Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-08-21
TOday's Telegraphic News
Mr. Taft,s SpeecIl.

Hot Springs, Vs., Aug. 2l.-Mr.
TAFT opened the campaign 10 the south
today by speaking to the republicans OF
Virginia and surrounding states this af-
ternoon. The exercises took place in
the baseball park and were begun with
speeches by Congressman slemp, the only
republican representative in Congress
from Virgins, and 8. Brown Allen, u. |
s. marshal of the Stsuntou district. Sev- |
trsl special trains from Charlottesville |
and way stations arrived and by noon
the crowd of republicans wss quits large. |
The black republicans were in the ma
jority.
When Mr.. Taft arrived Congressman
Slemp uttered loud wall over the fact
that the railroad company had stopped
selling tickets for Hot Springs early In
the morning because of lis inability to
handle t1ecroTds that wanted 10 attend.
Mr.. Tafts SPEECH, In lsrge part, was
an appeal to the "5olid South" to break
away from the democratic column.
After discussing general Issues, be said
"Every one having the interest OF the
country at heart would rejoice to have
the solid south as q democratic asset 10
every national campaign broken up. 1t
would be better for the states themsel zee
it would be better for the country. The
republican party is not the sectional
party which the fact that the south al
ways supports the democratic party
would indicate. The republican party
has improved the waterways, is building
the Panama canal, aud has started the
movement for the redemption Of swamp
lands, the conservation of forests and
water resources, and is taking many
Other steps that sra for the development
Of the south, The growth and success OF
The mining and iron industries of the
south are directly due to laws enacted by
the republican psrty.
In our dependencies when offices
were to be filed ia the Philippines.
Porto Rico and Cubs, no attention has
been paid to the partisan proclitities
of the sppointees, and there are today
10 the Philippines as many democrats
among the Americans IS republicans
serving the government there. Leading
democrats of the south have complained,
aud 8iih much ground, that men at the
south have but little influence in the
executive branch of the government of
Washington. The reason Is that the
south has always been considered BY
the democracy, and especially the north
ern democracy, IS part of the country
certain to support the democratic ticket,
and therefore when the republican
party is in power, it is not either nat
ural or to be expected that 1t should
summon ID its executive the leading
men from the opposing party inlthe south
The only way By which the south csn
cure this matter is by Independence OF
action and the support OF the republican
ticket.
81 know the south is q conservative
portion of the country. By tradition,
It's attachment 10 the democratic party
Is firm; but party represents principles,
and when the principles change, though
the name of the party remain the same,
il wou'd seem that after awhile the tradl"
tional attachment to party would rest
lightly on an intelligent community.
Many independent democrats In the
south sgree with republican party 10 all
it's main economic doctrines. Since
1890 the manufacturing interests OF the
south have exceeded her agricultural in
terestl, the industrial expansion of the
south exceeds that of any other part 10
this country, and is really the marvel OF
the world. The Spanish war
led to the entering of the flower OF the
young men of the south into the army
Of the United States in order to uphold
the country's cause. This did much to
remove sectional feeling lingering after
the civil wsr, and served TO unite 10
common brotherhood the blue and the
gray. X.
The republican party has always been
in favor Of liberal construction of the
constitution to MAINTAIN the national
power, and is attitude in this regard
might in times past have justified a
southern democrat in assuming that
there was at least one principle left OF
the old democracy to which he might
adhere by voting the democratic ticket;
but that resource in the present Denver
platform has been completely eliminated
and propositions are there made which
the most federalistic ststemsn might find
very difficult TO work out under our
Constitution. 1t is the duty of the
republicans of the south to take advan-
tage of this mental attitude | have des-
cribed on tae part of many independent
democrats. / know what q
burden southern republicans have bad
to carry. | know the courage 1t has
taken for them TO remain republicans
when Their cause seemed hopeless. But
| believe change is coming"
Another portion of Judge TsfPs
speech was in the nature of reply t.
Bryan's speech of acceptance, particu-
larry to the charge thSt the people do
not rule, and that the republican party
is responsible for the corporation abuses
that have recently developed. He pointed
to the overwhelming msjor ties of Nc
Kinley and Roosevelt, the maintenance
Of the grld standard and protective
tar fl, and the conduct of the Roosevelt
sdministu ton as expressive of the will
of the people. 10 answer to Brysn's ex-
coriation of the present rules Of the
House and the power Of the speaker On
der them, Mr.. Taft called attention o
the fact that they we're originally adopted
In the administration of Speaker Reed
for the purpose Of expedtng legislation
and were subsequently, adopted by 8
democratic House for the same purpose.