The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-20
ACCUSES TAFT But
EXPLAINS NOTHING
Samuel Gompers, Federation
Of Labor Head, Speaks
For Democrats.
JOHNSON IS POPULAR.
AGAIN SPOKE AT BIG MEET LAST
NIGHT-WATsoN BITTERLY At
Tackled ONCE MORE BY THE
SPEAKER.
BY Harper.

Samuel Gompers, field agent of the
democratic party, riding about the
country at the expense of the demo-
Gratis, brought to this city by the DEM
ocrats and speaking mostly to demo-
Gratis, but withal claiming not to be
de mocrat, delivered his celebrated ad-
dress at the coliseum last evening.
Gompers was delayed in his arrival
here and the attention of the crowd
was held by Walter G. Cook, OF Cen
terville, democratic nominee for state
representative, and Henry U. Johnson
of this city.
At the beginning of his remarks,
Mr.. Cook said he was not much OF a
speaker and no one doubted the asser-
ton, when he finished. He claimed he
was not born in palatial halls and his
ancestors were sons and daughters
of toll He said he believes the peo-
pie should have their say in making
the laws and as a representative OF
the people he would endeavor to say
their say for them, if elected.
When Chairman Beck announced
the delay of the Gompers party and
that the interim would be filled in
with local speakers, there came calls
for johnson, Johnson" The former
republican congressman, who was
seated on the platform recognized the
call to arms and went forth to battle.
But Mr.. Johnson seemed very tame
compared to his pyrotechnic display
of last week and almost everybody but
the republicans escaped unscathed.
The republicans did not expect any
thing but excoreation from their form
er representative. But Mr.. Johnson
had exhausted his favorite theme,
James E. Watson. at the former meet
ing, so this time he talked about nat
ional issues. The editor of the Com
moner was hewn from the rough and
set forth upon pedestal by the skill
full manipulation of Mr.. Johnsons ver-
bal ability. But gone was the thun-
derous applause and the dust on the
rafters remained undisturbed. About
the most Mr.. Johnson said was that
II the Nebraskan idol is defeated it
will be because the opposition will use
an illimitable amount of money, that
it will succeed in bringing a scare
upon the people by bowling panics and
hard times, or because it has succeed
ed in coercing or intimidating the la
Dor class. 1t may seem strange a
democratic speaker would create class
distinction but Mr.. Johnson called it
labor Glass;
Samuel Gompers was put on for the
feature of the evening. Judging from
the amount of publicity he has gained
Mr.. Gompers' speeches before coming
to Richmond must have excelled that
of last evening, or he was not in
very good form. He had probably oy-
erlooked the request of State Senator
Ezra Mattingly, as he failed to reply
to Mattingly's question. Are not the
laboring men better off now than they
were in 1892"
Injunction Judge Taft" was a fav-
orite expression of the speaker. But
he did not enter into an explanation
of his accusations. He claimed Taft
sent laboring man to Jail without
trial by jury in 1898. Mr. Gompers
did not tell that every court in the
land of sufficient jurisdiction has sent
laboring men to jail without trial. An
attempt was made to pick flaws in
the record of Judge Taft, so as to
make him appear antagonistic to la.
Dor.
An effort was made to show James
E. Watson, the republican candidate
is an enemy to labor. Watson's leg.
islative record was taken up briefly
and the attempt made to show his
faults and shortcomings He suggest.
ed that the people provide Watson
with nice quiet home. since he has
withdrawn from the legislative halls.
The usual grandstand play of display.
ing naturalization papers was made by
the speaker to show he has the right
to vote in this country
A Californian named j. S. Parry
talked to the audience about labor
propositions and ridiculed the repub
licans for claiming to be friends OF
the laboring men.