The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-31
William Jennings Bryan Dis
cusses Taxes and Expenses
Before a Large Audience at
Minnesota State Fair.
GIVES HIS REASONS
Why Republicans Are Lavish
With Public Funds.
Says They Hold That Taxation
Is Blessing.

St Paul, Mimi, Aug. 31.-William
j. Bryan, Democratic candidate for
president. is Minnesota's guest to-
day. He arrived here shortly after 8
o'clock this morning and was met at
the station by Governor johnson, For
mer Governor John Lind. National
Committeeman Lynch. Mayor Lawler
and other notable Democrats of the
city and state and conveyed in an
automobile to the Minnesota club,
where breakfast was served. At
noon Mr.. Bryan was the guest of
honor at luncheon, given by Mr.. Lynch
at the Merchants hotel. the interval
between breakfast and luncheon be-
ing filled by Mr.. Bryan, Governor
Johnson and the party leaders in a
conference on the political situation of
the state, as affecting the interests of
Governor Johnson and the national
ticket.
1t is understood that a plan of ac-
tion with respect to the campaign in
the northwest was talked over.
The feature of the day was an ad
dress by Mr.. Bryan at the state fair
grounds. his theme being govern
mental extravagange. The weather
had cleared by this time and a vast
throng assembled to hear the Demo-
cratic candidate who was cheered
continuously. He spoke from a plat
form erected especially for the oc-
casion at the corner of Smelling and
grounds. B. F. Nelson of the State
Fair association, presided over the
meeting and introduced Governor
Johnson who in turn introduced Mr..
Bryan. On the platform were num-
ber of distinguished Minnesotans.
Mr.. Bryan spoke in part as follows:
What Bryan Said.
1.-The Democratic platform makes
Republican extravaganza one of the
issues of the present campaign. The
Republican platform is silent on the
subject and naturally so; to have
promised economy would have been a
mockery. and to have defended the
appropriations made by the last con-
gress would have been impossible. The
Fifty-hrst congress was commonly
called the billion dollar congress.
The appropriations made by that con-
gress covered two years amounting
for the first time to a billion dollars
or 500 million dollars a year. The ex-
travagance of that congress con-
tributed to the overwhelmin victory
won by the Democrats in the cam
paign of 1890. The last congress how
ever has made a new record in eX-
trava gance. In spite of a deficit of
more than sixty millions in the last
fiscal year, the appropriations made
during the last session amount to
more than a billion dollars or twice as
much as the appropriations for a sin
gle session of the Fifty-first congress.
The increase over the year before was
90 million dollars. showing a growth
in expenditures far in excess of the
growth of the population
'Why is it that the Republican party
is so much more extravagant than the
Democratic party in expenditure of
public money? There are two reasons:
First, because Republican leaders are
Intimately aSSnPiQfad he
taxeaters than with the taxpayers.
They hear the hungry clamor of the
men who spend money more than they
do the protests of the masses who con-
tribute revenues.
But there is a second reason: The
Republican leaders have taught the
doctrine that taxation is an unalloyed
good. They have tried to cultivate a
public opinion to support the idea that
tariff taxes even when not needed for
revenue are a direct advantage to the
protected interests and an indirect ad-
vantage to the whole country. 1t is
not strange that people who consider
taxation a blessing would be inclined
to make the blessing as large as possi-
BILE.
THE Democratic party is in a posi-
tion to bring reform in the matter of
expenditures. 1t believes that a tax is
that it should be reduced to the lowest
limits consistent with good govern
ment Our party is pledged to reduc-
ton in appropriations and to economy
in every department of government and
our position ought to appeal with spec
ial force to those of our population who
are engaged in agriculture"
VIII Write a Letter a Week.
New York, Aug. 31.-William ]. Brayn
will write each week until election a
letter to be sent to every precinct
Democratic club in the country, giving
a6x a nd CTlr m nc 70 fIa I9Yan Of
campaign. This novel feature of a
presidential struggle was made known
today by John L. Tomlinson, head of
the bureau of club organizations of the
ern states. The plan of organizing
Democratic clubs in voting precincts
was devised by Mr.. Bryan.
State Chairman William J. Connors
today turned over to Mr.. Tomlinson a
list of 5000 precinct committeeman in
New York state who will be directed
by the national committee to organize
at once Democratic clubs.
Colonel Henry Watterson and Ma
tional Committeeman Joseph Daniels
at the headquarters today on the lit
erary and publicity department. Mr..
Daniels has just returned from an ex-
tended trip through the middle west
which he declares will be undoubtedly
for Mr.. Bryan.
THE Republicans are laboring under
a mistaken idea this year that the
farmer vote can be voted for Taft"
said Mr.. Daniels today. But from re-
ports received and from what I have
observed there is a strong Democratic
drift in all the country districts. The
cities are of course safely Democratic.
I do not believe the socialists will make
any gains this year, though if gains
are made they will undoubtedly affect
the Republican vote" The Democratic
book will be out on Saturday. National
Chairman Mack, who spent Sunday at
the home of a friend in Connecticut,