Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-08-28


the Republican party with the respon.
sibility for the growth of harmful cor.
porations He contrasted the plat
forms of the two parties, contending
that while the Republican platform
was evasve on the subject, the Dem.
ocratic platform was specific. He as
serted that Mr.. Taft's speech of &C.
ceptance was weaker than the plat.
form.
Bells Shots at Taft.
Theodore A. Bell said, addressing
Mr.. Kern:
You will be able to show that
Taft Is attempting to reach the White
House through a mirror maze, which
Is likely to leave him on November 8
just where he started on June 18.
After reading Taft's letter of accept
ance you will be able to show that
his candidacy Is like one of those new
tangled signs that we see SO often
upon the streetS-when you are an
preaching it reads one thing, and
when you are leaving it spells some.
thing else. And also in this connec-
ton you will be able to show that in
places where Roosevelt is supposed
to enjoy great popularity 1t is sung
into the ears of his admirers that il
Taft is elected the spirit of the de-
parted Roosevelt will be found
crouching behind the throne and di-
rectfng new onslaughts against the
corporations; and that in sections
where Roosevelt has incurred the
grave censure by reason of his siren
uous policies they are whispering in
the ears of Standard Oil, the steel
trust, the transportation companies
and others of their ilk that after
March the shade of Roosevelt will
be found wandering through the jun
giles Of Africa in pursuit Of bigger
game. leaving Taft to deal compla-
Gently with the offending corpora
tons"
Kern Denies the People Rule.
Mr.. Kern in his speech of accept
ance devoted some time to the ques-
ton: Shall the People Rule?" He
deprecated what he claimed is excess
sive power in the hands of the speak.
or of the house of representatives and
denied that the people have ruled be-
cause he said their will had not been
given effect. He cited the demand for
a reduction in the tariff on white pa
per and wood pulp and the failure of
the Babcock tariff bill of 1902 Mr..
Kern charged that there Is a power
within the Republican party deter
mined that the people shall not rule;
which power has manifested itself
whenever effort has been made to
check the destructive work of unlaw-
full combination, reduce the tariff or
eQualize burdens by legislation The
Democratic party, he said, would draw
sharp line between lawful business
lawfully conducted and unlawful bust
ness
Text of Bryan's Speech.
Mr.. Bryan spoke In part as follows:
Nowhere does the Republican party
show its indifference to real reform
more than in its treatment of the trust
question. Here is the Republican
platform:
The Republican party passed the
Sherman antitrust law over Demo
cratic opposition and enforced 1t after
Democratic dereliction 1t has been
d wholesome instrument for good In
Inc hanas OF wise and fearless ad.
mlnlstlalon. But experience has
shown That its effectiveness can be
strengthened and Its real objects bet.
Ter attained by such amendments as
VIII give TO The federal government
greater supervision and control over.
and secuie greater publicity in, the
management VI tLiat ciass Of corpora
lions engaged in Interstate commerce
haVing power and opportunity to eff
tect monopones
On the Antitrust Law.
The Sherman antitrust law was
passed IL years ago; 1t has criminal
clause which provides penitentiary