The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-08-25

INDIANAPOLIS AUG. 25.--John
Worth Kern. Democratic candidate for
Vice-President. was formally notified
today Of his nomination. The meeting
was held in the deliberately decorated
Colosseum at the State Fair Grounds,
and was attended by many thousands
of people. The feature of the occasion
was an address on the trust by w. J..
Bryan, the Democratic standard-bearer.
Mir Kern, Of course, delivered a for
nal address of acceptance, but the
presence of the head Of the ticket put
the yice-presideutial candidate In the
background.
MI. Bryan in his speech declared
Judge Taft, the Republican candidate.
was weak, and asserted that. despite
his long personal association with Pres
ident Roosevelt. the Republican candi-
date had failed 10 absorb the fire OF the
chief. Mr.. Taft didnt understand the
trust question, Mr.. Bryan declared; the
Republican attitude toward monopoly
was wrong. the Chicago platform held
out no hope of much-needed reform on
this question, but the Democratic doc
trine az promulgated at Denver was
the cure.
In his acceptance speech Mr.. Kern
declared that the people do not rule.
ard made a strong arraignment OF the
paper trust.
In part Mr.. Bryan said:
The sherman antitrust law was
passed eighteen years ago: it has "a
criminal clause which provides n peni-
Tertiary punishment for those who
conspire together in restraint Of trade.
Ever since the enactment OF the law,
with The exception Of four years, the
Republican party has controlled the ex-
ecutive department Of the government,
and, during two years of the four, IL
controlled the House OF Representa-
tives. Instead of Democratic derelic-
ton, the Democratic party has been
urging. year after year. the strict en-
forcenlent of that law, and the Repub-
lican party has been explaining year
after year why it was impossible TO en-
force it. Instead of being a whole
some instrument for good" II has been
almost useless, 50 far as the protection
of the public is concerned, for the
trusts have grown in number. in
strength and IN arrogance. at the very
time when the Republican party was
hoasting of its enforcement Of the Law
= y
Most OF the trusts have never been
disturbed, and those that have been
prosecuted have not had their business
seriously interrupted. The President
has done something toward the enforce
ment of the Inv. but not nearly enough, !
and the Republican lenders have
thwarted him at every point. Finally |
the President became so exasperated
rhat he sent to Congress a message
which shocked Republican leaders by
the herceness of its denunciation of the
predatory interests. The very conven-
tion that spoke in it's platform of the
administration as "a wise and fearless
one, was composed largely of the
senators and members of Congress who
boldly opposed every effort 10 free the
people from the clutches of the favor
seekins corporations. =
And Mr.. Taft's speech of acceptance
m even weaker than the platform.
He gives no evidence of having studied
the question or of comprehending the
lnlquities of "a monopoly. You look in
ain In his notification speech for any
sign Oh indignation at what the trusts
nave been doing or for evidence OF zeal
IN their prosecution. He has, for sew
eral years, been the intimate %offciali
companion of the President, but he has
caught none OF the fire which the Presi- |