Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-10-08
St. Louis, Mo, Sept. rs, 1908.

The meeting of the Democratic State
Press Association in st. Louis today
was the largest and most enthusiastic
an its history. Editors were present
from all sections of the State, and
the room in which the meeting was
held was crowded until the seats pro-
vided were net sufficient for those
present. The address of welcome
was delivered by Mayor Wells of St.
Louis, who gave to the newspaper
men the record of the Democratic adj
administration in that city, showing
that it had, according to the record OF
the Census Bureau at Washington,
placed St. Louis in the front rank
among the 1850 largest cities in the
union.
Mayer Wells also stated that while
he had not veted for Bryan either
in the election of 1896 or 1900 be-
cause his conscience directed other
wise, he would this year enthusiast
eally cast his vote for the Nebraskan.
Joseph B. Shannon of Kansas City
briefly addressed the newspaper men
concerning his recent visit to Pitts
burg, Rochester and other eastern
cities. He produced facts to show
that the business depression and pow
erty in those cities has never before
been equaled, far exceeding as it does
the worst condition experienced in
the central and western states. He
said that when his trip began he
feared that Bryan would again be de-
feated, but after viewing eastern con-
ditions and talking with all classes
he was convinced that Bryan would
be t~riumphantly elected in Novem-
Der.
Democratic Banquet.
The climax and principal feature Of
the meeting in St. Louis today was
the enormous banquet at the Plan
tiers Hotel. This, the largest dining
hall in St. Louis, was filled with six
hundred editors and Democratic
leaders. Eloquent and stirring
speeches were made by Hon. John
H. Atwood, head of the speakers
bureau of the National Committee;
Hon. Charles w. Knapp, editor of
the St. Louis Republic, and Mayor
Kern Of Belleville, Illinois. The au-
dience was enthused from beginning
to end. A like spirit of confidence
has never before been exhibited in a
Democratic campaign.
Hon. w. S. Cowherd, Democratic
nominee for Governor, literally rid
died Herbert S. Hadley, the Republic
can nominee, in a speech that will be-
come historic as one of the finest
specimens of oratory, convincing
logic and high minded dissection of
the barren record and claims OF his
opponent. Mr.. Cowherd never for a
moment descended to such base Ian
guage or method as those employed
by Mr.. Hadley in his opening speech,
but he left no possible excuse for any
Democrat to vote for Hadley, who he
said boosted as a trust buster and the
e~nforcer of the liquor laws, with Wal
ter S. Dickey, head of the sewe pipe
trust, his personally selected manager
from Kansas City, and Otto F. Site
fel, the famous brewer, who pledged
a part Of the wine cellar slush fund
of 1904, his leader in the city Of St.
Louis.
The text Of Mr.. Cowherd's sneech
follows, and after that will be found
the speech by Hon. Charles w.
Knapp; also, . statement about the
proven forgery Of the Cleveland ar
ticle on Taft, which the Republican
National Committee has circulated
throughout the United States with
Bryan's speech at Topeka on Guaran-
tced Banks, which speech is said to
be in more demand than any other
document of the campaign.