The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1908-09-23
Republican Candidate Makes
Public His Opinions of His
Adversary at Republican
Club Rally.
CHANGES HIS OPINIONS
TO PLEASE THE VOTERS.
He Shows That Bryan Has
Accomplished Practically
Nothing and Asks Voters to
Use Judgment.

Cincinnati, o., Sept. 23-wiIliam
II. Taft. for the first time since the
campaign began last night made pub
lie his opinions of his adversary In
the presidential race. He was speak
ing at the rally of the National League
OF Republican clubs, the address he
delivered being the third of the day.
1t came at the end of hours of political
excitement, famed by parades and
meetings
Mr.. Taft depicted his idea of the
democratic policy OF promise" in no
uncertain words. The democratic
leader he held up as a chaser after
vague ideas. whose political beliefs
were easily influenced and worked
about so that they would appeal to the
greatest possible number OF voters.
Mr.. Taft. In this connection, pointed
out the issues on which Mr. Bryan has
made his campaign. The free silver
idea of 1896. he said. was abandoned
in 1900 for the cry of anti-imperialism
and anti-expansion. In 1904 II was
Roosevelt's tyranny" and In the pres
ent campaign both are overtopped by
the bank guarantee and labor ques-
tions.
The republican candidate pleaded
with the voters of the nation to use
their judgment In the coming election.
On the one hand. he said. there stands
the republican party. which has ac-
compiished many things and has
pledged itself to carry out the known
and tried reforms inaugurated by the
present administration. On the other
hand, he added, was the democratic
party, unversed in tne work to be
done. having accomplished nothing of
worth to the country and promising
only theoretical and impracticable
things.
Mr.. Taft's address follows:
After his review of the issues. Mr..
Taft continued:
Turning now to the other picture,
what is 1t that we have to expect from
Mr.. Bryan? Have we anything to ex-
pect but what he promises? Have we
anything to expect but what is based
upon his eloquence and his adroitness
any practical demonstration Of his
ability to meet problems and solve
| them? Has he ever done anything but
| formulate propositions In his closet of
an utterly impracticable character.
largely with view Of attracting votes
by their plausibility. and very little
with view to their operation?
"By their fruits ye shall know
them" What is the history of Mr..
Bryan? 1t is from beginning to end
record Of failures on public questions.
We find him first in Congress. in the
| second administration Of Mr.. Cleve-
I'D. a member of the Ways and
Means Committee, and most active In
| formulating the provisions of the Cor
man-Wilson tariff bill.
| After five months debate It passed
land in such a shape that he de-
nounced it as a piece OF perfidy. II
leveled the industries of this country
to the ground. 1t threw out OF en-
ployment millions of wage earners. It
destroyed all business profit. Farm
products. for lack of market, fell to
point never so low in forty years.
Coxey's Army came from the West to
Washington TO protest against a gov
ernment under which such things
were possible.
Denunciation Of Cleveland.
| After having assisted In this sui
cidaI policy, after the country was
nearly dead, after the farmers and the
wage earners were staggering under
debt and mortgage. penury and almost
starvation. Mr.. Bryan defeats the ef-
crat that they have had in the party
for many years-Grover Cleveland
and hurls at him billingsgate and de-
nunciation, for what reason2
Because he opposes Mr.. Bryan's pet
hobby. that Of the free coinage Of siI
yer, without the consent of any other
Nation. Mr.. Bryan announced that
the gold standard had slain its tens OF
thousands. where protection had slain
its thousands. and SO he abandoned
the Issue OF protection and free trade
and tariff for revenue, which now 50
4 attracts him, and he went into the bus
mess Of trying to persuade the people
of this country to resort to the dishon-
est method of paying on their debts
by issuing debased money which
would be equivalent to the payment Of
what the Nation and people owe at the
rate Of so cents on the dollar. Repu-
diation always has an attraction for
those who are laboring under debt
| In that campaign Mr.. Bryan prophe-