Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-07-30

was taken, foreign commerce was in
creased over $50 per cent during the
five years of American occupation,
harbor improvements started on an
extensive scale, sanitation of the
centers of population vigorously en-
forced, with a resulting Improvement
of the generalu health.
How many of US were aware of that
record of achievement when it was
in the making? How many of you
who have been listening this after
noon knew ten minutes ago of this
record? How many of you will refuse
to accept as an adequate reply to the
empty phrases of Bryan and his
milk fed associates to the Anti-Im
not risk one of the fingers of my right
hand to count that vote.
Again I ask you to contrast the
pictures of the two careers presented.
If they are not correctly drawn tell
me in what respect l have erred. If
they are correctly drawn let me ask
you which of the pictures you would
rather hang in that gallery of staunch
and true men who have occupied the
highest office in your gift.
And now let us look at that last
picture in our illustrated history of
Organism. The old Bryan still fingers
upon the political PLATFORM He is
still the most conspicuous figure In
the Democratic ring, trying to ride
that poor old donkey that has twice
thrown him, and he still has hopes.
But he has aged and in his advancing
1,n Ioc, fn1y In
old now to play the former juvenile
role of Peck's Bad Boy he has for
two years strongly resembled a
pathetic figure of the comic stage. the
Lone Fisherman, except that the Lone
Fisherman never talked. He has been
running about from pool to pool ever
since the necessity for work upon the
Democratic delegates began, fishing
for issues. He has consented to the
temporary sequestration of that
queer old dollar of his in the Museum
of Discarded Things. He still clings to
his antipathy to the Courts. as indeed
does every force in this country that
finds the law irksome, a force UNI
fortunately that is allowed to vote
just as often. and frequently votes
AN'f'NNe''
the Courts, and obeys the laws in his
mad pursuit of an issue that shall be
real he has rallied up the long forgot
ten initiative and referendum, not 50
much because he believes in it, l am
convinced, as because it works well
up into phrase. that can be delivered
with great effect from the stump. 1t
is a mouthful and in the mouths Of
some suggests a plentitude that over
taxes ones power of mastication. He
has preached some to us about 1t in
the recent past and he was beginning
to find few followers on that source.
not because they knew what it meant,
but because it sounded well, but it
he's fallen by the wayside largely, l
believe, because there are not many
Democrats of the modern school who
can say it without stumbling. What
ever the reason for it's abandonment.
however, it has gone and for time in
it's place Mr.. Bryan substitutes FEEDER
al control of the railroads, subject to
the control of the states. OF State Gov
eminent of the Railroads subject to
Federal control. L must confess 1 90
not know which, and l have no heslta-
ton or shame in confcssing my lSno-
rance on the subject for | do not be-
lieve that Mr.. Bryan himself knew at
the time that he raised the issue which
it was, if either, that he really meant
What we do know, however, is that
Mr.. Bryan, who has been twice buried
under an avalanche of votes, mas
come to life again and in the character
and quality of his political ideas has
showl himself the same old Bryan
with a few years of boyishness added
TO his already superintendent stores
of youth. He still cherishes his ideas
of reputation, not of the dollars. per-
haps, but of the courts. of our obliga-
tiors in the Philippines and of any
other obligations that rasp on inc
spirit Of these propagandistS IN MS
study, the dilettante thorists of the
Anti-Imperialist tea table. or OF the
forces of disorder on the streets. MI.
Taft, on the other hand, has pro-
crossed in tie record of actual achieve
ment, and we find him making g"od
whether he is acting as g Judge, a civil
governor, secretary OF war, dipio-
mat. or merely temporary occupant
of the lid, and whatever the conditions
doing his work always firmly. grace
fully. and with tact. 1t is case OF
words against deeds this year. There
are other issues stated in the respec-
tive platforms of the two parties. but
the real issue is today the same as IL
was in 1896 and 1900. Destructive YER
hositv against constructive achieve
ment. DO we want man of words OF
q man of deeds in the White House!
T was talking once with theatrlcai
manager about an actor for a play
that I had written, and recommended
a fellow that had gilled me with en-
thusiasm for himself by the way ne
smoke of what he was going TO GO
some day when he got a chance.
"Well," said the manager, AL nave
got to saw is what l want is not 60
ing-to-bcZzer but an iZZer.' think
that is our case. We want an lzzer.
Some years ago at an English re-
ccption a we'll known professor VINO
was noted for his absentmindedness
encountered in his hosts drawing
room the daughter of an Old friend
whom he had not seen for many years.