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The Commoner
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Mr. Bryan in California
10,000 HEAR APPEAL FOR PEACE
From tho Los Angeles Tribune,
July 10, 191b.
William J. Bryan was paid one of
the greatest tributes yesterday after
noon that' he ever received when he
addressed 10,000 pcoplo from an
open-air platform at Exnosltton nark.
Other thousands, unable to get closed
enough to hear him, stood In the sun
for two hours and cheered when the
others cheered, simply becauso they
know ho was raising his voice acrainot
the present war, and the past and
present attempt of the jingo newspa
pers to involvo this country in tho
wholesale slaughter now going on in
Europe.
Thousands of former Nebraskans'
and thousands of former resldonts of
other states, most of them now resi
dents of Los Angqles and vicinity,
mado up the vast throng, and they
cheered at times ujitil tho Commoner
had to. raise his hand for silence be-
fore he could procedd.
Mukes Virile Plea
Hitting straight from the shoulder
and seeding his word punches into
the faces of all jingo newspapers, at
home and abroad, he declared' that
the element which was trying to in
volvo this fair land in the slaughter
of millions of men, left Itself open to
attack, and advised his hearers to
raise their voices in' protest.
, Mr. Bryan declared the cause of the
war wa3 to be found in a, belief in
the doctrine still existing in some
countries, that "might makes right,"
and at the same time denied that the
war wc.3 cither a race war, a religious
war or a family war. He pointed to
the fact that Catholic Austria and
Protestant Germany are fighting side
by side, that tho kaiser of Germany
is fighting two cousins, ono on the
throne in England, and the other on
the throne in Russia, and offered as
evidonce that tho war 13 not a race
war by -the fact that in this conflict
the races are lined up as they have
never been lined up, or mixed up, be
fore. "Ifc is a mockery that men who
worship God should kill each other,"
ho said.
War's Horrors Depleted
In concludinnr his address ho de
clared, in effect, that he was against
.war at all times and under all cii
cumstances. That if' Germany, or
any other country refused to abide
by international law, arid insisted, on
killing American? tdund on ships
owned by the nations at war, he
would still refuse tojjo drawn into
tho conflict.
"Should we go to war and revenge
the killing of a hundred Americans,"
he asked, "and probably have a mil
lion more killed before we get out
of it, or should we wait until the
nations which now are insane and
tearing at each other's throats are
calm and willing to listen to reason?
"My answer would be to let Amer
icans stay at home, where they be
long." The speaker quoted from the Bible
a score of times, and quoted the
three commandments, "Thou shalt
not kill, thou shalt not cove't, thou
shalt not steal," in connection with
almost every argument offered and
every conclusion reached.
SCORES JINGO PRESS
' From Los Angeles, Cal., Tribune,
July Id, 1915.
Five hundred business men, includ
ing merchants, bankers, newspaper
xnen and members of the Ad club,
applauded William J. Bryan yester
day at the Los Angeles Athletic club,
where tho Ad club luncheon in the
Commoner's honor was given. And
they applauded so heartily as ho
entered the dining room that it was
several minutes after he was seated
before the cheering ceased.
Just to show how much the Ad
club admires both Mr. Bryan and the
things he stands fdr, especially as
they" refer' to peace, tho club made
him a life member within sixty sec
onds after he had finished his short
address.
Mr. Bryan was introduced by
Chairman Jack Wilson, former presi
dent of tho Ad club. President J.
Harry Pieper, beforo turning over
tho gavel to tho chairman, remarked
that the members vero to havo a
double treat, "inasmuch as hoth Wil-
f son and Bryan wero their guests."
Feels at Homo as Club's Guest
JVEr. Bryan immediately assured the
club members that he telt right at
r.ome, ror, no explained: "l own a
newspaper niyseh', niul everything
that interests you in Ku vay of ad
vertising, publicity and c rculation
also interests me."
The speaker made It r.lain to those
at the banquet table that for several
years ho hud been tied hand and ftot,
so far as defending himself against
tne laiso accusations of newspapers
oi tho jingo variety arc concerns.!.
But ho also rondo it equally plain that
now ho is freo from , official dutieb,
ko is going to expose them at every
opportunity.
"I don't blamo the reporters for
tho distorted interviews they are
compelled to write,'; he said, "but I
do blame those higher, up. In the
last tew years I have been quoted
at length, in many interveiws that
never were given. They have said
that I said this or that, when, as a
matter o fact. I had not said a single
word. But yon' all know what kind
of newspapers resort to this kind of
interviews, for they are tho same
newspapers which would involve us
in the European war and send mil
lions of our sons to the slaughter
pen.
"Would Stop at Nothing"
"They are the newspapers which
would stop at nothiner. if av nmiiii
involve this country in the Mexican
trouble. They are tho newspapers
which tried to get me to tell them
why,,a special representative was sent
to see Huerta, and,-then, when I re
fused, told, Huerta in advance 'what
the representative would say.' Also
they asked Huerta what he would do
if our representative said such things
to him', and, in varlousother ways
did all they could to involve us in
the trouble down there.
"And why? I will tell you: Becauso
these newspapers of which I speak
would do anything that big interests,
with which they aro associated, told
them to do, regardless of what it
might cost this nation in blood or
money. These newspapers aro known
as the jingo newspapers, and wher
ever they are found they are a stench
In the nostrils of decent. journalism."
Tries to Inflame Public
Mr. Bryan explained in detail that
the same newspaprs had tried to
make it appear that the difference of
opinion between President Wilson
and himself was a great, big gap
whereas, he said, he left riot a single
strained friendship in the cabinet.
lie also accused the jingo news
papers of attempting to inflame the
public mind, after he had resigned as
secretary of .state, by stating that the
reply to Germany which Mr. Bryan
objected to was a regular torch tliat
would quickly set off tho powder and
bring Germany to timevor involve us
in war.
MR. BRYAN AT LOS ANGELES
From tho Los Angeles, Cal.,
Tribune, July 23, 1915.J;
William Jennings Bryan addressed
a large audience at Trinity auditor
ium last evening on Fundamentals.
It was the first time the Commoner
has given Fundamentals' in Los An
geles, and the address, heard by a
representative audience, was hailed
as a masterpiece.' Masterly in diction,
in delivery and in thought, Funda--mentals
gripped the thoughts of Mr.
Bryan's hearers.
Fundamentals i3 ah unusual ad
dress. It is a collection of thoughts
by a deep thinker, dealing with the
more serious problems of life. It is
an address brimful of poetry, of phi
losophy, of humor and- of ideas that
challenge the thought and attention
of all who hear it.
Bryan in Good Humor
Ruddy as a cherry ;raidlating good
nature, Mr. Bryan arrived at the au
ditorium shortly after 8 o'clock. Mast
of the audience already were in their
seats, but there. were a few remain
ing to greet him, and when his auto
mobile drew up there was a hearty
cheer.
Seated on the platform were some
150 men and women, mostly officers
of the Federation of State societies
and of the many societies forming the
federation representatives of prac
tically every state in the Union, Al
aska, Canada and Hawaii. Draped
around the balconies were pennants
of the- various societies.
. Previous to the appearance of Mr.
Bryan, Bruce Gordon Kingsleyat the
organ played a number of national
airs. The Star Spangled Banner was
the signal for the large audience to
arise and remain standing until, the
last note had died away in the great
dome above.
Just before Mr. Pjyan was led upon
the stage a pitcher of orange juice
Miss Peace had presented the Com
moner was brough'; in and placed on
a table. This was the signal for a
burst of applause that was repeated
at frequently recurring intervals un
til the address was concluded and the
handshaking was over.
Bryan Given Ovation
The appearance of Mr. Bryan was
the signal for a demonstration. Every
man and woman in the audience
arose and remaine-1 standing until he
was seated. There was long and
uuuuuueu nanciciapping and the wo
men greeted Mr. Bryan with the
Chautauqua salute.
nJS5i6ea??Jamin F' Bledsoe of .tne
V nit States district court intro
duced Mr. Bryan. He declared he re
garded the opportunity to do so as
one of the great honors of his life
Before Mr. Bryan had time to'ac-
0aTISdLthe comIlient he was
greeted with an ovation, as he arose
heart' tUat mUSt haVe wamed Mb
After he had concluded his lecture
Mr. Bryan was accorded a recention
on the platform. It seemed as though
every man and woman in- the audi
ence knew him personally. He woB
dres? t0 01- aU Sides on "-
VOL. 15, Nq 8
partisan purposes, embracing an
does men and women of all creeu
political and religious, to whom ft
appeals with peculiar lmpresslvenesi
The doctrine of peace has no mot
able exponent in any country than Mr
Bryan. To one as sincere as he th
very word is stamped in the warn
and woof of those convictions an
ideals which have served as the cuiti.
ins star of hi3 life. Tn l.in, rUl,
'tianltyMs. Hot a fbrm'aliBm but a vitai
learns uuuuuiq oi egenerating and
of transforming -''evil usndenciaj
whether in the individual, in tho na
tion, or in the world. Perhaps no ad-di-ess
delivered in modern times has
eajoyed a wider circulation than M.
Bryan's "Prince of Peace." Printed
in all tongues, although delivered
years ago, it is still winging its way
Uirough the world bearing its mps
sage of peace and good-will to all
me"n. Mr. Bryan esteems no am1) -tion
more highly than to consecrate
his great tn'.enls, his convincing git'b.
to human betterment. Had he in lus
earlier years devbted his lifo to pol-"
itfes as" a' modern l)oliticiau, an u-i
opportunist rather than an idealist,
thu thret riiKannninfrnkntn wMaii
cliecTced" his" efforts to become pres
ident of the United States wouUl
pr tbably not have happened. But aa
Senator Newla ?ds h'as well said, ;he
man's sincerity is too deep and abid
ing to be abandoned for any office,
however great
San Jose and Santa Clara couir
aVe honored by the former secretary 'j
presence. He will find that while
thousands in this county havo no
sympathy with his political viewu,
and many will dissent from his pea
program, tl'ey haVo tho utmost con
fidvnee in his integrity, and tne deep
est respect and admiration for his
abjlity. Welcome, Mr. Bryan, aid
may your brief visit be memorable in
tho sincerity of 'its reception; an I
your defense of the- cause of peace,
fruitful both now and in tho yean
to come.
CHAMPION NO MAN
The" Selma Journal is the only
daily paper of any importance in Ala
bama that is championing the cause
of Mr. Bryan in the present circum
stances. Montgomery Advertiser.
The Journal is championing no
man. Issues far greater than any
man are at stake today. If peace and
humanity are Bryan's cause, we
champion it. If keeping the United
States free of blood and carnage i3
his cause, we champion it. We cham
pion the cause of America, and we
stand now ready to bo tried beforo
the American bar of public opinion.
We refuse to allow politics, or the
political future of any man or set
of men, to be weighed beside the
blood and bleaching bones of the
flower of American citizenship, or
or the heart crushing pangs and ter
rors of the world's tenderest, sweet
est and purest wemen and children.
Now, Buddy, do you understand
whose causerwe champion? We dare
you print these lines. Selma (Ala.)
Journal. " "
WELCOME, MR. BRYAN
From San Jose. Cal., Mercun
Herald, July 24. ' mercurJ
Former Secretary Bryan will he
tho guest of Santa Clara county to'
SSlte life f0flmD0Blng a figure In the
public life of the country to be greet
ed as a great leader of a great nartv
or a? one who has been closely ido"n
tive of n """ " ?" "uwl representa-
i Qv wiumy separated fron.
COMMENDS MR. BRYAN'S STAM
Virdem, 111., 7-20-1915 Mr. C. W.
Bryan, Lincoln, Neb. Dear Sir
Many congratulations on the goou
sense of The Commoner in letting out
just enough and not too much of the
national or administrative workings.
In duo time" Mr. Bryan's place wm
be as much magnified as it is in many
places cut down. I appreciate ws
modesty in withholding what he saia
in the argument to Wilson on send
ing the first note. Strange to say, J
got i. hint from the Toledo Blade tiuu
satisfied me why Mr. Bryan signea
the note of May 13 th. .
I could write a long letter, but it w
enough to say I am Bryan's frieno,
and he is America's greatest son.
J. B. GARDNER.
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