Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-10-06
Speech Made to WOrkingmen from
Steps of Stock Exchange.
LABOR SITUATION ANALYzED
Stock Yards Meeting Followed by
Address at Opera House.
PARTING WORDS FOR KANSAS
stops Are Made Earlier in the Day
Mt kansas City, LeavenwOrth and
AtchisOn--Speecbes Made
In Rain.

81 JOSEPH, NO. oct, b.-Ine real Iatt
invasion Of Missouri began today at noon
here, The candidate will speak constantly
in the state until tomorrow night. conclud-
ing then with a demonstration at st. Louis.
The first Missouri audience was composed
almost entirely of voters, men who work in
the stock yards at ST. Joseph, where Mr.
Taft spoke In the rain from the steps OF
the Stock exchange He was presented by
President John Donovan of the exchange.
who said he did not appear under false
pretenses He was, he added, democrat.
but he knew Judge TAFT to be thorough
American in every particular and to have
a clean record OF achievements. And
should he be elected president there is
nothing 1 would not feel 1t privilege to
do for him.
This speech was received with cheers by
the men, who not only filled the street in
front of the exchange, but stood ON the
low roof Of the stock yards opposite, Re-
plying to Mr.. Donovan, Mr.. Taft thanked
him for his courtesy and frankness, and
added:
The word democrat is an historical de-
scrlption. 1t does not mean that man
who is a democrat will always vote the
ticket of his party"
Friend, Not Enemy of Labor.
Mr. Taft analysed the labor situation with
reference to the two parties. He referred
briefly to his own labor record, and again
declared himself to be the friend and not
the enemy of labor What he said was
| cheered, but there was noticeable on the
edges of the crowd where his voice did not
reach. struggling cheers for Bryan.
st. Joseph presented a series OF oppor-
tunities for the candidate to be heard. The
stock yards meeting was followed in few
minutes by halt at the shops of the Bur-
lington road. and to several hundred work.
men Mr.. Taft again reviewed his labor
record briefly, while the men stood IN the
drizzling rain and listened.
Five minutes more were devoted 10 the
crowd which crested tho Candidate at the
station, where he was presented by the
station master. Automobiles were then
taken for the Tootlo opera house. where
was assembled an audience which filled
the place An extended Industrial speech
was here delivered by Mr.. Taft, after
which the party Joined the train at the
Francis street station, and here enthus-
iastic adieu was Joined in by the crowd.
Nearly two hours we're devoted to st.
Joseph by the candidate.
Two Days in Missouri.
KANSAS CITY, Kan, Oct 5.--with a
parting word to Kansas, at meetings here
lat Leavenworth and at Atchison, William
II. Taft crossed over into Missouri for two
days Of campaigning, after which he will
20 to Chicago to end his western trip
Wednesday.
His day of rest in Kansas City, Mo. was
decidedly more strenuous than was ex-
pecter nevertheless, the candidate this
morning pronounced himself fit for the
| work on hand.
III Missouri today Mr.. Taft viii speak
in st. Joseph, Marysville. chilllcothe. and
Brookfield. with a meeting tonight at
Macon.
The first meeting. that at Kansas City.
Kan, was added to the schedule yesterday
at the earnest demand OF the residents of
that city, which lies directly across the
; river from the Missouri town OF the same
name. The trip across the river was made
by the candidate in an Automobile His
, speech was delivered from the steps OF the
public library, and despite the early hour
the crowd was even to large for the voice
OF the speaker to cover. After the meet
ing, the train was taken and tho regular
: itinerary begun.
Speech in Rain.
LEAVENWORTH, Kan, Oct B--WiIliam
H. Taft stood for five minutes In a drench-
. ing rain this morning and spoke to fully
1900 men. most OF them laboring men.
Every factory in the city closed down to
give the employees chance 70 hear the
, candidate Mr.. Taft confined his remarks
. almost exclusively to explaining his views
on the labor question. He said that his
action in the Injunction cases needed no de-
, fense, as he simply enforced existing laws.
He was greeted with deafening cheers at
this declaration. There were not a dozen
4 umbrellas in the crowd, yet not a man left
until the candidate had fin shed speaking.
Mr. Taft wore a rainooat and soft felt
! hat pulled down over his eyes, and before
. he finished speaking water was tricklinR
! down his hat and face in streams At the
close Of his remarks there was rush of
: workingmen in overanS to shake hands with
him, many Of the men following his train
out into the yards. He showed no aversion
to their grease-stalned hands. Several hun
= dred old soldiers from the home were pres
4 ent in the crowd Cyrue Leland Joined the
| party here.
| Taft statue of Liberty.
: ATCHIsON. Kan. oct. 6-The Kansas
crowds and enthusiasm OF Saturday were
strikingly recalled by the three meetings
in that state this morning. The Kansas
City. Kan, gathering was hilarious and
jolly throughout Three bands dispensed
musio-two made up OF white men and one
negro organization. Because the crowd
could not see the candidate on the library
steps, he was requested TO mount a Pc
destal whereon a statue is shortly to be
placed
He looks like the statue Of liberty to
me-" shouted a workngman.
II am for the greatest possible liberty
" to every Individual" said Mr.. Taft. He
was cheered again and again. As his audi
ence was largely made up Of laboring men.
Mr.. Taft began by referring 70 the claim
OF Gompers that Bryan would get the la
boring vote.
mo, no." came cries from a number Of
voices HE won't get the labor vote OF
this place"