The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1908-03-31
KANSAS CITY BANQUET
(Continued From First Page.)

oliment the Democrats or To encour'
age them. but simply because the
Democrats had prompted all the
ground in front, and he could not go
forward without trespassing upon
their land. 1t is not strange that his
suggestions were hailed with delight
by Democrats and met with indigna-
ton by Republicans. Whether the
president cultivated a reform senti-
nent in the Republican party or only
revealed a previously existing senti
u,ent. we shall never knw, and the
question is net material anyhow. 1t
is sufficient that that sentiment now
exists. II is sufficient that il is so
strong that the president is praised
| nv the masses Just in proportion as
| he assails the predatory corporations
land pleads for reforms that look TO
1.-The restoration of equity and fairness
in the government. The president is
not a Democrat. for he leans toward
Hamilton. rather than toward Jetfer-
son. and fayors a concentration OF
mower in Washington and a centrall-
Ization of government which Demo
ierats regard as distinctly hostile TO
1.-The national welfare II it proof that
line reform sentiment in the Republi-
lean party is not only large but mill
liant. that he corporate interests
uowerful as they are have not been
liable TO coerce the middlewest into the
support of any of the Republican can
djdates who are regarded as reaction
jarv. This in itself is the most hopeful
sign OF a Democratic victory for the
president having aroused this senti-
nent, the Republican party must
satisfy the expectations excited OF
lose the support of the rank and file
OF the party
Things Necessary.
Now. what prospect is there tna'
1.-THE Republican national convention
will satisfy the urgent demands OF re
form Republicans? I venture to pre-
. dict that no serious attempt will h'
made to satisfy these demands. Two
Things are necessary to establish con
lfdence in the intention Of the Repub
. lican party to repeal its own laws
!. and TO reform the abuses which have
g grown out of Republican Legislation
. and administration; and these I'VE
II things are, first, platform specific
Tally pledglng the party to clearly De
II fined reforms, and second, the nomi
Il Ipation of men for officials who ar
Il in.bued with a spirit of reform.
e If in the coming campaign the Re-
Il publicans have an ambiguous platform
il filed with glittering generalities an
II fragrant with boquets thrown at IN
e Republican party, Republican pres
e dent elected upon IT, would be
q ipowerless as the present presider
has been. say powerless-for Wh'
III nas the president succeeded in Doing
n There are more trusts today ma
II when he entered office. and he hf
II never succeeded in getting law el
Iacted to strengthen the present ia'
g He has not succeeded in putting
TRUST magnate in the penitentiary, an
1.-The only large fine that has been IN
lposed has aroused more criticisl
than commendation among Reprbl
: can leaders. He has not secured an
y tariff reform, and yet he has been
l. loffice for over seven years. He ha
. not secured the enactment of tn
desired and necessary labC
y Legislation. He has not secured a
= income tax, and the Republican sci
ators forced him into eompromis
l. on the railroad question.
But even a good platform would B
=, worthless without a candidate WI
u embodied the spirit OF the platform
And what candidate have they?
the president had picked out Senate
La Toilette, a real reformer II Il
Republican party had rallied to Sc
ator La Follette's support, it couI
have compelled the confidence of r
re form Republicans. Senator La Folleti
he has a record as a reformer; he h;
fought corporate domination In h
twn state for a decade.
lr- The Presidents Candidate.
ed The president has picked out Sc
tie rotary Taft and given him the suppo
of the administration. Without Il
support of the administration. the Sc
m rotary would scarcely have state
lis the convention, and with the pres
of dents support. he is having an uph
fight. He has no record as 7
former, and his speeches do not
dieate definite purpose or a courae
Gus program. He may be the be
man the president could find amor
F. his cabinet officers; brit Secreta
- Taft's superiority over his colleagu
:. is due not to his positive virtues b
10 the fact that none Of the rest
Them has any reform tendencies VIII
- ever In fact the widespread refor
- sentiment among the Republics
II masses is not reflected to any consi