Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-04-02
TAFT HOPELESS
AS A REFORMER
Mr.. BRYAN DECLARES THAT RE-
PUBLICANS STOLE DEMO
CRATIC THUNDER.
LEADER OF THE UNTERRlFIED
SPEAKS FOR HONESTY IN
NATIONAL PLATFORM.

Kansas City, Mo, April 1.-"For
years the democratic party has been
pointing out the abuses which have
ben growing under republican rule,
but those abuses have been denied by
republican leaders and the country
has been congratulated upon the pos
session of everything essential 20 its
welfare. Republican platforms have
been full of fulsome eulogy Of the
republican party and barren of prom
Uses of reform. Even the platform of
1904, upon which President Roosevelt
was elected, was silent in regard to
government evils and gave no hope of
relief. To the surprise of democrats
and TO the surprise of republicans as
we'll, the president Immediately began
to recommend remedial legislation,
taking as his guide the platform dec
larations of the democratic party He
did not follow in the footsteps of
democracy out of any desire to COM
pIiment the democrats or to encOur-
age them, but simply because the
democrats had pre-empted all the
ground in front, and he could not so
forward without trespassing upon
their land. 1t is not strange that his
suggestions were hailed with delight
by democrats and met with indigna-
tion by republicans"
William jennings Bryan sounded
warning for democracy in an address
delivered here Monday night. He said
that it is hopeless to look to the re-
publican party for satisfaction or re-
lief. He declared that the platform of
that party must be meaningless and
ambiguous thing from the very nature
of the situation.
But even good platform would b
worthless without a candidate who
embodied the spirit of the platform"
said Mr.. Bryan. And what candi-
date have they? If the president had
picked out Senator La Toilette, real
refOrmer, II the republican party had
rallied to Senator La Follette's sup
port, it could have compelled the con-
fidence of reform republicans. Sena-
tor La Toilette has a record as a re-
former; he has fought corporate dom
ination in his own state for a decade.
The president has picked out Secre-
| tary Taft and given him the support
of the administration. Without the
support of the administration, the sec
rotary would scarcely have a state in
the convention, and with the presi-
| dents support, he is having an uphill
| former, and his speeches do not indi-
cate a definite purpose or a courage
Gus program. He may be the best
man the president could find among
his cabinet officers; but Secretary
Taft's superiority over his colleagues
Is due not to his positive virtues but
to the fact that none Of the rest OF
them have any reform tendencies
whatever"
Mr. Bryan asked if Secretary Taft
would favor the national incorpora,
ton of railroads as suggested by
president Roosevelt? Would he favor
a law withdrawing from the states
their control over railways and vest
ing exclusive control in the federal
| government? And If he fayors nation
al incorporation would he be in favor
of giving the railroads a perpetual
franchise and a perpetual guarantee
Of income?
What chance of reform is there
asked Mr. Bryan in conclusion, al
the hands of the republican leaders
who take the side of corporation
against the people and act upon the
theory that inducements must be helC
out to capital, no matter how grea
the burdens imposed upon the produc
ers Of wealth? There is no dOub
that the masses of the people, repub
lican and democratic, are in favor o.
reform. If we can only convince the
voters that the democratic party vii
be true to reform, victory is assured
and the only way in which we car
convince the public that we honestly
desire to administer the government
in behalf of the people, is to give
them an honest platform, employ
honest arguments, and conduct
campaign by honest methods and
through an honest organization.