The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-06
BRYAN'S KEYNOTE
It Was Sounded by the Ne
braskan at Omaha Last Night
In q Two Hours Speech Before
the State Convention.
HE WROTE PLATFORM
Which Will Form Basis for Ac-
tion at Denver.
Hailed as Next President Of the
United States.
HE WROTE PLATFORM

Omaha, Neb, March Constructing
their delegates to vote as unit for
the presidential nomination of w. j.
Bryan at Denver next July, the mem
hers of the Nebraska Democratic con-
vention made clear, officially, that his
home state will support Bryan prin-
eiples throughout the national conven-
ton of the party. They followed this
action by turning out en- masse last
night to cheer a platform which ad-
mitted1y reflected Rryan's views on ma
tional affairs and to greet their leader
with an outburst of cheering that
brought flush of pleasure to the
countenance of the recipient.
All the proceedings of the day were
planned with an ascending scale OF
enthusiasm in view How well TINS
worked out was evidenced by the
scenes in the convention hall last night.
Close to 1000 delegates, hundreds OF
other active party members ana tnou gu
sans of private citizens hailed MI
Bryan as 1.-The next president of the
United States"
Applause that quickly changed 10
cheers, then instantly turned into
wild yells, greeted him when he ap-
peared to begin the speech whfch
wound up the day. During his remarks
the demonstration was renewed ire
uuently, and at the end was repeated
with renewed vigor.
Two significant points were noticed
in Mr. Bryan's speech. In one he ac-
knowledged his debt to the Popullst
party. and in the other he replied to
criticisms of his policies which Secre-
tarv Taft is reported to have uttered in
a recent speech in Oklahoma. MY
creed is to exterminate the private mo-
nopoly A legitimate corporation can
be regulated, but criminal corpora
ton is beyond the reach of regulation,
said Mr.. Bryan. Mr. Taft said 1 wish
to annihilate business combinations
while he declared himself willing to
regulate the great corporations. L &C
cept this issue. And in reply 1 will
call attention to the fact that the
trusts have regulated the Republicans,
not the Republicans the trusts"
Concerning the Populists, he said:
"If any Democrat has a prejudice
against Populists I would admonfsh
him that a Populist who crosses the
road to vote for a Democrat is not
to be despised by a Democrat who has
merely to vote the ticket Of his own
party"
Mr.. Bryan was in splendid voice. AS
he warmed to his subject he empha-
sized his points with clepched fists
and stamping foot and drove his argu-
rnents home with a vocal vigor that
carried his tones to the farthest cor
ners of the big auditorium
He began his address at $50 o'clock
and for nearly two hours preached
Democrat doctrines to willing con-
gregation. After a review of his early
political struggles in Nebraska he
thanked the delegates for their actor
in indorsing him for the presidency
Then came his reference to the Popu-
lists and thanks for the Endorsement
by their state convention.
Mr.. Bryan entitled his speech "a
Word of Encouragement" and devoted
his remarks to the producing of evil
dence to show the growth of Demo