The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-23
WHAT HAS BRYAN DONE?
Taft Asks the Question and Answers
1t Himself.

Cincinnati. o.. Sept. 23.-what w. H.
Taft really thinks OF w. ]. Bryan as q
statesman and politician, was told in
no uncertain language by the Repub-
hcan candidate to the National League
OF Republican clubs. The Bryan feat
ure OF Mr.. Taft's speech came as the
| conclusion of a ten thousand word adj
dress in which the accomplishment and
purposes of the Republican party were
contrasted with what the speaker
termed the Democrat record of opposi-
ton and promise
Turning now to the other picture
said Mr.. Taft after his review of the
issues. what is it that we have to ex-
pect from Mr.. Bryan? Have we any
thing to expect but what he promises?
Have we anything to expect but what
is based upon his eloquence and his
adroitness as a public critic? Has he
ever given anv practical demonstration
or his ability to meet problems and
solve them? Has he ever done any
thing but formulate propositions in his
plausibiiity, and very little with a
view of their operation. BY their
fruits We shall know Them"
Mr.. Taft reviewed the career of Mr..
Bryan and closed by saying:
With the record of promises and
prophecies unfulfilled for a period of
twelve years; with this record of a
hunt for an issue upon which to
achieve the presidency; with this rec
ord of reputation, of negotiation and
of running away from national re-
sponsibilities, Mr.. Bryan comes for
ward and asks that the people now give
him an opportunity to put into opera
ton new forms of respect to trusts and
In respect to guaranty of bank de-
posits wholly untried, wholly theoreti-
cal. and on their face, bearing evidence
or their impracticability and of having
hoan devised h. of oV(
looking for plausible arguments rather
than real reforms. He only in a quail
fed way approved the postal savings
bank recommended by the Republica 1
platform. which is a tried and proved
means of encouraging the wage earn
ers and small farmer to make deposits
in a bank absolutely secure; but much
prefers a system which takes a mans
money to. pay another mans default
and which instead of strengthening our
banking system, will break it down by
destroying the value of the banking
character and experience and capital
and by offering inducement to reckless
and speculative bankers without char
acter or capital.
THE record of Mr.. Bryan and his
character as it is understood by a
twelve-years' acquaintance with him,
have impressed the business commun
ity of this country = and those whose
judgment determines whether or not
capital shall be invested that he is not
a safe man with whom to try expert
ments in government: that he loves
financial theories that are full of
sophistry and are impractical; that he
advances propositions with but little
sense of respect as to. how they may be
carried out i'm practice. and that M
gives but little attention to the welfare
of the conservative business commune
ity in his suggestions of reform. Ger
tainly his record -justifies this judg
ment of him by the business men, II
he was to- be elected, unquestionably
because of his record however much
now he may seek to pose as conser-
vative-because of his record, because
of the failure of the theory which he
has proposed for the last twelve years,
his election will mean a paralysis of
business and we should have a recur-
renee of the disastrous business condi-
ton of the last Democratic admins
ira