The Topeka state journal., 1908-08-25
for Vice President on
the Democrat Ticket
Formally Notified Of the Action
of the Denver Convention.
REPLIES In SPEECH
In Which He Discusses the
National Issues.
Assails the Positions of Both
Taft and Speaker Cannon.

Indianapolis. Ind, Aug. 25.-John
Worth Kern, Democratic candidate for
vice president, was notified formally
today of his nomination. The meeting
was held in the elaborately decorated
Colosseum at the state fair gounds
and was attended by many thousands
of people regardless of party. attracted
by the distinguished speakers on the
programme. The weather was ideal.
clear and cool, with a pleasant breeze
that swept over the grounds.
Ten traction lines and IA railroads
brought the people on regular and spe-
ciaI trains. Five hundred cars trans
ported the crowd from the city to the
fair grounds and back. The Colosseum.
recently built of brick and steel. ac-
commodities $1,000 people and arrange
ments were made early in the day to
hold overflow meetings if necessary.
William Jennings Bryan and other
speakers. members of the notification
committee appointed at the Denver
convention, members of the national
committee. headed by Norman E. Mack
and others of the official party, arrived
last night and on early morning trains.
A conference was held last night be-
tween Mr. Bryan, Mr.. Mack, Mr.. Kern,
members of the national and congress
sional committees and others at which
campaign matters were discussed.
The morning hours today were de-
voted to conferences by party leaders
while a band concert at the Denison
hotel assisted in amusing the croWds
that poured through the corridors
recantiOn held DV MI.
Bryan in the hotel parlors.
The programme for today included
luncheon at the hotel by the speakers
and members of the national and notl
fication committees after which the Of
fetal party was driven to the state fair
grounds in automobiles, Mr.. Bryan
Mr.. Kern and Chairman Bell of the
notification committee riding together
The ride through the city to the fair
grounds was through the principa
business streets and past the Kerr
residence. The doors of the Colosseum
were thrown open to the public several
hours before the exercises began.
Told by Bell.
Thomas Taggart, national commit
teeman from Indiana, had been Sc
lecte6 to call the meeting 10 order He
Immediately handed the gavei 10 Ma
tional Chairman Mack who introduced
Theodore Bell of California, chairman
of the notification committee. who
formally notified Mr.. Kern rnat he had
been selected by the Democratic COM
mittee to go on the national ticket
with Mr.. Bryan
Mr.. Kern in his speech of acceptance
devoted some time to the question
shall the people rule ?" He depre-
Gated what he claimed is excessive
power in the hands of the speaker of
the house of representatives and de-
MED that the people have ruled, be-
cause he said their will had not been
given effect. He cited the demand Tor
a reduction in the tariff on white pa
per and wood pulp and the failure OF
the Babcock tariff bill of 1902. Mr..
Kern charged that there is a power
within the Republican party now de-
termined that the people snail not
rule. which power has manifested Itself
whenever effort has been made to
check the destructive work of unlaw-
full combination. reduce the tariff or
eoualize burdens by legislation The
Democratic party ne sa1o, Would
draw a sharp line between iawfui
business, lawfully conducted, ana un-
lawful business.
The invocation was pronounced by
the Rev. Father Gavisk of st. John s
Roman Catholic church, this city
music separating the speeches; Ihomas
governor of Indiana, followed Mr.
Kern and Mr.. Bryan's speech on trusts
followed Mr.. Marshall
Mr. Kern spoke in part as 1olloWs:
Kern's Speech OF Acceptance.
Gentlemen of the Notification Com
For the kindly and courteous man.
ner in which YOU have conveyed to me
the official notification OF my nomina-
ton as the Democratic candidate for
vice president of the United states. and
FOR the eloquent words just spoken by
vour chairman in -~--- behalf, 1 thank
you one and all.
honor conferred upon me by the
unanimous vote OF the representatives
of INV marty in national convention as
sembled. and shall strive most
Earnestly to earn a continuation OF the
CONFIDENCE and good will manifested
bv that action. 1 did not seek this
nomiuation: indeed. if my own per-
sonaI desires had been consulted. an
other would have received the nonor,
but it having come to me without
solicitation, 1 prize 1t all the more,
and accept it with full sense of the
burdens and responsibilities. AS a
candidate 1 shall try to wear the honor
worthily. and as faithfully as 1 can
discharge all the duties properly de-
volving upon me as one of your
promise to serve all the people of the
Republic by the conscientious dis
charge of the duties of the office.
have no thought that the men who
made UP that great convention at
Denver nominated me as their candi-
date because they believed that 1 had
aility or merit superior to that pos
sessed by any one of the distinguished
gentlemen whose names were consid.
cred in connection with the vice presi-
Dental nomination. Many years of
service on my part might have hao
some slight influence in determining
their action, but / am persuaded that
il was the chief purpose OF the con-
oh q % r.
as its candidate to show its apprecia-
ton of the great Democratic party OF
this splendid commonwealth made up
as it is of more than a third of a mil
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