The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-31

Mems Democratic Club OF Missouri.
William j. Bryan and Judson Har-
mon were the guests of honor and
principal speakers. Some 1900 per-
sons thronged the hall as auditors and
cheered the speakers.
Democratic clubs In ST, Louis. st.
Joseph. and other cities of the State
sont delegations to the dinner. Among
tho guests were four former Governors
of Missouri, T. T. Crittendon, David r.
Francis. Senator William j. Stone and
Alexander NJ. Dockery. as also was the
present Governor, Joseph w. Folk. All
OF the candidates for State officers
were present. The meeting was essen
TALLY a Bryan affair. spontaneous en-
thus.asm marking every mention Of his
candidacy for the presidency. The rs-
ception accorded Mr.. Harmon was no
less cordial. and suggestions promising
him high honors from his party were
enthusiastically received.
Bryan Praises La Toilette.
Mr.. Bryan's opening statement that
'ws have met to begin the campaign
Of 1908, and to present those principles
and policies which ought to appeal
to progressive Republicans. as well as
to traditional Democrats was the key
note of his speech. In giving his ap-
proval OF Senator La Toilette as the
Republican candidate for President.
Air. Bryan said:
"lf the President had picked out
Senator La Toilette. real reformer;
II the Republican party had rallied to
Senator La Follette's support. It could
have compelled the confidence of re.
form Republicans.r
Mr.. Bryan said. that without the
support OF the administration Secre-
tary TAFT would scarcely hays STATE
in the convention. ana with the P1sest-
dents support, he is having an up-
hill fight Mr.. Bryan said that Taft
was the best man the President could
find among his Cabinet officers, but
that Secr<tary Tafts superiority over
his colleagues was due. not to his posi-
tive 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 the Mississippi and the Missouri
valleys. What is known a s the Roose-
Welt sentiment" Mr.. Bryan continued.
"is not so much attachment to person
as devotion to an idea. with which the
person has identified himself And
what Is this idea? 1t Is the Idea that
conditions are not what they should
be.
Before a remedy can be applied the
need of a remedy must be admitted.
For years the Democratic party has
been pointing out the abuses which
have been growing under Republican
rule. but those abuses have been de-
MED by Republican leaders, and the
country has been congratulated upon
the possession of everything essential
to its welfare. Republican platforms
have been full of fulsome eulogy of
the Republican party and barren of
promists of reform.
stole Democratic Thunder.
even the platform of 1904. upon
which President Roosevelt was elected.
was silent in regard to governmental
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 recon-
mend remedial legislation. taking as
his guide the platform declarations
OF the Democratic party. He did not
follow in tho footsteps of democracy
from desire to compliment the Demo-
Gratis or to encourage them, but simply
| because the Democrats have pre-empted
| all the ground In front. and he could
not go forward without trespassing
upon thir land.
at is rot strange that his sugges-
items were hailed with delight by
Democrats and met with indignation
by Republicans. Whether the Presi-
dent cultivated reform sentiment in
1.-THE Republican party or only revealed
a previously existing sentiment, we
shall never know.
ut is sufficient that the sentiment
| is now so strong that the President is
praised by the masses Just in proportion
as he assails the predatory corpora
tions and pleads for reforms that look
to the restoration of equity and fair
ness in the government. The Presl-
dent is not Democrat, for he leans
toward Hamilton rather than toward
Jefferson, and favors concentration
of power in Washington and q centra-
| lization OF government, which Demo-
Gratis regard as distinctly hostile to
the national welfare 1t Is proof that
| the reform sentiment in the Republi-
| can party Is not only large but mill
tant, that the corporate inttrests, pow
erful as they are, have not been able
| to coerce the Middle West into the sup
port of only the Republican candidates,
who are regarded as reactionnry. This
| in. itself is the most hopeful sign of
a Democratic victory, for the President
having aroused this sentiment, the Re
publican party must satisfy the eApec-
tations excited or lose the support OF
l.e rank and file of the party.
Two Things Necessary.
"Now, what prospect is there that
the Republican National Convention
will satisfy the urgent demands OF re-
form Republicans? venture to pre-
diet that no serious attempt will pa
made to satisfy these demands. Il
'.rwo things are necessary TO establish
confidence in the intention of the Re-
publican party to repeal its own laws
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