The sun., 1907-08-27
BRI.iN ON TiFT'S SPEECH.
says IT'S n disappointment 10 Those WIN
Expect cd n BugIe Note for Reform.

LINCOLN, Neb., Aug. 2S.-In the next
Issue Of the Commontr. W. y. Brysn's paper
Mr.. Bryan will say, under the heading
Taft Weakens on Reform:
Secretary Taft's speech will prove disap-
pointmenL TO those who expected clear
bugle note in favor of reform. There Ia not
"A single question on which be takes a strong.
advanced position
On the railroad question he is in favor of
preventing waiered stock. opposes the con
solidation of competing lines and the dupli-
cation of direCtoratcs. So far so good. but
he does not advocate the asCertaining Of the
value Of the roads or the reduction Of rates
lie even defends the President from the
charge of favoring 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 question ne thunders at un-
lawful trusts but not only does not recon-
mend new legislation but takes the position
that monopoly may not be harmful. Hr
seems o lean toward the idea that il must ha
convicted of some harmful act-.and this
throws the burden of proof upon the Govern
ment. He recognizes that restraint is more
difficult" when one corporation swallows up
lot of other corporations that 1T involves
enormous labor on the part of the Govern.
ment to prosecute such combination he
cause the proof of the gist OF the offence Lies
underneath an almost limitless variety OF
transactions" and vet he is opposed to the
license system which would enable the Gov
ernment 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 tNo
trust magnates in the penitentiary would
have a healthy effect. but he many,
qualifying words that one is left in doubt a.
to what he really favors
After submitting argument in support
of an inheritance tax and "A grad mated in
come tax. he concludes by saying that he II
not in favor Of adopting either Of them now.
At some future time he may ia avor them If
they are needed.
He comes out strong in favor of govern
ment by injunction. but does not take any
position on arbitration and election OF
Senators by the people.
He takes a rap at socialism, denounces the
initiative and referendum and presents an
argument against government ownership
Of railroads. He is stronger in stating what
he opposes than in stating what he fsvors
and he-unintentionally, of Course-mis
states Mr.. Bryan's position on several Ques
tions
He makes out a strong case in favor OF
tariff reform. but when he gets to the remed Y
he goes no further than the Republican leaders
have gone in former campaigns. He wants
enough tarin to cover the difference in cost
Of labor here and abrOad-the excuse given
for the present tariff-and he wants the
tariff reformed by its friends "Tarin re-
form by the friends of the tariff" is farce
and fraud. and the Secretary runs away
from the conclusions which would naturally
be drawn from the statistics which he presents
The conservatives may object to his speech
because il admits many Democratic con
tentons but no real reformer will find en-
couragement in il. n II a straddle Of the
most 'mDortant iss sues-a compromise in
stead of fight for refor m.