Evening journal., 1908-09-23
TAFT OPENS
FIRE ON BRYAN
Severely Scores Democratic
Candidate in Cincinnati
Speech
SUMS UP THE VARIED
RECORD OF "COMMONER''

CINCINNATI, Sept. 23-wiriam II.
Taft made claim to his own last night
in his speech before the National League
OF Republican Clubs convention For
the FIRST time he referred to the Roose-
velt policies as "the policies known as
the Roosevelt policies" and two minutes
later explained the qualification by say
ing:
III ever party earned the yerdict
OF well done by the record Of the last
seven years and tho reward Of a re-
newed mandate or power it is the Re-
publican party under Theodore Roose-
welt, and I do not hesitate to ask for
tlat mandate under my leadership. be-
cause my association with Mr.. Roose-
welt, my participation IN much of his
administration as his adviser and as his
agent have enabled me to know what the
task is"
What Is IL that we have to expect
from Mr. Bryan2" Have we anything
to expect but what Is based upon his
eioquence and his adroitness3 as a pub
lie critic2 Has he ever given any prac-
tical demonstration OF his ability to meet
problems and solve them7 Has he ever
done anythink but formulate PROPOSE
tions in his closet Of an utterly impract-
cable character largely with a view OF
attracting votes by their plausibilty and
very little with view of their actual
operation? by their fruits We shall know
them What is the history OF Mr..
Bryan7"
Sums Up Bryan's Past.
With this preface, Mr.. Taft pro-
ceeded TO give his own history OF Bry-
an I'm these words:
1T is from beginning 10 end a re-
cord OF failures on public questions
We find him first in Congress in the
second administration Of Mr.. Cleveland
a member OF the Ways and Means
Committee, and most active in formu-
lating the provisions of the Gorman-
Wilson tarin bill After five months
debate Il passed both Houses and came
TO Mr.. Cleveland in such a shape that
he denounced Il as a piece tf peitdy.
IL levelled the industries of this coun-
try TO the ground
After being assisted in this suicidal
policy, after tho country was nearly
dead, after the farmers and the wage
earners weer staggering under debt
and mortgage, penury and almost star
walton, Mr. Bryan defeats the efforts
of the only great Democrat they have
had in the party for many years. Gro
yer Cleveland. and hurls at him Bill
lingsgate and denunciation. for what
reason? Because he opposes Mr.. Bry-
ans pet hobby that of the fire coinage
of silver without the consent Of any
other nation.
"AIr. Bryan announced that the gold
standard had slain its tens of thou
sands where protection had slain its
thousands and he abandoned the is
sue OF protection and free trade, Of
tariff for revenue. which now so at
tracts him. He did not have to live
two years TO see every prophecy that
he made in that campaign refuted by
the fact.
1904 Brought New "FaIlaoy."
"Then there came on the campaign
! OF 1900. In that campaign he still adhered
to his free silver fallaoy. But lest
the issue Of free silver had become a
little shopworn he brought out as a
paramount issue that OF anti-imperalism.
His agitation Of this question continued
the war in the Philippines against the
authority Of the United states for nearly
two years longer. and many a poor fell
low who lost his life in the service Of his
country IN those FAR distant Islands owes
II directly to the Inspiration which the
opposition Of the Democracy under Mr..
BRYAN made 10 the policy of Mr.. Nc
Kiniey in the Philippines. He was heaten
In these issues and we continue to cele-
brate the Fourth of July with fervor.
The prophecy which Mr. Bryan made
in 1904 with reference TO the warlike ten
dencies OF Mr.. Roosevelt and to his sub
eiction to corporate influence he had only
to wait, as he had to wait in previous in