The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-19
Democratic Leader Opens Battle
i'm Illinois.
Makes Speech to Workingmen
in East st. Louis.
TALKS OF INJUNCTION
Will No Longer Call Taft "The
Father
But Is Satisfied That He's a
Blood Relative.

East st. Louis, ILL.,, Oct. 19.-Wil-
liam J. Bryan began today's speech
making in Illinois with a talk to a
large crowd of working men at the
railway depot here this morning Mr..
Bryan spoke for 80 minutes His
audience many of whom had been
waiting for him since daylight. packed
the spaces about the railroad station
and swarmed upon freight cars for
points of vantage.
This is an auspicious beginning
for my day in Illinois, said Mr..
Bryan as he surveyed the crowd. ST
believe that it portends defeat for the
Republican ticket in this state" He
plunged into discussion of campaign
contributions and said that the
Democratic party demands that the
Republicans be as frank as we have
been and cease hiding their alliance
with the money masters. who con-
sistently oppress the people,
The speech was closed with a state
ment that the rival candidates for the
presidency be allowed to fight out the
campaign between themselves so the
people may decide between issues, "un-
hampered by executive interference"
Mr.. Bryan directed his remarks
primarily to the workingnnen present,
| taking occasion to arraign Taft and
Sherman severely because as he said,
of their attitude on the labor question.
They were. he said. the two men who
above all others, were the most
Objectionable to labor.
Arraignment of Sherman.
you will find that but a few days
ago Mr.. Sherman was introduced to
an audience by the head of the match
trust who took occasion to denounce
the labor organizations in the pres
ence of the vice presidential candi
| friends, Mr. Taft has been known as
the father of government by in
| Junction
That phrase had been used so often
| that 1 took the liberty of using it, but
| a few days ago Mr.. Taft protested that
! he was not the father but he had
| only used the writ that others had
used before him and L am so careful
| to observe the proprieties in the cam
paign, that am not going to call
not going to call him that, be-
| cause he says it is not true. But
my friends he used the writ SO often
and so gladly that 1 am sure he is
| blood relative of some kind and I am
going to let him decide the degree of
| relationship and when he does that
| then 1 shall use that"
Mr.. Bryan charged that Mr.. Taft
either did not understand the trust
question or he conceals his knowledge
from the public. He does not seem to
appreciate the iniquities of the trusts"
he declared. And yet it seems to me
that any one who can understand
human nature, or read history must
be against the principle of private
monopoly. When we say that pri-
vate monopoly is indefensible and in
tolerable we apply to the trust ques-
| ton the same common sense that we
apply in every daylife.
Perpetual Franchises.
But" he said. 'Mr. Taft has shown
no appreciation fthe situation. He
does not see INTO understand the great
| power of the monopolistic corpora
tions. More than that it is only three
years ago that he went before COM
mittee of the house of representatives
and there argued in favor of the pass
age of a bill that would give to the
| Philippine commission not merely the
power to grant perpetual franchises
| in the Philippine islands, but the
power to guarantee a perpetual income
with those franchises. And I would
| like to have you ask yourselves what
conception a man can have of this
generations duty to the future who
would permit the generation yet un-
| born to be bound forever to furnish
tribute to those who, in this genera
| tion are able to secure a franchise
| from distant possession. Remember
that the commission over there
| il not a commission chosen by the
Filipinos, but a commission chosen
by the administration here and
vet Mr.. Taft seems to lack Ut
terly a apprehension of what may
be done under these franchises that
he is willing that we shall fasten upon
people who are helpless in our
hands a promise to pay tribute thou
sands of years yet to come. That,
my friends, was the things he advo-
Gated and his testimony is a matter
of record before the committee. in
sist that if we are going to stop abuses
there are in this country today it
must be recognition of these vessels
and application of remedies that go
to the root of trouble and protect So
ciety from greed and avarice."
At Granite City.
Granite City Ill. Oct 19.-William
j. Bryan got rousing reception in
this factory town when his special
train pulled into the station. The
Democratic candidate had been made
acquainted with the fact that num-
ber of the factories at his place were
closed down while several others were
| working only one-third time, and
he used this as basis for exposition
Of the Democratic platform with re-
| spect to labor.