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The Commoner.
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
VOL. 12, NO. 11,
Lincoln, Nebraska, March 22, 1912
Whole Number 583
Mr. Bryan Before the Constitutional Convention
Mr. Bryan spoke beforfthe Ohio constitu
tional convention at. Columbus, Tuesday, March
12th. The Columbus Citizen prints the follow
ing report:
Facing an audience that was made up of
hundreds of his loyal followers, William Jen
nings Bryan, three-time democratic candidate
for president, Tuesday was greeted with real
enthusiasm when he spoke on the subject, "The
People's Law," before the Ohio constitutional
convention.
The demonstration which greeted his appear
ance at the capitol was remarkable for its spon
taneity and duration. A large crowd welcomed
him with cheers when he entered the rotunda.
This greeting was taken up in greater volume
by a crowd that filled every available space in
the convention hall.
President Bigelow used a brief scriptural
quotation in introducing . the Nebraskan:
" 'There were leaders in Israel who led, praise
the Lord.' Permit me to introduce a leader who
has led."
Cheering, which lasted for several minutes,
followed as Bryan rose 'to speak. The delegates
and their guests stood up and cheered. The
many women in the audience were equally as
demonstrative as the men and discarded the
feminine handkerchief waving for tho mascu
line hand-clapping, in which many a pair of
gloves was split.
Practically "aif-the state officials were liftHS"
audience and the galleries hold many delega
tions, some of which traveled over 100 miles
from the rural counties, where Bryan has always
been popular in his advocacy of progressive
measures.
The Nebraskan's voice, was a trifle husky as
he started to speak, but this gradually wore off
and the familiar resonant voice reached to all
parts of tho hall. He read his speech.
Mr. Bryan's views on the initiative and
referendum were received with enthusiasm by
a convention that is pledged to that reform. His
declaration that opponents of the initiative and
referendum try to kill its effectiveness by advo
cating high percentages which would make it
unworkable was followed by the statement that
eight per cent petitions for the initiative of de
sired laws, 12 per cent for constitutional amend
ments were not unreasonably low, and that five
per cent petitions were high enough for the
referendum.
The crowd appeared to like Mr. Bryan's views
on the recall of all officers, including the judi
ciary. There were rounds of applause when he
declared: "It is not necessary to reply to the
argument that the recall would make cowards
of judges; the judge who would be swerved by
fear of a recall would 'not bo fit for the place
anyhow."
When Bryan counselled the delegates to use
both care and courage in handling the corpora
tion question, the audience exhibited a keen
interest and interrupted ,the speaker with ap
plause when he said: "A corporation has no
soul and cares nothing about the hereafter."
Again, when he said, "A monopoly is indefen
sible and intolerable," the crowd cheered at
length.
The climax of applause "came when he in
sisted on the necessity of bank guarantees, al
though expressing preference for no particular
system. "It is , cowardly," he said, "for tho
government to require security for the deposit
of public money, but leave the private depositor
to the risk of loss. Tho banker who requires a
farmer to get another farmer to go security for
his loan, can not complain if the farmer requires
him to get another bank to go security for his
deposit."
The Commoner's views on the new working
men's compensation act and the nine-hour work
day for women law met with the approval of tho
audience.
"If legislation is noeded to protect adult men,
it is certainly necessary to protect women and
children," declared Bryan.
Applause greeted Bryan's plea for publicity in
public affairs. "In this connection," ho said, "I
believe that every newspaper should bo made to
print the name of its owner, or owners, and of
every creditor whoso interest is large enough to
influence its policy."
Immediately after Bryan concluded his ad
dress the crowd, which exceeded in numbers the
one Roosevelt attracted to tho capitol, surged
forward and he held a reception lasting for a
half hour. Nearly every man who shook his
hand made some reference to his past cam
paigns and the possibility of his candidacy in
the near future. To all of these Bryan smiled
good naturedly, but the only comment he made
was when Judge Smith of Geauga county re
marked: "I have voted against you all my life, but I
would be glad to vote for you now."
"I appreciate your sentiment, but hardly think
it would justify me in running again," was
Bryan's answer.
"You are just as good a democrat as ever,"
remarked Delegate Stokes.
"Well, I don't think I will back-slide," Bryan
replied.
National Committeeman Harvey Garber was
in the line. "Hello, Harvey," exclaimed the Ne
braskan, as Garber reached his side. The na
tional committeeman whispered into Bryan's ear.
- t'GommuiyrtO''the-hotdl-at.2:30," wastho invi
tation extended to Garber.
Colonel Bryan was compelled to deliver a
second speech on the steps leading from the hall
into the rotunda in the state house, where a
large overflow crowd which was unable to get
into tho convention hall awaited him.
"Everything I have said will be printed and
you will have the same opportunity to read it
as others," said Bryan. "I am interested in
everything that tends to make good government.
"I have watched the work of the convention
of this great common-wealth great not only be
cause of the numerous presidents it has pro
duced, great not only because of its large popu
lation and valuable farms and cities, but great
because of the intelligence of its people with a
great deal of interest.
"I am sure that when the delegates complete
their work it will be abreast with tho times and
be progressive. I am equally sure that the work
will be ratified by the people and that they will
point to it with pride.
"It Is pleasing to note what a spirit of confi
dence Ohio imposes in its people and the spirit
with which the delegates to this great conven
tion are performing their work. It is no spirit
of mortification to them to recognize that they
are the servants and that you, the people, are
the masters."
Colonel Bryan's brief remarks were greeted
with wild applause. At their conclusion tho
people made a path for Bryan to leave through.
Bryan was taken direct to the Hartman hotel,
where he met a number of the leaders of the
Jefferson club and arranged for a change In the
date of his appearance here at the Jefferson
banquet to April 15 instead of the 13th, as
originally planned.
AN EDITORIAL WELCOME
Tho Columbus (Ohio) Citizen printed tho fol
lowing editorial: William Jennings Bryan, who
addressed tho constitutional convention today,
occupies a unique position.
Although not a president, ex-president, United
States senator or governor, he has a larger
personal following than any of the wearers of
those distinguished titles who preceded him on
the Con-Con platform.
William Jennings Bryan is a man In whoso'
courage, honesty of purpose, incorruptibility and
patriotism tho common people have confidence.
There may be question as to tho wisdom of his
position on certain Issues and he does bear the
stigma of repeated defeats, but he Is best known
to be of and for tho pcoplo, and his defeats aro
without dishonor. Tho great Nebraskan has
tho esteem and respect of tho masses, earned
through manly, opon fight3 for what ho believed
to bo right, even when tho fight was against his
own party, and not ono act In all his actlvo
career has cast the slightest suspicion on his
loyalty to tho people and hostility to those who
oppress and loot tho people. Like Henry George,
William Jennings Bryan is "For Men," and while
he may not bo the general actually on tho battle
field placing tho men and tho guns, ho still Is
"For Men,'1 and tho people know It.
It is to such a man that tho country may well
turn for advice at this timo when the very life
of democracy is dying out, when tho people aro
ready to resort to a capital operation to save
that life; when that very principle of self-government
which Mr. Bryan has loved and labored
for is making its stand against a mouled
oligarchy.
Mr. Bryan must know what Is going on. Ho
must see that with Taft or Roosevelt on one of
the tickets, Big Business is trying to shape tho
democracy for another dose of the samo policy.
He must see tho reason for solidification of re
actionary democrats and republicans and mp.n
grel Hearstites at Washington on a Champ
Clark, who feels "safo and sano" in not letting
the people know where he stands on Initiative,
referendum and other hot issues of the hour.
" Mr. Bryan, who IS the man for leader of tho
democracy in these trying times?
Wo beliove that you can answer this to tho
satisfaction of the people. Wo believe that Wil
liam Jennings Bryan is bigger than anything
that personally affects William Jennings Bryan
alone, and that he can answer this question as
a respected leader of men and as an unselfish
lover of the cause of men.
MR. BRYAN'S SPEECH "THE PEOPLE'S
LAW"
Mr. Bryan's address to the Ohio constitutional
convention was as follows:
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Con
stitutional Convention: I am sensible of tho
great honor you do me In Inviting me to ad
dress you. You aro entrusted with a work of
great importance, the preparation of a constitu
tion which may without impropriety be termed:
"The People's Law." Other matters they give
into the hands of representatives chosen to legis
late on general subjects and they permit tho
representatives to act according to their judg-.
ment, but In the case of a constitution, they
select agents for a particular purpose agents
chosen with more than usual care agents in
whom they repose the highest confidence and
then, so delicate is the task and so binding is
the Instrument prepared, that they insist upon
its submission to the sovereign voters for rati
fication before it is invested with the sanctity
of the law. I know not how to manifest my
appreciation of the privilege that you extend to
me of advising in this capacity, except to sub
mit for your consideration some suggestions
which may be helpful to you in tho discharge of
the solemn duty imposed upon you by the peoplo
of the state of Ohio.
CONSTITUTIONS
Tho preparation of tho constitution of a
great state is a serious undertaking and those
who are engaged in it bear a grave responsi
bility. The burden has been lightened as, with
tho advance of years, It has been made easier to
amend constitutions. Tho written constitution
has become an American institution, and its
hold upon the people Is not likely to bi shaken;
its claim to confidence is jeopardized, however,
when ono generation attempts to fetter tho free
dom of succeeding generations by provisions
that prevent a majority from amending their
constitution.
Our federal constitution illustrates the limit
to which a constitution may go in restraining
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