East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1912-03-01

as the Taft supporters are bringing
an indictment against Roosevelt, 1t
looks as if the democrats had nothing
to do except to indorse what Mr.
Roosevelt and Mr.. Taft say about
each other. In other words, we can
let the gold dust twins do the work
81 regard the third term question
as a vital objection. In case Mr..
Roosevelt is the nominee it will read
Ny be seen. Perhaps some republi-
cans VIII criticise Roosevelt as they
would not if Taft were the nominee,
while others will raise the objection
without regard to who becomes the
candidate.
"I do not care to make a public
prediction as to who the republican
candidate will be. If it were left to
the republican governors, Taft and
Roosevelt would seem to be nearly
even.
Democratic Outlook Good.
Democratic prospects for electing
president are good, provided always
that the democrats nominate a pro-
gressive on progressive platform. If
we were to sound the retreat it would
be otherwise. l believe the rank and
file will win in the convention and
will nominate a progressive. take
that for granted"
Referring to the Columbus, Ohio,
speech of Roosevelt, where the ex-
presiden addressed the constitutional
convention, which Bryan himself is
later to address, Mr.. Bryan said:
"Of that speech generally l would
saw it contains some very good things
1t is in fact. in my judgment, the
strongest speech the ex-president has
made. but it also contains some things
that are Objectionable.
His plan for dealing with the
trust question l consider very OBJ
iectionable. 1t contemplates an at
tempt to regulate the trusts, whereas
private monopoly should be prohib-
tied. The country had experience
for seven and one half years in try
ing to regulate the trusts under the
Roosevelt administration, and there
were more trusts at the end of that
time than at the beginning.
Ignores Great Question.
THE speech at Columbus can hard
" be regarded as platform, be-
cause it not only ignores many nation
al questions, but discusses a number
of matters that are merely state
questions"
Asked as to his attitude on free
| tolls at the Panama canal, Mr.. Bry-
an responded:
IT favor a free canal, with tolls
only sufficient to pay the cost of the
operation and maintenance"
Asked if he would favor the remis-
sion of tolls to American shipping, he
replie:
IL think that it is not advisable to
discriminate, and that provision
should be made in some other way"
Pressed to answer as to what other
wav he would suggest, he said the
shipping question is too large to dis
| cuss in an interview. He added that
he did not consider a subsidy the pro-
per solution.
Discussing the recent decision ol
the supreme court upon the initiative
and referendum, Mr.. Bryan said:
"The decision of the supreme court
practically ends all further figh'
against the initiative and referen-
DUN from a national standpoint. The
court holds that it is political ques'
ton. and no one believes that con-
gress will take any action.
'In fact, with 10 or IL states ad'
opting it and others voting upon j
soon. we are not likely to hear any
longer about its being an abandon
ment of a republican form of govern
ment, except that it might be re
garded as repugnant to such a form
of government as the standpat re
publicans would like to have If the!
could have their own way
Recall Of Decisions.
"The initiative and referendum
movement did not need the decision
1t is growing, anyhow, but the re
moval of this objection will help b.
silencing the thing the opponent
have urged with the most emphasis.
Upon the Roosevelt. suggestion TO
recall of a judicial decision MI
Bryan spoke with approval, givlni
his opinion as follows:
at is a proposition that was frs
advanced by some democrats in Col
orado, / understand, and in the form
in which it is presented 1 see moth
ing revolutionary about 1t, although
! do not expect 1t to be an issue