Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-06

Federal License For Corporations and
 Tariff Reform Among Planks-Leader
 Gives Gathering "a Word of En-
 oouragement."
 Omaha, Neb., March 6--Hailing Will liam J. Bryan as ''the ideal American citizen, the ideal Democrat and Ire joicing that the principles he has so ably advocated have been gladly re- ceived and are now generally accepted by the American people, the Democ- racy of the Nebraskan's home state in convention assembled here, cheered by the presence of the leader in person, instructed the state delegation to the national convention to vote as a unit for the nomination of MT. Bryan for the presidency
 Furthermore, the convention adopted with enthusiasm platform prepared by the favorite son himself in confer ence with his lieutenants, declaration of the principles upon which MT. Bry- an will seek the nomination at Denver. This document contains no references to the government ownership of rail- roads nor to the initiative and referen- dunn, but 1t does declare for the federal licensing of interstate corporations, and 1t includes tariff reform plank.
 Denounce Graft and Corruption. Declaring that "the various investiga- tions have traced graft and political corruption to the representatives of predatory wealth." the nation is now aroused and will if honestly appealed to free the government from the grip of those who have made 1t business asset of the favor seeking corpora tions' and restore government of 'equal rights to all and special privi- leges to none."
 "This," so runs the platform, Ifs the overshadowing issue at this time. It manifests itself in all the questions now under discussion and demands i'm mediate consideration.
 we heartily approve of the laws prohibiting the pass and the rebate aud insist upon further legislation, state and national, making 1t unlawful for any corporation to contribute to cam paign funds and providing for publica- tion before the election of all individual contributions above a reasonable mimi mum.
 Opposed to Capitalization.
 "We are opposed to the centralization implied in the suggestions now ire quently made that the, powers of the central government should be extended by judicial construction. We insist that federal remedies shall be added to and not substituted for state remedies.
 "We favor the enactment of such lays as may be necessary to compel foreign corporations to submit their legal disputes to the courts of the states in which they do business and thus place themselves upon the same footing as domestic corporations.
 We favor the election of United States senators by direct vote of the people and regard this reform as the gateway to all other national reforms.
 We favor the vigorous enforcement of the criminal law against trusts and trust magnates and demand the enact ment of such additional legislation as may be necessary to make it impossible for private monopoly to exist in the United States"
 Bryan Addresses Convention.
 Mir. Bryan spoke before the conven- ton on "A Word of Encouragement" and devoted his remarks to the prcduc. ing of evidence to show the growth of Democratic policies and principles and the basis for Democratic hope.
 Two significant points were noticed in Mir. Bryan's speech. In one he ac- knowledged his debt to the Populist party, and in the other he replied to criticism of his policies which Secre- tary Taft is reported to have uttered in a recent speech in Oklahoma.
 "My creed is exterminate the private monopoly. legitimate corporation can be regulated, but criminal cor poration is beyond the reach of regu- lation," said MT. Bryan.
 MT. Taft said I wished to annihilate