The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-25
BY ALFRED ; sToFER.


 Washington. oct. 24--,special)--Ac- cording to those who have been with him in his speaking tour the voice of Judge Taft Is in such deploralbe shape that he can hardly be heard by his au- ditors seventy feet away. He suffers greatly from hoarseness. Governor Hughes. of New York, has had a similar experience.
 None of them can match Mir. Bryan. He is reported to be in splendid trim. Ills voice is said to- be as clear and strong as 1t was twelve years ago when he made the worlds record for endur- ance. %
 It will be recalled that Mir. Bryan during his third trip in .he campaign of 1896, travelled about 12,000 miles, having spoken in twenty-one States, including all of the largest and most populous in the Union. In round num- bers he covered that year in the foui trips 1S,000 miles. It is no exaggera- ton to say that no man~ever lived who has made as many speeches in the same length of time cs 4dr. Bryan. Those who have lately been with him say that he is apparently as strong In voice as ever, and feels confident that he will be able to keep up the strain until the close of the campaign. His work from now until then will doubtless call for extra exertion and he will cover wide range of territory.
 Tn all of his speaking tours probably fhe only serious throat affection Mir. Bryan ever had was after addressing three monster meetings in Pittsburg two nights previous to his formal mo- tification in Madison Square Garden. New York, in August, 1896. Somehow the Nebrasxan rnisjudged the size of those crowds. They were by far the largest that greeted him since. .ieav- ing Lincoln. His voice the next morn ing was so husky that he was unable to address the crowds which gathered at Altoona, Harrisburg, Trenton. New ark, Jersey City and other cities along the route to the metropolis. The late Congressuian Bland. of Missouri. (''Sil- yer Dick") was pressed into service to do the speaking. what little there was that day.
 Oufwitted His Enemies.
 Mir. Bryans friends were alarmed over the condition of his throat and feared his voice would fail in Madison Square Garden.
 But my voice will not fall me-" said the Presidential candidate. And he startled his friends in &he private car by adding: T intend to read from a printed slip r.eets tomorrow every word of my speech"
 A newspaper correspondent in the party thought it would be a mistake.
 The people will assemble in Madi- son Square Garden expecting an ora torieal treat from you" he said. "If you read your speech it win be a dis appointment and 1t will do you harm" T"Perhaps," answered Mir. Bryan. But I have a special reason for following closely the printed sheets. Several kind friends in New York have informed mo of conspiracy on the part of some ot the hostile papers of the East. Their plan is to send shorthand reporters to fhe meeting. and instead of recording accurately just what said they intend to put words in my mouth not uttered by me. and then swear th.-t I expressed thcae views. have in my travelling bag 100 copies of the speech, and all ofithe newspapers will be supplied in advance. The papers. which are bitter ly assailing me. therefore, will be com