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The Commoner.
V6LUME 6; NUMBER 27
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Mr. Bryan on American Politics
An Associated Press cablegram un
der date of London, July 12, follows:
"William J. Bryan, liaving liad the
opportunity of reading American news
papers, consented 'today to discuss
some of the questions which have been
raised since ho has again become
prominent as a presidential possibility,
He said:
"M notice that I am described by
some as conservative, and in order
that there may be no misunderstand
ing on that subject, permit mo to say
that in one sense I have always been
a conservative. The democratic pol
icies are conservative in that they em
body old principles applied to new con
ditions. There was nothing new in
principle In either of the platforms on
which I stood. We were accused of
attacking property, when in fact the
democratic party is the defender of
property, because it endeavors to
draw the line between honest accum
ulation by honest methods on the one
side and predatory wealth and im
moral methods on the other.
" 'It is to the intorests of every hon
est man that dishonesty should be ex
posed and punished; otherwise the
deserving are apt to suffer for the
undeserving., v
. " 'If, however, by the word conser
vative they mean that I have changed
my position on any public question
or moderated my opposition to cor
porate aggrandizement, they have a
surprise waiting for them. I am
more radical- than I was In ifinfi nnri
have nothing to withdraw on econom
ical questions which have been under
discussion.
'"The only question we discussed
in 1896, upon which there has been
any apparent change, is the silver
question, and that has not been a
change in the advocates of bimetal
lism, but in conditions. We contended
for more money and urged the free
coinage of silver as the only means
then in sight of securing it. The in
creased production of gold has brought
in part the benefit we expected to
secure from the restoration of silver.
The per capita volume of money in
the United States is almost 50 per
cent greater now than it was In 1896,
and the benefits brought by this in
crease have not only vindicated
the quantitative theory of money, but
have proven the benefits of the larger
amount of money. No advocate of the
gold standard can claim the triumph
of his logic
" 'I believe in bimetallism and I be
lieve that the restoration of silver
would bring still further prosperity,
besides restoring par in exchange be
tween gold and silvery using countries
but I recognize, as do all other bl
motallists whom I have met abroad,
that the unexpected and unprece
dented increase in gold production
has for the present removed the silver
question as an issue.
" 'While the money question has
waned in importance, other questions
have been forging to the front and to
these questions we must apply the
same principles we applied to the
money question and seek to secure
the greatest good to the greatest num
ber by legislation which conforms to
the doctrine of equal rights for all
and special privileges for none.
" 'On the new questions many will
act with us who were against us on
the money question, for" notwithstand
ing the discussion of that question,
millions did not understand it and
were frightened into opposition. We
can not expect the support of any
one who is interested in taking ad
vantage of the people, either through
trusts or through any other illegiti
mate form of business. Our efforts
should be to distinguish between these
corporations which are legitimate and
those aggregation of wealth, which
are organized for purposes of public
plunder and appeal for support to
those only who are willing to have
the government protect each person
In the enjoyment of his own earn
ings. " 'The newspapers have been trying
to create friction between what they
call "old friends" and "new friends"
in politics. Those are friends who are
working toward a common end, and
each campaign brings to some extent
a new alignment. In 1896 the party
lost many democrats and was re
cruited by a great many who had been
republicans up to that time, and we
welcomed them. In 1900 some came
back who were against us in 1896 and
we did not shut the door against them.
I have no idea that the party will re
quire tickets of admission In the com
ing campaign. Usually parties are so
anxious to secure recruits that past
differences are not emphasized if there
Is a sincere agreement on present is
sues. "'-I do not know that we can find
a better plan than the Bible plan,
which admits the eleventh hour comer
to a place in the vineyard and to share
the reward with those who began
earlier. I think this sound politics,
as well as sound religion,- provided the
new recruit . comes to work and not
to interfere, with the other laborers.
But of course when an overseer has
to be selected experience can not bo
left out of consideration. The worker
who came late, if honest, would bo
too modest to assume an attitude of
superiority over those who had tolled
during the earlier hours.
" 'While the question is one of pur
pose, a man who recognizes the dan
gers that threaten our country and
is anxious to avert them will not find
it difficult to establish friendly rela
tions with those who saw the dangers
at an earlier -date.
" 'If the differences between the sin
cere and the pretended friends of
reform can not be discovered before,
they will become apparent when the
platform is written, for, if present in
dications count for anything, that plat
form is likely to be so plain that no
one can mistake it and so strong that
no enemy of democratic principles will
be drawn to the party
"Mr. Bryan added that he would dis
cuss the trust, the tariff, railroad and
labor questions, imperialism and other
issues at length when he reached
America."
An Associated Press dispatch from
Louisville, Ky., says: "The commit
tee on awards announced yesterday
the prizes connected with the .home
coming celebration. Medals will be
awarded as follows: Left state at
tenderest age, Mary Alice Baker, 3707
Finley avenue, St. Louis, Mo.; left
state at most advanced age, Mrs.
Mary A. Metcalfe, Marlow, I. T.; ab
sent from state longest without re
turning, R. H. Smith, Boone county,
Mo.; traveled longest distance, James
D. Gardner, Melbourne, Australia;
nearest kin to Daniel Boorie, Miss Mat
tie Henderson, Fulton, Mo. r most aged
Kentuckian, Gordon Boling, Windsor,
Illinois."
The Commoner &" First Voters11
A Lexington, Ky., Reader writes to The Commoner as Follows:
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"I notice that the American Protective Tariff League is sending out circu
lar's which read: l Kindly give us the name and address, etc., of one person who
will cast his fi'st vote in the congressional election of 1906, We wish to forward
literature on the subject of protection. Ash yowr neighbors to co-operate in the worh?
"Now, I suggest that every Commoner reader malce it his duty to send to The
Commoner office the name of one person w7io, at the next election, will cast his
first vote, then a sample copy of The Commoner could be sent to that person.
uIalso suggest that every Commoner reader malce it his duty to secure at least
one of these l first voters' as a yearly subscriber to The Commoner. If we can get these
youngmentoread The Commoner regularly weneed notfearfor their political future"
The Commoner hopes that this suggestion will be acted upon by Commoner
readers generally. It is important that the "first voters" be impressed with the
value of democratic principles in popular government.
In order to encourage the campaign among "first voters" The Commoner will
be sent for sixty cents to anyone who is to cast his first vote at the congressional
elections of 1906 andiohose name, accompanied by the subscription price, reaches
The Commoner office prior to election day in November, 1906.
Any one desiring to avail himself of this opportunity must state in his letter
that the one in whose name the subscription isforwarded will cast his first vote at
the 1906 elections, and is therefore entitled to this rate.
Address All 1 - TT TT v " s Ik IT Ik IT " T-k T"T Tl
Communications to I n V, I. A J V V Ur,K
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