The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-07
HELP THEMSELVES
Bryan and His Hosts Serve
Their Own Meals
At Banquet Where the Walters
Went on q Strike.

-
was in readiness for beginning service
at the banquet at Eljebel temple, ten
dered to William J. Bryan, by the
Bryan Democrat club of Colorado
last night the fifty or more walters
demanded of the caterer in charge
that he agree to certain changes in
the conduct of several establishments
operated in this city before they
would proceed with the service. This
was refused and the men left the
building Members of the club CIV
ing the banquet then proceeded to
serve as best they could. The sight
Of prominent leaders of the party
carrying dishes and trays caused
much mirth provoking comment and
Mr.. Bryan engaged with as much en-
toyment as the rest It was not I'M
til 10 p. m. that speech making be-
gan. Former Congressman John F.
Shafroth, president of the club, in
troduced Mr.. Bryan who was the only
speaker on the programme. Mr.
Bryan said in part:
ct do not come to Colorado because
missionary work is necessary but for
the pleasure of coming. We carried
this state by a large majority in 1896
larger majority this year than in
either Of these years. Everyone who
voted with us in 1896 ought to vote
with us now and those who were
against us in 1896 have had time to
see the vindication that has come to
Democratic principles. The quantita-
tive theory Of money has been proven
to be correct, for we have SO per cent
per capita more money in circulation
now than we had in 1896, and with
that increase we have had higher
prices and better times. The silver
<r1vn Sc m scr,r I,r,&
it's elimination is due to the fact that
we have secured from another source
the increase in currency which was
expected for the restoration of
bimetalism. But the money question
is not the only question upon which
our position has been proven correct
by the course of events. Our protest
against the trusts has been shown to
be well founded and the whole coun-
try now understands that a private
monopoly is indefensible and unen-
durable. On the tariff question also
the Democrats position is being
strengthened by the demands of Re-
publican. Secretary Taft started out
to make his campaign on a platform
which declared for tariff revision
the revision to be postponed until. af-
ter the election.
Taft's Change Plan.
'As he travelled over the country
he found the tariff reform sentiment
so strong that he finally reached the
conclusion in the platform of his state
convention, that tariff reform is so
urgent that a special session Of con-
gress should be held Immediately at
ter the fourth of March.
Secretary Taft seems to be re-
garded as a representative of the re-
form element. and yet he has so lit
tie of the reform spirit and his rec
ord is so barren of any work in be-
half of reform, that he will hardly
satisfy the expectations raised among
Republicans by some of the presi-
dents recommendations. His ad-
vocacy Of perpetual franchises in the
Philippines Islands coupled with a
perpetual guarantee Of its income,
shows that he looks at the corpora
ton question from the standpoint of
the corporation rather than from the
standpoint of the public.
"On the subject of imperialism, the
last nine years have shown the folly
of colonial policy. We are paying
at least one hundred millions a year
for the privilege of following at the
tail end of the European procession,
for our army and navy alone cost us
more than one hundred millions a
year in excess of their cost ten years
ago. Secretary Taft testified before
congress that we never could hope
to have more than 20 or 80 thousand
-AIleIlCdlS III lIlt IHlllDplnoS. we
have not anything like that number
there, but even If we had, it would
cost US more than $4,000 year for
each one of the thirty thousand to
make up the hundred million a year
OF additional expense. We could bet
ter afford to pick out the thirty
thousand who want to go to the
Philippines and support them at good
homes, doing nothing more than to
maintain an imperialistic policy for
the purpose of giving them a chance
to live in the Orient
No Hope in Republicanism.
| st have mentioned several of the
questions upon which events have
demonstrated the correctness Of the
Democratic position. No real reform
can be expected from the Republicans
because they are too deeply indebted
| to the predatory interests for their
support, and IL Secretary Taft, who is
considered the reform candidate. ID
: antagouistic to labor. weak on the