The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-31
announcement Was Made by
Mr.. Bryan Last Night.
He Spoke to $1,000 People at
Kansas City.
ROOSEVELT'S MISTAKE
He Declars clay in Not Putting
Forward La Toilette.
Says the Wisconsin Senator Is a
Real Reformer.

Real Ref0rmer.
| Kansas City, March 31.-Deuo-
Gratis from all parts OF Missouri 10 the
| number OF 1000 attended banquet
| In Convention hall in this city last
| night under the auspices of the Young
Mems Democratic club of Missouri.
at which William j. Bryan and Jud-
son Harmon were the guests OF honor
ana principal speakers and tho
| recipients OF repeated ovations from
the 10000 persons who thronged the
great hall. Each banqueter paid one
dollar for the privilege of attending.
| even the distinguished guests insist
ing upon the democratic prerogattve
| OF paying for their plates and the
affair was probably the most elaIbor-
| ate political feast ever attempted In
| the state.
Democratic clubs in St. Louis, St
Joseph and other cities of the state
| sent representative delegations to the
dinner. Among the guests were four
| ex-governors of Missouri-T. T. Crit
| tenden. David r. Francis. Senator W.
]. Stone and Alexander M. Dockery,
together with the present governor,
Joseph w. Folk. All of the candd-
dates for state offices were present
| The meeting was essentially a
Bryan affair, spontaneous enthusiasm
| marking every mention of his can
| dfdacy for the presidency. The re-
| ception accorded Mr.. Harmon was no
| less cordial and suggestions promising
| him high honors from his party were
| enthusiastically received. Mr.. Bryan g
opening statement that 1--WE have met
| to begin the campaign of 1908 and
| to present those principles and
| policies which ought to appeal to pro
gressfve Republicans as well as to
traditional Demo Gratis was the key
| note of his speech and showed the
significance he and his followers at
tached to the meeting. A feature of
| Mr.. Bryan's speech was his approval
of Senator La Toilette as the Republi-
can candidate for president. He said
| "If the president had picked out
Senator La Toilette. a real reformer:
| If the Republican party had rallied to
Senator La Follette's support 1t could
have compelled the confidence of re-
form Republicans. Senator La
| Toilette has record as a reform
he has fought corporate domination
in his own state for decade" The
speaker said that without the support
of the administration Secretary Taft
would scarcely have state in. the
convention and with the president s
support he is having an uphill fight.
Mr.. Bryan said that Mr.. Taft may,
be the best man the president could
find among his cabinet officers, but
that Secretary Taft's superiority over
his colleagues is due not to his posi-
tive virtues, but to the fact that none
of the rest Of them has any reform
tendency whatever. Mr.. Bryan said
the Roosevelt sentiment is strong in
the Mississippi and Missouri valleys
and argued that the Democratic tick
ct is entitled to the support of this
sentiment in the coming campaign.
Mr.. Bryan's Address.
i Mr.. Bryan received a great ovation
when he arose to speak. He said:
In this great city, on the boundary
, line between Missouri, with her rock
ribbed Democracy, and the west, which
until 1896 was counted as Republican
territory, we have met to begin the
campaign of 1908 and to present those
principles and policies which ought to
appeal to progressive Republicans as
well as to traditional Democrats. It is
only a recognition of a fact which Is
becoming clear to all, to say that there
IS Democratic element in the Repub-
| lican party to which successful ap-
peal can be made.
/ might give several evidences of this
fact. In the first place what is known
as the Roosevelt sentiment is strong
in the valleys of the Mississippi and the
Missouri and the Roosevelt sentiment
is not so much attachment to a person
! as devotion to an idea with which the
| person has identified himself And
what is this idea? 1t is the idea that
conditions are not what they should be.
Before a remedy can be applied, the
need of a remedy must be admitted.
! For years the Democratic party has
|, | been pointing out the abuses which
! have been growing under Republican
rule. but those abuses have been de-
MED by Republican readers, and the
country has been congratulated upon
the possession of everything essential
to it's welfare. Republican platforms
have been full Of fulsome eulogy of the
Republican party and barred of prom
J ises of reform.
a Those Stolen Clothes.
f Even the platform of 1904upon which
President Roosevelt was elected, wa.
e silent in regard to government evils
a and gave no hope of relief. TO the sur
j of Republicans as we'll, the president
Immediately began to Recommend
e remedial legislation, taking as hi.
guide the platform declarations OF ths
. Democratic party. He did not follow
u in the footsteps of Democracy out o
any desire to compliment the Demo
| Gratis or to encourage them, but simply
because the Democrats had pre-emp
y ted all the ground in front, and h,
: | could not go forward without trespas
? sing upon their land. 1t is not strang,
: that his suggestions were hailed will
. delight by Democrats and met with in
: dignation by Republicans.
Whether the president cultivated
. reform sentiment in the Republical
? | party, or only revealed a previousI,
: existing sentiment, we shall neve
n know, and the question is not materia
q anyhow. It is sufficient that that sen
e timent now exists. 1t is sufficient tha
u ctr hat he =