The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-07
Opposes Gambling in
 Necessaries of Life.
TALKS TO BOARD OF TRADE
"The Man Who Steals a Railroad
 Called a Financier."
NebrasIkan Discusses Relations Betweca Farmers and Those Engaged h Transportation and Trade. Take.
 up President's Policy.

ioaus ana the tariff will be the issues in the next Presidential campaign in the opinion Of William J. Bryan as expressed in an interview here today. He regards the outlook for the Demo cratic party for next year as very good.
 In the course of the interview today. ne was asked to give his idea of a progressive Democrat, and he replied:
 Tn every country there are two ex- tremes-the radical and the conserve i've It Is the aim of the progressive Democrat to steer a middle course be- tween the two and to take up all great measures and solve them. This year md the Democratic party to be in ex- cellent condition and more united than ever. while on the country the Republi- cans are divided. There are two ele- ments in the Republican party, one which l call the extremists and the other the stand patters, the latter rep resenting those people who nave put their hands in other peoples pockets and wish to keep them there."
 Asked if he considered the question of tarin reform as essential to the dem- ocratic platform for the coming cam paign MT. Bryan replied: T have been tariff reformer for years; I have talked tariff reform for ten years prior to the campaign of 1896; be- lieve 1t now, but there are other oues- tions before the people relatively more important at the present, such as the trusts, railroads. etc. I believe that the Democratic party in its national platform will take cognizance of all three of these questions, but in my opinion the tariff will not be the para mount issue.
 The financial isssue Is not the same now as it was in 1896. It is not due to the republican party however. but to natural causes. such as the worlds increase of gold supplies, which has accomplished in manner that I tried to accomplish in the campaign of 1896. As matter of fact we are all repudf. ators now. The dollar of today is not the dollar of 1896. The dollar of today Ffs at least thirty ner cent IesS in pur, chasing po@er than In Is9s- The cost ot living has greatly Increased. SO SO that the face value of a dollar today does not at all compare with the purchasing ability of eleven years ago"
 MT. Bryan reiterated his beiief fn the principles of the initiative and re- ferendum and municipal ownership.
 Addresses Board of Trade.
 Tn an address before the board of trade, where he was entertained at luncheon. MT Bryan spoke on the re- iations between the farmers and those engaged In trade and transportatlon.
 There has been great deal of misunderstanding between the farmers and those engaged in trade and trans- portation," he said We must get to- gether. The farmer is at the founda tion of all wealth. Trade is essential to progress, and the farmer knows it. There is no feeling of dislike on the part of those with whom they hava trade relations. They have need of won gentlemen and the trade. But they hoId Tn the economy of things that you must hAN kAn. compensation-they want you to Iat competition settle the amount of com pensation. As Western farmer I want to voice the complaint of the western farmer against the form of gambling In some of your organizations. Spec ulating in the necessaries of life is serious thing. and when, by betting for instance on wheat, if the price of wheat Is lowered the farmer Is hurt and If the price is advanced the man who buys the flour Is hurt. You seem to distinguish between gambling and speculating in a way which amuses the western farmer. A man who bets on the turn of card you call gambler and tho man who steals a railroad you call fnancier."
 Turning to the question of railroads Mir. Bryan said he was glad of an op- portunity to command the attention of President Roosevelt in the direction of regulation.
 Tt does not make any difference that the president does not belong to the same political party. he said. T am very glad that he has seen 1t to take advantage of plank that we put fin our platform. It was made for use, and I am glad someone was able to use It. and to that end to assert that anyone may use 1t who can. I am sure the people of this land will never deal as unJustly with the railroads as the railroads have dealt with the peo- pie. nor will they show toward the railroads any such hostility as would deny the railroads fair return. What the farmer contends Is that the rail- roads are over-valued and that they are forced to pay taxes on that over valuation ask that you unite with the farmer to give him just rates and to free him from extortionate rates"