The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-23
WHAT'S The MATTER
WITH KANSAS NOW?
Everybody Is Waiting To See
Taft'S Campaign Moves
BANK GUARANTY IN FAVOR
Republicans of Kansas Have Declared
for Bryan's Bank Plan and Taft
VIII Have Trouble When
He Goes West.
BANK GUARANTY IN FAVOR
BY THOMAS ]. PENCE.

statement from Governor Hoch of that
state, in which he earnestly and I'M
reservedly Endorsed the plank in the
| democratic platform, declaring for the
guarantee of bank deposits. 1t will be
recalled that republicans of Kansas
in their state council gave approval
to this democratic banking plan over
the plan of Senator Long, who,
standing solitary and alone, declared
that the action of Kansas republic
ans would be regarded in the nation as
a Reputation of the republican candi-
date for the presidency.
This situation has not only interested
but amused politicians here. What Mr..
Taft will say to the republicans of Kan
sas on his forthcoming visit to the state
remains to be SEEN but it is reason
ably certain that he will make no ref
erence to the folding paragraph in the
campaign textbook issued by the re-
publican national committee:
No feature of the democratic plat
form met a more vigorous and scath
ing denunciation at the hands of Mr..
Taft in his speech of acceptance than
did this proposition, which he declared,
If adopted exactly as the platform sug
gests, would bring the whole banking
system of the country down in ruin
Governor Hoch, in a signed inter-
view, tells of the growth and popularity
of the guarantee of bank deposits, and
backs his statement with strong argu-
ment BY his support of this demo-
- t., \
victim of Mr.. Tafts "scathing denun-
citation" referred to in the republican
campaign book. Among other
things, Governor Hoch says in in his
article:
"One state has already adopted this
policy and the statute providing for
1t has just been sustained by the SUI
preme court of that state. The legisla-
ture of another state rejected 1t by the
narrow margin of only two votes in the
upped house. Many eminent financiers
have Endorsed the plan, including such
gentlemen as the Hon. Charles N. Fow-
ler chairman of the House committee
on banking and currency; the Hon.
Charles G. Dawes, ex-comptroller of the
currency; the Hon. A B. Nettleton,
ex-treasurer of the United States, and
the Hon. Lyman j. Gage, ex-secretary
of the treasury. Many able and sue
cessful merchants like Alexander II.
Revell and Tom Murray of Chicago,
also have Endorsed it. One of the great
political parties has incorporated the
proposition in its platform. Both par
ties have done this in Kansas.
THE opinion recently expressed by
Attorney General Bonaparte that ma
tional banks can not participate in this
guarantee scheme under state law,
forces the issue into national promi-
nence. The adoption of the plan by Ok
lahoma is rapidly compelling national
banks to denationalize and incorporate
under the state law.
THE several hundred national banks
| in Kansas will confront the same
| dilemma next year, for the Legislature
which convenes in January undoubted-
| ly will enact this law, both parties hav-
! ing pledged themselves to do it. Other
states doubtless will follow the exam
| pie, but If they should not these two
| states alone will be sufficient to force
| the question upon the attention of Con-
gress
IF Congress should adopt this policy
! for the national banks, then all the
states would be compelled to adopt it
| or else the state banks would be in
the same predicament that the national
banks now are in Oklaho ma, and soon
will be in Kansas"
Congressional Fight.
The fight for a democratic House is
none the less aggressive than that be-
ing made to elect Bryan and Kern.
! Chairman Lloyd of the congressional
campaign committee has headquarters
In Chicago and Is confident that the
next House will be democratic. Re
ports received by him are that the up
| rising against Joe Cannonism is ma
tional, and that many republican con-
gressmen who have done the bidding
of the Car of the House, are certain
to meet defeat. There is no more popu-
lar and effective issue in the cam
paign.
Speaking of the congressional situation,
Chairman Lloyd said:
There are 391 congressional districts.
At the present time it would seem that
143 of these districts will surely be dem
ocratic in November, and 11S will be re-
publican. There are $50 doubtful districts.
OF the 100, 80 may reasonably be relied
upon as democratic and As as republican.
This leaves as really doubtful 80 districts.
If this estimate is correct, the democrats
can reasonably rely upon It's districts and
the republicans upon 166. If the doubtful
districts are equally divided the demo-
Gratis would have a majority in the next
House of nine.
1.-THE general outlook for a democratic
House seems to be growing more favor
able, because more districts are reason
ably certainly democratic than was sup
posed at the outset. OF the so districts
that are now classed as doubtful our in
formation is that % of them will likely be
democratic and % possibly republican. If
this should turn out to be correct the
next House will be democratic by ma
jority of 10. The republican majority of
the Fifty ninth Congress was ia. At the
present time it is Sc. This shows a trend
of sentiment toward democracy, and APP
parently a fairly correct indication of
the gain we may expect in November.
The congressional gain will be most large
~ in the northern Mississippi valley states
from the Ohio river to the Rocky noun
tains, though there will be some gains in
the east and few in the extreme west.
MANY persons inquire the reason for
the change of sentiment. This is due to
several causes. Some republicans believe
1t would be better to have change in
the House of Representatives in order to
have a thorough investigation of the va
rious departments at Washington. For
number of years, Notwithstanding COM
mittees were appointed for that purpose.
there have been no examinations of these