The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1907-09-05
TAFT IS A STRADDLER,
SAYS BRYAN.
Not a Single Question on Which
Taft Takes Strong, Advanced
Position.

reply TO the speech Of Secretary TAFT
at Columbus, O., was given out to-
night. Secretary Taft Is condemned
as q "strad 1ler" on nearly all the
important issues and criticised for |
not taking advanced ground on re.
form, and Mr. Bryan complains also
that his own position has been mis-.
represented by the secretary.
Mr.. Bryan says:
Secretary Tait's speech will be a
disappointment to those who expect
ed clear bugle note In favor Of re-
form. There Is not single question
on which he takes q strong, advanc-
ed position.
On the railroad question he is In
favor OF preventing watered stock,
opposes the consolidation OF CON-
peting lines and the duplication Of
directorates. So far, 80 good; but
he does not advocate the ascertain
ing Of the value of roads or the re-
duction OF rates. He even defends
the president from the charge OF ia
voring the reductions made by the
states. The railroads may object to
his rhetorical denunciation OF abuses
but they will hardly be scared by
his remedies.
"On the trust tquestion he thunders
at unlawful trusts, but not only does
not recommend new legislation but
takes the position that monopoly
may not be harmful. He seems to
lean toward the Idea that 1t must be
convicted OF some harmful act-and
this throws the burden ofproof upon
the government. Herecognizes that
restraint is more difficult when one
corporation swallows up lot OF
other corporations-'that itinvolves
enormous labor on the part OF the
government to prosecute such COM
bination, because the proof OF the
gist OF the offense lies underneath
an almost limitless variety OF trans
actions, and yet he is opposed to
the license system which would en-
able the government to absolutely
prevent monopoly. In other words
he gives the benefit OF the doubt to
the corporation instead OF to the
people.
He thinks the putting OF one or
two trust msgnates In the peniten.
tiary would have a healthy effect, but
he uses 80 uany qualifying words
that one Is left In doubt as TO what
he really favors.
"Aiter submitting an argument In
support OF an inheritance tax and a
lgraduated income tax, he concludes
by saying that he is not in favor oi
adopting either OF them now. At
some future time he may adopt them
II they are needed.
He comes out strong in favor oi
government injunction, but does not
take any position on arbitration and
the election Of senator's by the peo.
pie.
He takes q rap at socialism, de-
nounces the initiative and referendum
and presents an argument against
government ownership Of railroads
He Is stronger In stating what be
opposes than In stating what he ia
vors, and he-unintentionslly, o.
course-misststes Mr.. Bryan's posi-
tion on several questions.
He makes ont q strong case II
favor Of tariff reform, but when ht
comes TO give the remedy be goes nc
further than the republicans have
lgone In former campaigns. He wants
enough tariff to carry the difference
In cost Of labor here and abroad-th'
. the excuse given for the present
yarifi-and he wants the tariff reform
cd by It's friends. Tariff reform b,
j the friends Of the tariff is q farce ant
! q fraud and the secretary runs ava,
J from the conclusion that would nat
, urally be drawn from the statistic
] shat be presents.
The conservatives may object Il
: his speech because Il admits man,
] Democratic contentious, but no rea
rsiormsr VIII And encouragement d
!. lit. IL b q strsddls Of the most i'm
lportant Issues, . compromise instee,
ioia hght for rsiorn." s.