Omaha daily bee., 1907-08-27
BRYAN MAKES REPLY
Nebraskan Takes Exceptions to Re-
marks of Secretary Taft.
MISSTATEMENT Is ALLEGED
Attitude of Democratic Leader is Not
Correctly Stated.
NO CLEAR BUGLE NOTE HEARD
People May Be Disappointed in Ideas
of Reform.
SOME POINTS OF FAILURE
Prospective Democratic Candidate
says Secretary of War Fears to
Garry Out Ideas to Logical
Conclusion.
SOME POINTS OF FAnUR

LINCOLN Aug B.-William ].
Bryan's repl - speech of Secretary
Taft at &C 80 o.. was given out
tonight Sc q Taft is condemned as
a "straddie - iearly all the important
issues. and sed for not taking ad-
yahced gre = s reform. Mr.. Bryan com
plains al, - = his own position has
been misr = ! led by the secretary. Mr..
Bryan sa
Secret is speech will prove dis
appointment to those who expected clear
buglo note in favor of reform. There is
not single question on which he takes.
strong, advanced position.
ION the railroad question he is in favor
Of preventing watered stock opposes the
consolidation of competing lines and the
duplication of directorates. So far so
good. But he does not advocate the ascer-
tanning of the value of the roads or the
reduction OF rates. He even defends the
president from the charge of favoring the
reductions made by the states. The rail-
roads may object to his rhetorical de-
nunciation OF abuses. but they will hardly
be scared by his remedies.
As to Trusts.
ION 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 harm
full
He seems to lean. toward the idea that
It must be convicted of some harmful act
and this throws the burden of proof upon
the government He recognizes that re-
stralnt is more difficult when one corpora
tion swallows up lot of other corpora
hat
the part OF the government to prosecute
such combination because the proof of
the gist of the offense lies underneath an
almost limItless variety of transactions,
sHd yet he is opposed to the license system
which would enable the government to
absolutely prevent a monopoly. In other
words he gives the benefit Of the doubt
to the corporation instead OF to the people.
He thinks that putting one or two trust
nagnates In the penitentiary would have
healthy effect, but he uses so many
qualifying words that one is left in doubt
as to what he really favors
After submitting an argument in sun.
port 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 II they are needed.
Bryan Misatateti.
He comes out strong In favor of gov.
ernment by Injunction, but does not take
any position on arbitration and election OF
senator's by the people.
He takes a rap at socialism, denounce.
the initiative and referendum and present,
an argument against government owner.
ship of railroads. He Is stronger in Stain,
what he opposes than in stating what h,
favors and he-unintentionally, of course
misstates Mr. Bryan's position on severa
questions.
He makes out strong case in favoI
OF tariff reform. but when he gets to tn,
remedy he goes no farther than the re
publican leaders have gone in former cam
paisns He wants enough tarifr to cove
the dinerence In cost OF labor here an,
abtoad-excuse given for the present tar,f
-and he wants the tariff reformed bv a.
friends Tariff reform by the friends q
the tarin' is farce and fraud and m,
secretary runs away from the conclusion
which would naturally be drawn from m,
statistics which he presents.
me conservatives may object IN hi
speech because 1t admits many democrat,
contentious but no real reformer VIII An,
encouragement in It. II is a straddIa .
the most important issues-a comnrorn,s
instead or nght for reform"