Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-25
DEBATERS HELP
BRYAN'S CAUSE
JOHNSON DOMINGUEZ CON-
TEST FAv0RS DEMOCRATS
LARGE AUDIENCE is GUEST OF
OLD HICKORY CLUB
Talks in Highland Park Arouse Fresh
Interest in campaign-lnconsIst-
encles of Taft's Party Are
Pointed Out

The much discussed debate between
Charles f. johnson, Democrat. anC
Frank Dominguez, Republican, bu
formerly a Democrat, was held las
night at Woods hall before the OLE
Hickory club, and, had a vote beer
taken on the result, there is little
doubt which way it would have gone
judging by the applause. Evidently
nine -tenths of those who remained t
the end went away Democrats, regard
less of what they were before they
came
Mr.. Johnson's powerful argument, hi;
keen satire and his gift off humor kepi
the audience in good hunor and the
hickory sticks humping the floor
Hickory sticks were all the rage last
night.
Joseph Mesmer presided. and on eacf
SIDE of him sat we'll known Democrats
and Republicans acting as vice presi-
dent s, as printed yesterday.
ME-. Mesmer introduced each speaker
as a personal friend whom he had
known since they were boys.
Introduces Speakers
"It h as been my pleasure to know
both M Johnson and Mr.. Domingue2
since childhood" said Mr.. Mesmer
s'1leY 041V6 ulSptdyeQ uOuOlt 1hIcSliby
and zeal in citizenship. l have watched
their careers for many years and have
watched their progress. l can vouch
for their high standing. By their own
efforts they have become self-made
men and self-made orators
Mr.. Dominguez opened the debate
He said he had been raised with Mr..
johnson and was proud to speak at a
meeting with Mr.. Mesmer as chair
man.
II have no quarrel with Democrats
said Mr.. DomingueE Y. II have a. quar-
rel with their principles.
1.-THE best citizen is not her who re-
mains at home, spending his Sundays
perhaps in finding fault with office
holders.
.The best citizens go to the polls,
agitate for better government, decide
civic questions and help build up thls
grandest of empires.
II appreciate that tlais is Demo
cratic audience, but L appear before
you as a humble citizen, giving you the
reasons why l believe in Republican,
ism.
II shall quote you government re-
ports, not newspaper reports.
Cites Past Records
1.-THE Democratic party has givel
birth to great men. The greatest MAJ
whom this country ever produced, tn
man who penned the Declaration OF In
dependence, was a Democrat.
From the days of Thomas Jefersoi
the Democratic party was in control O.
this government for many years up tt
Buchanan's time. Have they performed
their duty well? History says not"
Mr.. Dominguez told how years ago
when he crossed to the Philippines or
the same ship with Judge Taft, who
was on his way to take the governor
ship of the islands, fierce storm arose
Most of the men on the ship had al
most given up hope. Finally Judge
Taft asked everyone on board to meet
in the cabin. Then he took a sheet OF
music off the piano and led in singing
Nearer, My God, to Thee and after
ward preached a sermon to the passen'
gers.
aThe speaker cited this as an instance
of the piety of a man whom some
voters would ostracise because of hl'
non-belief in creator
Mr.. Dominguez described how Bryan
had captured one convention by hi
elouuence, and dilated on the Nebras
kans ability. This statement suited
the many Democrats present last nigh
and long applause followed.
BE careful how you applaud sale
Mr.. Dominguez, amid laughter.
= Then Mr.. Johnson took up the argu
ment. He hastened to assure his op
ponent that the Democrats had man!
paramount issues, some of which hat
been bodily appropriated by Roosevelt
''If President Roosevelt had not useC
his influence then and for year past
William Howard Taft would not b'
the nominee today" said he.
"A new precedent has been estab
Of ii 1fttN
naming a successor. What is the us'
of a convention if a president names
his successor? 1t is a dangerous pre-
cedent. We don't know who will b'
president.
''Mr. Roosevelt said to Mr.. Taft: 'Gt
to Oklahoma and destroy that consti'
tuition Mr.. Taft went, but the con
stitution won by big majority. L
is model for the states.
Republicans promise that Mr.. Taf
will, if elected, carry out the Roosevelt
policies. We admire Roosevelt. bu
what is there left in the Chicago plat
form that Roosevelt really advocated
"What did they do at Chicago to th'
question of electing United States sen
ators by direct vote? They defeated
it to 1.
"The valuation of railroad and th
campaign publicity clauses went down
one by one Each of these represented
Roosevelt policies. But Mr.. Taft say
electing senators is not a party ques
ton. l say that Chicago platform Ii
q contract between the party and th'
people. viii it be carried out?
Republicans inconsistent
did you know that Mr.. Sherman
the vice presidential nominee, was on
of Mr.. Roosevelt's bitterest enemies IL
congress?
'They made a man at No. 2 Wal
street treasurer and put Dupont. th'
powder man, high up on the committee
The powder men are in trouble will
the government now, but they will no
go to trial till after the election.
"Who is the Republican nationa
chairman? Is it Hitchcock? No, it il
Roosevelt himself. (Cheers)
"IFor weeks the subsidized Pepubli-
can press talked of Bryans canned
speeches, yet 1t wasn't long befYre Taf
was hollering my kingdom for a pho.
nograph.' You don't hear of them con.
demning canned speeches any more.
"And so it is with Bryan's talkinf
from the rear end of trains. You car
hear Taft shout Take the Philippines
but give me the rear end of a Pullman
car
'oThe Republicans never will revis,
the tariff, but the people demand 1t
Why didn't they do it at the last ses
sion when they We're in full control
Who turned 1t down? That great au
focrat. Joe Cannon of Illinois, who viii
never go back to congress again.
sJoon't you think it is about time fo