New-York tribune., 1908-03-20
BRYAN ON ISSUES.
1ttaclss the President. Hughes ana
Taft an Birthday Speech.

Chicago March le-Declaring that the greatest OF
present day evils is the domination OF politics os
The favor seeking corporations. and asserting 'ha'
the Democratic party best qualified TO under
take the task of correcting this. William j. brssn
Tonight celebrated his forty-eighth birthday o!
speaking before big mass meeting IN the ''i
Regiment armory. Mr.. Bryan took for ms sup9ec'
why Democracy. and after discussing the
records of President Roosevelt. Governor Hughes
and Secretary Taft as regards corporation iesisia
zion he answered the question by saying:
Because the Democratic party is the only party
sufficiently large give hope of success and SUI
ticiently democratic 10 give hope of relief after
victory has been won.
MI Bryan said in part:
The difference between the Democratic position
and Tho Republican position can be illustrated by
reference TO the position taken by three prominent
Take the Presidents position national incor-
porations lie fators the Incorporation OF Iva
government. and 10y doing ne ignores the rlsht
"i { state STA 10 respe cor IocTt beieVe that
is better for the corporations TO suffer such an
rather tlan that the individual shall be denied the
If vou will read the speeches of Governor Hughes
YOU viii find that they are very general wneh tneA
70 s ben Se 81 refer fe poss5e nnstce
the corpors! He is just low finding fault M with
fines; whether he has in m1nd the s2sooo:ooo nne
other fines 1 don't know lie speaks OF the IN
justice the stockholders: and Vet what has he
said about the injustice that the stockholders have
permitted the corporations 10 work against the gen
a
speeches aenolncing the standard Trust and the
Steel Trust and the other trusts? The fact that
justice tc few stockholders than much larger
number Of consumers indicates the point OF view
from which he looks at public questions. His veto
Of the fwo-cen fare bill is another illustrator he
gave the benefit the doubt the railroad instead
What has Secretary Taft done or is he doing 10
protect the public from the misuse OF corporate
power? What specific legislation does he dema NM, nd
for the determination of the trusts? None wien
he comes 10 the discussion Of the tariff question
he is much more concerned about Repubhc5sn an
victory than he is about tar1f REFORM because ne ne
Is willing ieopardize Republican flcioTH
by immediate tariff reform But desire 10 pre-
sent what regard as conclusive evidence OF Sc
retary Taft-s unfitness to deal with the question
of corporations You Will find this evidence IN a
government report of the hearings oeiofe tis eo!
,,iifee of The House Of Representatives on fnsnlar
affairs in the Fifty-eighth Congress Secretary
witness before the cofrnltiee mere va ~
the charter Of the Manila Railway provision that
al the end Of hundred years the raIiwaE @ amouu
revert 10 the Spanish goyeTnTent Il ne coala;l.s ~
had claims against the United States for occupaIon
OF the railroad for nine months Secretary lall
explained that he attempted 10 setue WIS tiaIi IN
hv giving the railroad n perpetual IfaflcLlse-
The point that desire make Is ms sec
refary Taft willing TO fasten upon the finpln9
r,aorle rerpetuai franchise and give 10 a railroad
s-o1nnany the nower TO hold TINS lranctllse loiEr
I have taken the three Republicans VINO nav
hem mentioned most in connection with the FfeSI-
,iencv l have included Senator La Fohetle,
Who Is ] believe a real reformer and who has
7,15l channioned reform measures. / do not men
lion him. because outside of his own state ne o"e
10. seem 10 nave any influential supporters Tor
-br RenubIican nomination. and in his own state
~ has had a ten years fight against corporate III
EI-f President Roosevelt is the leader Of the re-
forTn sentiment in the Republican marty. and Yer
lie favors national incorporations Secretary +Sao @
is the Presidents chosen candidate for the fte-
ns;blcau nomination. and. behold. how biasSed ne
& in favor OF the corporations as aedlhst tie
Al Governor Hughes. who is sometimes put IN ule
class of refcrmers. although the chosen repre-
sentative of the reactionary element SPENDS more
t1Se~e Han in deTfsnc remedies which viii insure
0he pubic against exploitation