The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-01-28
LIVELY DEBATES
Compares Strength Shown In Elec-
tion of Bryan and Judge Parker
Grosvenor Criticised For Statistics
of Political Outlook-Bnl Intro
duced to Refund Cotton Tax


Washington, January 24.-Although
the Urgent Deficiency bill was techni-
cally up for considerable in the house
Of representatives .oday not ~uln
pertinent TO the bill was spoken. In
DIR the privilege OF general debate
several members addressed the house
on a variety OF subjects, but the only
thing which attracted most attention
was a criticism by Mr.. Hitchcock OF
Nebraska of certain statistics of Cen
eraI Charles II. Grosyenor, of Ohio, re-
garding the political outlook. The de-
bate brought to their feet numerous
democrats who sprang to the defense
of William J. Bryan, while General
keifer of Ohio, supported by several
other republicans, undertook to refute
all the arguments concerning Mr..
Bryan's two campaigns.
When the house resumed considera-
tion of the Urgent Deficiency bill to-
day Mr. Clark of Florida was recogniz-
ed and spoke for an hour and a half
providing for the refund to the pro-
per persons "of the cotton tax il!e-
gally collected in the years 1863, 4, 5,
8, z, and 8.
In a lengthy discussion of the fin
ancial question Mr.. Gronnia, of North
Dakota, urged as one Of the remedies
for financial stringencies, the guaran-
teeing by the government Of deposits
in national banks and a requirement
that the banks should keep at least
eighty per cent of their reserves at
home.
Mr. Hitchcock of Nebraska precipi-
tated lively discussion by making
political speech.
His remarkes were devoted mainly
to a plea for William J Bryan fol-
President He spoke of the candi-
dacy of Judge Parker and declared
that it was not case in which his
personal strength was put to a test.
His weakness was," he said, 'the
weakness of the reactionafy-the
weakness of the general who was
leading toward the rear and not to-
ward the front"
In order to hurt Mr. Bryan his ene-
mics had used letters written before
Judge Parker'S nomination, said Mr.
Hitchcock, but no one pretended that
Mr.. Bryan had not Loyalty supported
Judge Parker He declared that MI
Bryan had received 10000 more votes
in Ohio in 1900 than Judge Parker
had received in 1904, Notwithstanding
Bryan had as his opponent the popu-
lar Ohioan, President William McKin-
ley, and added that notwithstanding
Judge Parker was a New Yorker, he
had only about the same vote in New
York that Bryan had polleo.
There seems" he said ito be q
systematic conspiracy in high places
among the republicans posing some
times as the friends of the democratic
party to misrepresent and distort the
facts regarding Mr.. Bryan's attitude
toward Judge Parker"
"Bryanism," he added, instead of
being the bane of the democratic par
ty is the strength for the present and
hope for the future
Mr. Hitchcock became involved in an
animated discussion with General Kei-
fer. of Ohio, as to the accuracy of
the figures of General Grosvenor Mr.
Ollie James of Kentucky interrupted
with the statement that he had seen
it charged that Senator Foraker had
said that President Roosevelt was
'prosstituting the selection of officials
under the federal government for the
purpose of beating him out of Ohio
and giving it to Taft. Is that true
or false %
General Keifer's response was that he
was not responsible for what was said
in the newspapers. Continuing, MI
Keifer declared his surprise over the
circumstance that the democratic
members had applauded mention of
the fact that in the two campaigns of
Mr.. Bryan that gentleman had run
ahead of Judge Parker whom he re-
ferred to as "the poor old judge"
Adjournment was taken at ass D. m.
until Monday.