Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-25
TAFT'S DECISION BASIS
OF LABOR PROSECUTION

gest audiences he ever has faced. 1t
was not a square deal, he charged, for
the president to pick out one republi-
can and nominate him over other re-
publicans, and it was not a square deal
for the president to use his office,
which belonged to all the people, as a
party asset. He added a new feature
to his speeches during the campaign
by comparing the personal record of
himself and Taft.
Day Memorable One.
After a memorable day in the his
tory of campaigning in this state Mr..
Bryan arrived in this city last night at
7:15 O'Clock from Dayton, where he
stopped several hours enroute from
Columbus. Accompanying Mr.. Bryan
were Judson Harmon, democratic nom-
inee for governor; State Chairman Fin
ley, and big escort from Cincinnati
AS the train carrying the distinguish
ed Nebraskan pulled into the station,
through a gauntlet of red fire, thous-
ands of throats sent up mighty yell
of 'Hurrah for Bryan"
The reception accorded the candi-
was a remarkable one. Large crowds
turned out all along the line.
Two Records Compared.
In his speech here last night Mr..
Bryan said:
las this is the home of my opponent,
desire 10 take occasion to express my
high opinion of his character and ac-
cOmplishments. | think that | pay him
a higher compliment in assuming that
he is able to conduct his own CAM
paign than the president does in con-
testing with him the leadership of the
party in the campaign. AS Mr.. Taft
referred to my record, | feel that it is
only fair that | should make a brief
reply In some respects Mr.. Taft has
been more fortunate than |. He has
had opportunity to hold office. and to
show his conception OF official duty.
He has held appGintive Office for near
ly half his life, and during a consider
able part of the time the Office was
as governor of the Philippines, and
as secretary of war he has been be-
fore the public, and yet who will say
that he could have secured the repub-
lican nomination on his record? 1t
was the powerful support of the presi-
his party, and the president seems to
feel that the exigencies of the case re
quire that the full support of the ad-
ministration shall be given to Mr..
Taft,sS candidacy.
Proud of His Campaigns.
81 have not held Office to any great
extent. Four years in congress covers
my official experience. | began life as
] a young lawyer, practiced for a few
years in Illinois and then went to Ne
braska | had no rich or powerful
| friends TO aid me. Whatever distinc
tion | have gained has been gained in
the advocacy of the policies of govern
ment which | have deemed best fol
the people. and yet | think that you
will agree with me that | have been
reasonably successful. | was nomina
| ted for the presidency by nationa
convention of my party and received
the vote of G,500,000. Notwithstanding
lmy defeat, | was again nominated an6
iagain received practically the same
lvote. After the lapse of eight years
have been nominated the third time
the nomination coming from the ranl
and file of my party and coming witt
a degree of unanimity that indicate!
that the principles which | have beer
advocating are acceptable to th'
lparty.
| Says Taft in Convert.
His official record would not hav'
lsecured him the nomination. | hav'
ttended official record. He calls atten
ton to things that | advocated, but h
does not give you full list of them
Ii have advocated tariff reform for 2
lyears, and still do so. / have live
long enough to see the republican PAL
lty frightened by the growth of tarii
J reform sentiment into making a prom
lise of immediate revision, and MI
Taft himself has been driven to cor
fess that the present schedules are ii
ldefensible.
Il have advocated the income ia
for something like IS years, and hav
lived to see Mr.. Taft finally advocat
lit. | have advocated the election c
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