Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-07
BRYAN JOKE HURTS TAFT
HOT SPRINGS STILL DISCUSSES
BANQUET INCIDENT.
Wyndham Meredith's Story at the
Virginia Bar Association Dinner
Not Well Received.

HOT SPRINGS. Va, August 7.-Hot
Springs is still in the throes of con-
versational revolution today over the
break made by Wyndham r. Meredith at
the banquet of the Virginia Bar Asso-
citation last night. Mr.. Meredith the re-
firing president of the association. which
had for the guest Of the evening William
H. Taft, referred in a story he told to
the persistence of Mr.. Bryan's candidacy.
1t is evident that Mr.. Bryan is still the
idol of a portion of the Old Dominion's
professional men. and that. in spite of
Mr.. Taft's lack of any responsibility for
the remark of Mr.. Meredith. the incident
has not helped the candidate in Virginia.
Mr. Meredith as retiring president, be-
gan the evenings addresses with a short
speech. Tonight" he said. I'VE are all
for Taft. no matter how we may vote in
November. The laws of hospitality de-
mand it. That reminds me OF the story
of the Irishman whose employer asked
him how he was going to vote.
Mr.. Meredith's Story.
I'm going to vote for Taft" said the
Irishman.
But said the employer. I thought
you were democrat
so 1 am replied the Irishman, but
1 can vote for Bryan any time"
This story was not greeted with APP
plause. but with Kisses and catcails. and
today the talk in Hot Springs is to the
effect that the joke will not be appre-
ciated through the Old Dominion, al
though Mr.. Taft was not directly con-
nected with 1t.
Among other distinguished guests at
the dinner, at which Mr.. Taft responded
to the toast THE President of the United
States,' were Wayne McVeagh of Phila
delphia, former United States Senator
William Lindsay of Kentucky and Thomas
J. O'Brien, ambassador from the United
States to Japan. In addition to the many
lawyers also present there was large
contingent of ladies.
Taft Likes Subject.
In responding to the toast assigned
him Mr. Taft said that it might be APP
propriate for him to speak upon such
toast.
mot because of any relation bear to
that Office. but because l was summoned
to the White House when the invitation
was extended and directed Qaughter) to
come here and do what / could, if need
be use the big stick to uphold the adj
mfhistration." Oaughter)
Joking aside, Mr.. Taft called attention
to the difficulty of discussing even the
office of the President without trespass-
ing on some issue in the political cam
paign. He pictured the great expansion
Of Interstate commerce TO show that its
proportions to commerce within the states
had been reversed.
: HAS the executive expanded?" laugh
teri
Undoubtedly the executive has ex-
banded. but we are very much bigger
country"
Mr. Taft explained the necessity for an
increased exercise of power in the PHIL
ippines. Porto Rico and the Canal Zone
as well as in other respects.
Congress Acts Slowly.
All these things. he said. were under the
control of Congress. but Congress has not
acted as promptly as it might.
THE danger of usurpation of power by
the executive is less than the danger of
the usurpation of power by the legisla-
tive. Congress can bring the executive