Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-28

a democrat who had voted for Taft and
broken away from the old narrow policy
of the south. Mr. Meredith described him
self as an independent, and that, he said,
meant a man who walked the middle of
the road and got the brickbats from both
sides. He paid his compliments to Mr.
Bryan as populist and his platform as
snarchistic. He preferred rather to stand
with party led by Hughes and Root and
Roosevelt and Taft. He explained that
the chief obstacle to southern conversion
to republicanism in the past had been
negro suffrage. and now that that was
out Of the way the south felt its political
isolation and was awakening to it's pos
sibilities.
Objected to Political Monopoly.
The south, he said, longed to see her
sons return to the councils of those in
power. and il she did not take advantage
of her opportunities now she alone was
to blame. He objected to the monopoly
of one political party in the south, be-
cause. he said monopolies always produce
something that is inferior. He referred
TO President Taft's declaration that he
intended TO be President of the whole
country and would not care to he Pres
ident of half of It, Cease erecting scare
crows. like force bills and disfranchise-
ment, and you will disarm the criticism
of the southern press. In conclusion he
praised President Roosevelt's policies. he
declared the proposed tariff bill excellent
and predicted that the administration of
President Taft and his policies would
convert the south.
Speaks for Nebraska
Senator Norris Brown of Nebraska the
next speaker. spoke with regret of
Nebraska's detection in the last election,
and declared that the state was soundly
republican barring the "neighbor dodge"
Nebraska. he said. labored in the last
campaign under a difficulty as wide as the
nation and as loud as Niagara. He ap-
plauded the men who lived in Washington
in the face of the civil service law and
then had the courage to pay their fares
home to vote.
1t was at the conclusion Of Senator
Browns address that Speaker Cannon en-
tered the hall and was given a great ova-
ton. which was renewed time and again
the evening on the slightest
United States Treasurer Treat made
ringing speech, in which he paid an
eloquent tribute to President Taft and
predicted wonderful measure Of pros
perity as the result of his administration
and the working out OF republican
policies. When Congress ceases to be so
ambitious. he said. we shall have more
money in our Golfers. No nation, he said.
is entirely satisfied with its financial
hoped that none of those that were dis
carded elsewhere would be engrafted
upon our own.
Foollowing Mr.. Treat came the speech
of Speaker Cannon.
Cheers for Pennsylvania.
When Toastmaster Capers referred to
the unavoidable absence of Secretary
Knox, Mr.. Cannon sprang to his feet
and called for three cheers for the great.
grand old state Of Pennsylvania" which
were given with will, followed by three
cheers and a tiger for the Speaker him
self.
H. P. Hapgood closed the speechmaking
of the evening and the function itself in a
glowing tribute to the work of the re-
publican clubs during the past campaign.
There were about 400 who sat down to
the tables. which were adorned with flow
ers, while around the hall was draped
the American flag in great profusion.
with an electric reproduction on the north
wall. During the evening an orchestra
under Director William F. Ricken played
popular and patriotic airs.
Letters of regret were read from Sen
ators Warner and Cummings. Representa-
tive Esch. Vice President Sherman and
long telegram of regret and of good
wishes from John Hays Hammond. pres
ident of the National Republican League
OF Clubs.