New-York tribune., 1908-07-08
At WORK ON PLATFORM
HOBSON'S DIRE PROPHECY
Predicts Var scith- Japan IN Nert
-Four Years.
TRy Telegraph TO The Tribune J

Denver. July 7.-Richmond Pearson Hobscn'
whose "'Japanophobia' is so well known IN oe
East that il has become almost stale ana un-
,,rofitable produced sensation in the commit
tee on resolutions this evening with his dire pre-
Siictions OF war with Japan and the members
many of whom had apparently refralneo from
reading Mr.. Hobsson's eloquent phantasies. deiiv-
cred bv himself in the House and by Senator
Beveridge in the Senate, sat in open-moutheo
zronder ae they listened to the glib assertions
and startling predictions of the man from Ala
bama.
With all tine fury of a fanatic Mr. Hobson de-
clared that war would come before another ma
rional convention and would find this country so
1horoughlN lInprepared that Japan could strike
at the very centre OF the nations territory 80
eloouenf and histrionc did he become that VEN
cradle Democrats from the interior felt genuine
cold cbuls running down their spines as they al
most Imagined a hostile japanese fleet already
saiyirs up the Colorado River and shelling Dem
yer at long range.
He even brought tears TO the eyes of the
4crizzled anti Roosevelt veterans as he depicted
the deplorable situation of President Roosevelt
when he besought Congress to give him four
battleships and his fellow Republicans at the
Capitol gave him only two. Had anybody pro-
posed a cheer for Roosevelt about that time it
would have been given Justify, with a rebel tiger
for good measure.
When Mr. Hobson finished, after receiving two
extensions Of time the committee took recess
for dinner and then the sober second thought Of
the members regained control.
AS the llypnotisrn Of Mr.. Hobson's oratory
gradually failed. the members began to ask what
campaign material they would have left II they
listened TO the advice of the ex-naval officer
Bryan no longer could use anti-imperialism as
the campaign argument. free silver had gone by
the board and government ownership of the rail-
roads had been checked in its infancy by the
stubborn adherents of state rights. But there
was the one old standby left. militarism and
the extravaganza" it entails on Republican ad-
rninistrations. To adopt any of the several
blanks which Mr.. Hobson submitted to the COM
1nittee which will entail the forfeiture Of the
reliable old stock argument would enhance the
glory Of the Republican nominee for the Presi-
dency-a former Secretary Of War-and alto
gether there is every prospect that the spell or
Hobson's oratory Will have evaporated long be-
fore the session which confronts the committee
on resolutions has come TO an end
The committee also heard Representative
Ransden. of Louisiana; H. T Clark. of Omaha
and Ex-Governor Broward, of Florida, who
spoke in favor of deep waterways.
There is opposition TO declaring for the deep
waterways policy despite the fact that MI
Broward told the committee that the adoption
of such a plank would carry Indiana, Illinois
and Ohio. To adopt such a plank would deprive
the partv of the argument against Republican
extravaganee in. appropriations for rivers and
barhors and another feature of the stock :ex-
1rava eance' argument will have been lost
Truly the way of nti-administration com
rnittee confronted with numerous Democratic
enthusiasts who insist advocating Roosevelt
policies is hard one.
The fdll committee listened for more tha1i al
hour and a half to Samuel Gompers' represent
ing the American Federation of Labor He said
he had asked the Republican National Conven-
rian for bread and had received a stone He
asked that blanks be included declaring against
The issuance in labor disputes of lnJunctlons
against the working men, agriculturlsts and
horticulturists He was questioned by George
Fred Williams eff Massachusetts, and others.
f,on7pers also asked for wonlan's suffrage, an
eigft-nour law department of labor and fed
eral bureau OF mines
He was followed by James Duncan, first vice
rresident of the Federation of Labor, and ii.
p Fuller reuresenting the Brotherhood of Fire
men and Trainu1en. Mr.. Fuller asked for planks
similar 10 those desired by. Mr. Gernpers.
John Mitchell, being called on, and speaking
of abuses on injunction granting said that there
were certain palpable abuses needing correc-
t,on He asserted that he could not, without
disregarding the order of the court, travel by