The Washington herald., 1908-06-21

Lincoln, Nebr., June 2O.-That the Re
publican party is in full retreat away
from Rooseveltism is the diagnosis made
by Mr.. Bryan Of the work of the Chicago
CONVENTION.
In a statement written for the Com
moncr and issued to-day. he says:
The Republicans who attended the
national convention as spectators and
Joined In the demonstration in favor Of
President Roosevelt and Senator La
Toilette must have felt indignant as
they watched the panic-stricken delegates
running over each other in their EFFORT to
get away from the La Toilette reforms.
some Of which had been indorsed by the
President himself. Representative Cooper.
of Wisconsin. representing the La Fol-
lette men, brought I'm minority report
signed 10y himself alone. Fifty-two mem
bers OF the committee signed the majority
report and one signed the minority
report. The Republican party will find
the ratio Of 52 20 a very embarrassing
one TO deal with in the coming campaign.
Favored Campaign Publicity.
Mr.. Cooper's report contained a decla-
ration in favor OF publicity as to cam
paign funds. It was lost by vote Of $50
TO "a. more than nine 10 one. and yet the
President has been advocating legislation
In favor Of publicity as to campaign con
tributons. and Secretary Taft wrote a
letter 10 Mr.. Burrows advocating the pas
sage Of a publicity bin. How fortunate il
was that Secretary TafJs letter was
finally discovered and published, Senator
Burrows. the man to whom the Taft let
ter was addressed. was the temporary
chairman Of the convention. and the con-
vention over which he presided turned
down the publicity plank by a vote Of 9
70 ]. Who VIII deny that on this subject
the Republican party is retreating?
Another plank OF the La Toilette plat
form authorized the ascertaining Of the
values Of the railroads This plank was
lost by vote Of 9l7 TO 6}-nearly Is 70 J.
and yet President Roosevelt had advo-
Gated this very proposition Here is d
retreat on the railroad question"
On Injunction Plank.
In another column reference is made to
the injunction plank II says: The in
Junction plank adopted by the Republi-
can convention. is retreat from the
position taken by the President. and from
the position taken by Secretary Taft I'm
his speeches. although neither Of them
went as far as they ought in their effort
TO prevent what is known as government
by Injunction. Here Is the third retreat.
The President has advocated the IN
come tax MS a means of preventing swol-
len fortunes and Of equallzing the bur
dens Of government The Republican plat
form is silent on the subject Was the
President right in tho position he took?
II so. then the convention was wrong in
not indorsing him VIII the Republican
voters follow the President in this iust
demand or viii they follow the Republi-
can organization IN retreating from r.?
The President advocated an inheritance
tax, but the Republican convention is ST
lent on that subject. Was the President
ahead OF the Republican party IN advocat-
Ing this reform. or has the Republican
party receded from the Presidents posi-
ton? Did the President give a false
alarm on this question or has the party
sounded n retreat?
No IntimntiOn of Danger.
In the Presidents message 70 Congress
last spring he presented an Indictment
against the conspiracy formed among the
great lawbreakers TO prevent the enforce
ment Of the law and 10 evade the punish
ments provided by law. The platform
adopted by the Republican convention
contains no intimaton Of danger II there
are any conspiracies. the convention did
not see them: If there are anv conobIno-
lions, II had not heard OF them: II there
are any dangers ahead. II was uncon-
scious OF them. Was the President mis-
taken when he issued his defiance or arc
the Republican managers deceived ,,,he,
they think that an aroused public will
calmly contemplate the encroachments Of
predatory wealth. This is retreat number
six.
The convention, by vote OF s66 10 IA
more than seven 70 one-voted down +bo
plank in favor Of the popular election ~
United States Senator's II is trua ,bo.
the President and Secretary Taft have
never advocate the popular election OF
Senators. They seem 10 take the Ham
iltonlan rather than the Jeffersonian view
but the most popular reform in the United
States to-day is the reform that has for
its object the election Of United States
Senators by direct vote.
IndOrsed by Republicans.
TT has five times been indorsed nv
the National House OF representatives
three times when the House Of Represen-
Continued ON Page 4, Column ?.