Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1909 — PHONOGRAPH IN POLITICS. [ARTICLE]

PHONOGRAPH IN POLITICS.

Most of the Subjects, Naturally, Con cem the Campaign—Party dubo : to Use the Records. “Gentlemen, wo will now listen to the voice of our Peerless Leader,” remarks the chairman of the entertainment -committee of the Blank Democratic Club, and turns a crank. Then from the phonograph Issue the well known tones of the once Boy Orator of the Platte, speaking In tabloid form on some of the subjects which Mr. Bryan conceives to be vital Issues. The same treatment also may be taken by members of Republican clubs, because a complete set of records is coming out, records for which Mr. Taft also posed, If that is the proper word to use. It was only a very brief time ago that Mr. Taft consented to speak for the phonograph. Mr. Bryan’s records were made last April, long before the convention which nominated him. They made a hit because lots of persons who never otherwise would have a chance to hear him speak took that opportunity of listening to the man. The Republicans apparently thought that their candidate was losing a trick. At least that is the complaint made by Mr. Bryan since Mr. Taft has been and gone and done likewise. '.. ■ „ „ _

It took some manoeuverlng to get Mr. Taft to speak. At first he did not think it particularly dignified. Thomas A. Edison went not only to see Mr. Taft but also made a trip to Oyster ' Bay to see Mr. Roosevelt, partly with the. idea of getting him to use his influence and partly in the hope that the President would utter a few remarks on assorted subjects treating of the affairs of the world In general. The latter object was not attained, as Mr. Roosevelt declined resolutely to speak. When once Mr. Taft’s consent was obtained, the National Phonograph Company sent Its recording force to Hot Springs, Va. It took two days to get the twelve records which the company has on Its list. From time to time in the course of the two days Mr. Taft took moments from golf and politics to. deliver into the recorder the remarks that he had selected. Unlike a speech of acceptance, these had to be more or less brief, otherwise they would not get on the record. In fact, one of the speeches that Mr. Taft delivered did run over the record. He merely laughed the Taft laugh when told of It and patiently went back, cutting it, to make It fit. In the two days Mr. Taft stood for probably six hours altogether in front of the machine. .It Isn’t just like a phonograph In appearance, because there Is no bell mouth to the horn. It is more like a section of stovepipe. The record, once taken, is removed from the'machine and Is packed away to be taken to the factory. There a mould is made- from it aud in turn the duplicates that are sent out for use are made from that. The selections made by Mr. Taft were for the most part paragraphs from his speech of acceptance. From the titles, however, some ethers do not appear to have a real political bearing. The twelve titles are as follows: “Foreign Missions,” “Irish Humor,” "Republican and Democratic Treatment of Trusts,” “Rights of Labor,” “Unlawful Trusts*,” "Function of the Next Administration,” “Roose-

velt Policies,” “The Philippines,' “Enforced Insurance of Bank Depos its,” “Jury Trial in Contempt Cases,” “The Farmer and the Republican Party," "Rights and Progress of the Negro.” Mrs. Taft was highly interested in the process and she spent a great deal of time with her husband in the room while he was making the speeches before the machine. The Bryan records were made out at Fairvlew, Mr. Bryan’s Nebraska home. Twenty six records were exposed, of which ten were clear enough for use. They are types of the Bryan oratory, and although made when Mr. Bryan had not been nominated the third time were qualified to fit in very nicely with his campaign plans If he should get the place. The Bryan subjects are: "Swollen Fortunes,” "The Labor Question,” “The Railroad Question,” “The Trust Question,” "The Tariff Question,” "Popular Election of Senators,” “Imperialism,” "Guaranty of Bank Deposits,” "An Ideal Republic" and “Immortality.” The last is the best seller of them all, being made up of selections from one of the Bryan lyceum lectures, “The Prince of Peace.” It Is oratory, not politics. The subjects of both candidates in the main lie along the same lines, so that It may not be Impossible for the clubs which wish to do to have little debates, quoting In turn what Mr. Taft and Mr. Bryan have to say on whst are called issues. The political clube have taken very kindly to the record scheme snd they hsve s serious purpose of getting them before the persons who otherwise never could get anywhere near the men to hear them speak. It Is s new thing to have it attempted on so large a scale, s development like the movlag -pictures of Mr. Taft There is no idea. however, of presenting any moving pictures while the phonograph Is going, so as to give the semblance es a political speech made by the candidate oh the earssn This could have bean done, but It did not seem to he dignified.