Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-31
BRYAN ATTACKS TAFT
CANDIDACY WOULD FALL BUT
FOR THE ADMINISTRATION.

KANSAS CITY. Mo. March 31.-Demo-
Gratis from all parts of Missouri to the
number Of 1000 attended a dollar banquet
in Convention Hall last night. under the
auspices of the Young Mems Democratic
Club of Missouri William ]. Bryan and
Judson Harmon were the guests of honor
and principal speakers. Some $1,000 per-
sons thronged the hall as auditors and
cheered the speakers.
Democratic clubs In ST. Louis. st. Joseph
and other cities of the state sent delega-
tons to the dinner. Among the guests
were four former governors of Missouri
T. T. Crittenden. David r. Francis. Sena-
tor William ]. Stone and Alexander NJ
Dockery-as also was the present gov
ernor. Joseph w. Folk All of the candi-
dates for state offices We're present
Mr.. Bryan's opening statement. that we
have met to begin the campaign of 1908
and to present those principles and poll
sive republicans as we'll as to traditional
democrats was the keynote of his
speech. In giving his approval of Sena-
tor La Toilette as the republican candi-
date for President. MIR. Bryan said:
eff the President had picked out Sena-
tor La Toilette. a real reformer: if the re-
publican party had rallied to Senator La
Folettes support. it could have compelled
the confidence of reform republicans.
Mr. Bryan said that without the sup
would scarcely have a state i'm the con-
vention. and with the Presidents support
he is having an uphill fight. Mr.. Bryan
said that Taft made the best man the
President could find among his cabinet
officers but that Secretary Taft's SUI
periority over his colleagues was due not
to his positive virtues. but to the fact that
none of the rest of them had any reform
tendencies whatever. Mr.. Bryan said the
Roosevelt sentiment was strong In tue
,,ri VOL -
gued that the democratic ticket was en-
titled to the support Of this sentiment in
the coming campaign.
Roosevelt Support Not Personal.
Said Mr.. Bryan:
1T Is only recognition of fact which
is becoming clear to all to say that there
is democratic element in the republican
party to which successful appeal can be
made. In the first place. what is known
as the Roosevelt sentiment is strong in
the valleys of the Mississippi and the
Missouri; and the Roosevelt sentiment is
not so much attachment to person as
devotion to an idea with which the per-
son has identified himself. And what is
this idea? 1t is the idea that conditions
are not what they should be. For years
the democratic party has been pointing
out the abuses which have been growing
under republican rule. but those abuses
have been denied by republican leaders.
and the country has been congratulated
upOn the possession of everything essen
tial to its welfare.
ITO the surprise of democrats, and to
the surprise of republicans as well. the
President after his election began to rec
ommend remedial legislation, taking as
his guide the platform declarations of the
democratic party. He did not follow in
sire to compliment the democrats or to
encourage them. but simply because the
democrats had pre-empted all the ground
in front, and he could not go forward
without trespassing upon their land.
Now what prospect is there that the
republican national convention will satisfy
the urgent demands of reform republic
ans? | venture to predict that no serious
attempt will be made to satisfy these de-
mands.
President Would Be Powerless.
If in the coming campaign. the repub-
licans have an ambiguous platform filled
with glittering generalities and fragrant
with bouquets thrown at the republican
party, republican President elected upon
1t would be as poweress as the present
President has been. | say powerless-for
what has the President succeeded In do
ing? There are more trusts today than
there were when he entered the office and
he has never succeeded in getting law
enacted to strengthen the present law He
has not succeeded in putting trust mag
nate in the penitentiary, and the only
large fine that has been imposed has
aroused more criticism than commenda-
ton among republican leaders. He has
not secured any tariff reform. and yet ne.
has been in Office for more than seven
years. He has not secured the enactment
of the necessary labor legislation He
has not secured an income tax. and the
republican senators forced him into
compromise on the railroad question
But even a good platform would be
worthless without candidate who en-
bodied the spirit of the Platform The
President has picked out Secretary Taft
and given him the support of the admin
istraIlon. Without the support of the ad-
minstration the Secretary would scarcely
have state in the convention, and with
the Presidents support he is having an
uphill fight. He has no record as REFORM
err. and his speeches do not indicate
definite purpose or a courageous program.
He may be the best man the President
could find among his cabinet ,fficers but
Secretary's Tafts superiority over his
colleagues is due not to his positive vir-
tues, but 10 the fact that none of the
rest of them have any reform tendencies
whatever. In fact, the widespread reform
sentiment among the republican masses