New-York tribune., 1908-09-15
TAFT SCORES BRYAN
HIS RECORD PUNCTURED.
Has Failed to Make HIS Position
Tlear-What He Has Done
for Labor.
[By Telegraph to The Tribune ]


Cincinnati Sept 14-Mr. Taft replied to-day
10 w. j. Bryan's petulant and misleading COM
ment on the Presidents letter TO Conrad kohrs
with suddenness and force which is expected
to Jolt even the agile political gymnast at the
head of the Democratic ticket. Mr.. Taft does
not employ the shorter and ugier word" in an
| swering Mr. Bryan's assertion that the Repub-
| Iican candidate has not made his views clear'
| but he emphatically states the precise opposite
of Mr. Bryan's assertion and follows with the
| ;ntimau:on that If Mr.. Bryan does not under
stand where he stands on every issue the de-
feet Is to be found in the peerless ones in
ca anacitv to comprehend. The Republican can
didate offers no special explanation for MI
Bryan's benefit. but carries the war INTO
Africa and presents significant NUMBER Oh
ir stances in which the Democratic candldats
has failed to make his own position clear, has
even sought to evade such statement OF Ms
views as the voters are entitled to-
There was an atmosphere of great COM
placency at the Taft headquarters to-day over
the occurrences of the last twenty-four hours
President Roosevelt yesterday made public a
letter which completely punctures Mr.. Bryan's
claim to the authorship and heirship OF the
Roosevelt policies and establishes MI. Ialt
title TO the co-authorship of many, the helrSnlp
OF ali Mr.. Bryan, stung by the force OF the
Roosevelt letter and its certain effect replied
with obvious precipitancy and laid himself open
TO on embarrassing catechising by Mr. Tart, an
,pnning the Republican candidate was quick 10
seize The wires brought from Saratoga an
assurance that the opposition to Governor
Hughes's denomination was melting away, and
finally Secretary Roots speech at Saratoga
proved n scathing analysis of Bryans preten-
sions and an ncisive refutation OF his claims
TO popular confidence. Altogether. When MI
Taft left his headquarters at the S1nton 10
prepare the speech he is to deliver Tomorrow
it was with tho conviction not only that the
,smpaign was very decidedly on. but that the
first serious charge had left his opponent
worsted.
MR.. BRYAN AND HIS OWN RECORD
Mr. Taft replied to Mr.. Bryan az follows:
In my ratification speech. and in other
speeches made since attempted TO make clear
my position on all the issues of TIE campaign
II MIR BRYAN has been unable understand
them cannot make them clear stand on my
record in Office and what have said MI
BRYAN should devote little time to his own
record from which he seems 20 be struggling to
separate himself with all the adroitness ac-
CURED in twelve years hunt Tor an issue on
which he can be elected President The readi-
ness with which Mr.. Bryan in successive Prest-
Dental campaigns passes from one para mount
Issue to another shows that the chief considera-
tinn which has affected his selection of an issue
has been its plausbty in attracting votes
he presents the remarkable spectacle of one
years without SUE cess and without official
spcnshity, and without the opportunity 10 test
the various propositions which he has advocated
for reforms, ana yet OF having the event demon
trato what a colossal failure he would have
made in each instance had he been permitted 10
carry mis- proposals in the policies of the coun-
try He does not now say whether he Is still
in favor OF the free coinage OF silver. He does
not now answer the question whether, If he
Pre- esident and an exigenCy should arise in which
he would be called upon 70 exercise his discre-
ton afflrmative!y 10 maintaining the parity be-
tween gold and silver, he would exercise that
discretion.
He has not permitted himself to discuss In
this campaign the issue of anti-imperiaiism.
which was the paramount issue in 1900, he
declared and In respect 20 which the policy Of
the Republican party has been vindicated by
the event that tranquility and good gov
ernment exist in tho Philippine Islands and even
the Independistias prefer Republican victory to
Mr.. Bryan's promises
He says that he lavors the more rigid
regulation of the railroads, In 1906 he ex-
pressed ne view that the railroads could not be
regulated because the railroads would oSn the
regulators appointed by law, and therefore he
was in favor of government ownership. We
hear nothing from him on this subject Instead,
by describing his platform not only dn
nouncement of principle but a protection
against uncomfortable issues, he has attempted
give bond 10 keep the peace with respect 20
government ownership. which by It's mere an
nouncement showed its lack of the vote catch
ing quality.
He processes to have been the father. and now