidential candi-
date cannot yet be measured, for not a
single state has yet instructed for him.
why does he advise you to reject
the constitution ana postpone state
hood? Because he is opposed to some
parts of the constitution
"Change 1t by It's Friends.
Secretary Taft says that if you in
sist on having statehood and are deter
mined to adopt the constitution, you
ought to have Republican government
to amend the constitution. He certainly
has forgotten the argument he made in
Ohio recently, that the tariff ought to
be reformed by it's friends.
eff he applies his logic to this con-
stitution he ought to insist that the
constitution should be reformed by it's
friends rather than by its enemies.
Criticises Imperialistic View.
Secretary Taft also made a plea in
favor of imperialism. Well, the people
of Oklahoma have had enough exper-
fence with carpetbag government to
know something about a colonial po-
| Icy If officers appointed by the fed
eral government are so unsatisfactory
what must be the feeling Of the Fill
pinos against officials Of another race
| sent across the ocean to administer q
government?
ct am glad Secretary Taft has refer
red to the Philippine question, for his
discussion shows that he believes in g
colonial policy, and that he disputes the
doctrines set forth in the Declaration
of Independence"