The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-10-16
BRYAN TALKS TO
FUTURE VOTERS
STUDENTS OF THE STATE UNI
VERsITY At LINCOLN, HIS
AUDIENCE.
HUGHES POSES AS REFORMER
Furnishes The Great commoner With
A Text For Very Strong
Discourse.

LINCOLN, Neb., Oct 12.-In an ad-
dress at the State University this af-
ternoon. W. J. Bryan attacked the
arguments Of Gov. Hughes, Of New
York, in defense Of the Republican
platform, dwelling on the difference
between the two platforms relating to
publicity of campaign contributions,
and discussed the propriety of Presi-
I dent Roosevelt supporting Mr. Taft.
Delivered forcibly and in Mr.. Bryan's
best style, his speech was repeatedly
cheered by the university students.
In attacking the position of the Repub-
lieans ON the tariff situation, he deliv-
cred epigrams which kept the students
cheering for several minutes. During
the speech, he took a vote Of the
students who were for and against
publicity of contribution funds, and
those who were for and against cleo
ton of Senators by a direct vote.
The principal part of the speech Of
the candidate was occupied by an
answer to the argument of Hughes,
who spoke to the university students
short time ago.
Gov Hughes has been put forward
as the champion of the Republican
party to attack the Democratic rem
edy for the trusts, and the President
seems to refer the argument advanced
by Mr.. Taft. | can fairly assume
therefore, that the argument present
ed by Mr. Hughes is not only the
strongest argument that has been pre-
sented but the strongest argument
that can be presented, because Mr..
Roosevelt would not pit him against
our platform If he were not the strong
est opponent He has been sent
through the West to strengthen the
Republican lines. | desire to remind
you, in the first place, that Mr..
Hughes represents the Eastern Repub-
licans, not the Western Republicans.
He was one of the candidates against
Mr.. Taft when Mr.. Taft was being
urged as the representative of the
administration. Mr.. Hughes friends
joined with the friends Of Mr.. Cannon,
Mr.. Knox and Mr. Fairbanks in the
effort to prevent the nomination of
Mr.. Taft. 1t is only fair to assume
that Mr.. Hughes is not a
reformer in the sense in which that
term is used by the Republicans of
the West
"As an evidence that Mr.. Hughes
Is not in sympathy with Western re-
forms, you will recall that he vetoed
-wo-cent passenger rate, and he did
his in spite of the fact that Repub-
lean Legislature of New York passed
he bill. The Governors in the West
srn States signed this bill and we are
low enjoying the benefits of the two
,ent fare. New York is more thickly
settled than the Western States, and
ret he gave the benefit OF the doubt
o the railroads in their contest with
he patrons. / will not say that he
lid this because of the contributions
made to his campaign fund by Morgan,
)epew, the Vanderbilts and one of the
ioulds. 1t is not necessary to assume
hat these contributions had any eff
ect on his action. 1t is enough to
now that he did not act on his SUBJ
ect as Republican Governors in the
Vest acted. and cared not what
egislation his friends may make. II
hey say that he decided in favor OF
ne railroads without any reference to
ne contributions made by the rail-
Dads, 1t simply shows that he looks
t questions from the standpoint of
lie railroad rather than from the
of the patrons. If he had
gned the bill the railroads could
ave protected themselves by recourse
, the courts, but when he vetoed the
III the people had no recourse.