The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-08-27
RYAN DECLARES TAFT A STRADDLER beech a Disappointment to Those Who Expected Clear
 Bugle Note for
 Reform. kILS TO TAKE
 STRONG POSITION ronger in Stating What He Opposes Than in De-
 claring What He
 Favors.

8 Lincoln, Neb, Aug. 25,--William J.. Fan's reply to the speech of Secre- ..B Taft at Columbus, O., was given tonight. Secretary Taft is con med as a "straddler" on nearly all bortant issues, and criticized for taking advanced grounds in re- ms. MT. Bryan complains also that own position has been misrepre- 5 ted by the secretary MT. Bryan Is:
 ecretary Taft's speech will prove a Appointment to those who expected lear bugle note in favor of reform. &bre is not single question on oh he takes a strong, advanced po- on
 On the railroad question he is in For of preventing watered stock, ,oses the consolidation of compet- lines and the duplication of direc- ates. So far so good, but he does advocate the ascertaining of the ue of the roads or the reduction Of #es. He even defends the president m the charge of favoring the re- T tions made by the states. The rail Ids may object to his rhetorical unciation of abuses, but they will Idly be scared by his remedies.
 On the trust question, he thunders unlawful trusts, but not only does recommend new legislation, but les the position that a monopoly N not be harmful. He seems to II toward the idea that it must be victed of some harmful act-and
 throws the burden of proof upon government. He recognizes that train is more difficult when one 2 poration swallows up a lot of other 5 porations--that it involves enor- IS labor on the part of the govern lt to prosecute such combination ause the proof of the gist of the nse lies underneath an almost linn ss variety of transactions, and yet is opposed to the license system ch would enable the government :. olutely to prevent a monopoly. In Er words, he gives the benefit of the bt to the corporations instead of he people. He thinks that putting or two trust magnates in the peni- iary would have a healthy effect, he uses so many qualifying words
 one is left in doubt as to what he ly favors,
 After submitting an argument In port of an inheritance tax and a duated income tax, he concludes by Y ing that he is not in favor of adopt either of them now At some fu- time he may adopt them if they needed.
 ' He comes out strong in favor of ernment by injunction, but does not D any position on arbitration and ton of senators by the people.
 He takes a rap at socialism, de- nces the initiative and referendum
 presents an argument against gov- |nent ownership of railroads. He tronger in stating what he opposes in stating what he favors and he M M1intentionally of course-misstates E Bryan's position on several ques- s.
 He makes out strong case in favor tariff reform, but when he gets to
 remedy he goes no farther than
 republican leaders have gone in her campaigns. He wants enough if to cover the difference in cost of pr here and abroad-the excuse giv- or the present tariff-and he wants = tariff reformed by it's friends. Tar reform by the friends of the tariff
 farce and a fraud and the secre-
 runs away from the conclusions ch would naturally be drawn from
 statistics which he presents.
 The conservatives may object to his Pch because it admits many demo- ic contentious. but no real reform will find encouragement in it. II
 straddle of the most important is-
 "a compromise instead of fight for rm."