Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-09-12
TAFT TO MEET BRYAN
Both Candidates to Attend Banquet
in Chicago October z.
GUESTS OF BUSINESS MEN
Occasion is Annual Feast of Associa-
ton Of Commerce.
WILL TALK ON WATERWAYS
Affair is Part of Lake-tO Gulf
Convention.
TAFT HAS SEAT OF HONOR
A. Recent Member of AdminiStratiOn
He VIII BE Given Seat at
Right of the Toast
master.
TAFT HAS SEAT OF HONOR

CHICAGO, Sept. u.--For the first time in
the history Of modern politics two rival
candidates for the presidency will meet at
the same board and with the same audience
when William H. Taft Of Ohio and William
J. Bryan of Nebraska are TO be guests OF
honor at the annual banquet OF the Chicago
Association of Commerce at the Auditorium
on the evening Of October Z.
This announcement was made today at
the headquarters OF the Chicago Association
of Commerce. which organization already
had assurances of the presence Of the two
presidential nominees on different days for
the third convention of the Lakes to Gulf
Deep. Waterway association, for which the
Association Of Commerce will act as host.
: B7th Candidates Accept.
1t already had been announced that Mr..
Taft would open the convention on the aft
erloon OF October and that Mr.. Bryan
would close II on october 9, and that Mr.
Taft would be the guest OF honor on the
evening of october I. Mr. Bryans accept
ance OF the dinner invitation. however,
assuring a notable occasion, came as a
pleasant surprise. Mr. Taft's acceptance
was obtained by President Richard c. Hill,
Vive President e. c. Conway and Secretary
Wilder Of the association. who returned
from Cincinnati yesterday. The long-dis-
tance telephone figured prominently In the
negotiations to secure the presence Of Mr..
Bryan. The invitation had been under seri-
Gus consideration of Norman f. Mack,
chairman of the democratic national COM
mittee. for some time. and at q late hour
he called Mr.. Bryan. then at Terre Haute,
Ind. on the telephone. Mr.. Bryan, who
had retired for the night dressed himself
Il, f,,fr a
as Mr.. Taft had, been that the banquet
would be a noppolltical one, and that II
would be held under the auspices of a non
partisan organization. He readily agreed
to attend The deep waterways project IA
favored by the leaders of both parties and
10 not, therefore2 subject over which any
political division h expected.
TAFT Has Seat OF Honor.
There win be no question as to which OF
the candidates will occupy the right hand
seat 1t will occupied by Mr.. Taft at the
expressed wish and with the fun approval
OF the democratic nominee and his friends
Chairman Mack declared today that Mr.
Taft as a recent member OF the present
administration. was clearly entitled to the
place of honor at the feast. The Ohioan
therefore. will sit at the right hand OF
President Hall and the Nebraskan on the
other.
The meeting of the two candidates will
differ from the meeting Of the national
candidates in the state of Illinois forty
eight years ago, when Abraham Lincoln
and stephen A. Douglas began their famous
debates, by reason OF the Inhibition placed
on political discourse.
President Hall said this afternoon thai
he was greatly pleased with the success Of
the associations plans and that an at
tendance OF about 1000 persons was ex
pected. In addition to the great banque
room Of the Auditorium the rooms adJoin
ing on the ninth floor of the Fine ArtI
building have been secured and the whole
will be thrown together for the occasion.