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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 1920)
'( t tfW , P' ,?. ?r, r v- -n wvf y--"? tSfPljy ". ' F,5iKW.,(T,f5$ The Commoner 6 VOL. 20, NO. 2 5 f . t T" i Irl I ST' w m v. Waking the Sleepers Again j: V (From Tho Litorary Digest, Jan. 31.) . !' Tho weary diners woro thinking wistfully of the downy couch at tho Into hour when Bryan arose to utter tho thoughts that wero In him "at tho recent Jackson-day banquet in Washing ton, Tho program had dragged terribly, mak ing Bryan sovoral hours late, and it was only with an effort that those assembled "awoko from tlioir stato of moro or loss bored semicoma enough to givo tho old loader a moro than per functory greotlng," wo arc told. But when ho Had finished his remarks, at 2:30 a. m.r a great ly surprlzod and highly oxcltod bunch of solo'ct Democrats drew a long breath, and, after hav ing recovered some measure of their equanim ity, docidod not to go to bod, but to dovoto Che roBt of tho night to- a discussion of tho "Peer less Olio's" sensational speech and its signifi cance. They had boon worked up to a pitch where sloop was impossible. It was '"some speech," that Jackson-day address, and it has mado "some stir" in the land. Among other things it demonstrated tho amazing ability of tho irroprosslblo Mr. Bryan to "come back," whonover a reasonably psychological moment ar rives, It showed tha"t tho Democratic leader has lost none of that marvelous spollbinding power which first brought him into tho lime light with his "cross-of-gold and crown-ot-thorns" speech in 180G. It is even said that his rocont effort surpassed that one nearly a quarter of a' contury ago, which up to now has general ly boon- conceded to be tho "farthost north" in political speech-making pyrotechnics. The Wash ington correspondent of the New York Post gives a vivid account of Mr. Bryan's entrance to tho banquet-hall, whero tho celebrants wero then all ready to "call it a day," having sat through sovoral hours of a somewhat dull func tion; of the subtile manner in which tho speak er arousexl thoir lagging interest; and of tho uproar that aroso when they finally gained tho full import of what thoy wero ljstoning to. Wo road: ' . Mr. Bryan felt his way with unexampled adroit ness and subtlety. He began the business of gradual ingratiation with tho audience with the art of which ho is consummate master, at tha same lime injecting tho note of belligerence like tho motif of a musLcal composition, almost im 'perceptlbly at f.'rst, and growing gradually loud er and bolder. Ho was humble, obsequious, apologetic. Ho apologized for tho lateness of tho hour and slyly compared himself to a superan nuated preacher who is called on merely to pro nounce tho benediction on a performance of which tho real business Ib already concluded. With a gfoat guile and in- much solf-doprecia- tton ho referred to himself as a "dead poli tician" and allowed tho audience i:. its imagina tion to contrast him with tho living politicians present, and especially tho living politician in tho White Houso. Considerng tho part ho was going to play, and that ho know ho was going to play, it was a superb example pf tho omphasiB of understate ment, By a flattering reference to Champ Clark he mado a bid for reconciliation and support from tho largo number of Mr. Clark's followers who ho know wore present and who had been embittered eight years ago by what Mr. Bryan then did to Mr, Clark in. order to exalt the Mr. Wilson whom ho was now in a few minutes about to turn upon. Ho wont on from one art of oratorical persuasions to another and another. At one point ho said: "I have passed tho ago whon I seek to win your favor for mysolf," and left tho audionco x to interpret that as cryptically as they might. At exactly a quarter of two in tho morning he said "If you will pardon mo for holding you here a moment," and received cries of "Go on," which ho well knew would como. At five mnutes past two ho repeated tho same words and got tho samo response, and at quarter past two ho did it again Finally, ho had tho audience waked up. Alert and in suspense ho swept into his full stride raisod his voice to strongest pitch, threw tho whole strength of his vitality into his manner Having paid his respects to all -the old and several now octopuses, including the well-known profiteer, tho speaker went on to name tle throe now propositions for which he asked h!s party's consideration, and concluded his speech by do- daring that faith in tho people must bo Jtho Domp cratlc party's policy "now and always." Tho sensation produced by the Bpeoch among tho par ticipants at tho banquet was a sample of tho ' interest aroused by Mr, Bryan's utterances throughout tho country. Thero is hardly a' newspaper in this broad land that has not used up several columns of valuable space in a dis ; cusslon of tho Bryan speech and in speculation upon what part tho Commoner will play in poli tics during tho current year; . A number of them in connection with prognostications as to what ho may do have given reviews of what ho already has done in politics, one of tho more .elaborate of thoso that have como to our atten tion being ono written by Edwin C. Hill and ap pearing in the New York Sun. This writer finds that Bryan's popularity has advanced and re ceded in four-year periods, thus: Up to 1900, down in 1904, up in 1908 and 1912, down from 1912 to 1916. It's tho question as to what.it will bQ in 1920 that is now worrying the Demo crats. , CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION Feb. 6, 1920. Mr. Bon M. Noale, Chafrman Democratic Congressional Com., Excelsior Springs, Mo. My dear Mr. Neale: . - I regret exceedingly that I can not accept your kind invitation to speak In the 3rd District. Re garding Mr. Milligan's election as a matter of very great importance to our party and tho coun try, I beg to submit a brief statement to the voters of the district: ( Mr. Milligan's fitness and qualifications are such as to shield him from personal blame in case of defeat; the blow would, therefore, fall upon tho party and the principles for which our party stands. A Republican victory at this timo and in such a district would have an unfavorable influence on congress and might very injuriously affoct tho campaign of 1920. Tho Republican reactionaries, now in control of that party, en couraged by .their success in 1918, are planning the overthrow of the great economic reforms ac complished under President Wilson's administra tion. They want to raiso tho tariff, lower tho tnx now collected on largo incomes, turn the Federal Reserve Bank system over to Wall Street and intrench in power tho supporters 'of trusts and private monopolies. The unprece dented expenditures now under investigation in Michigan show the extent to which they are will ing to go to regain power. They refuse to disclose their purpose bv a con structive program; instead they spend theV timo cr'ticisinc war activities carried on under tho stress of the world's greatest conflct. Thoy have not only susnanded tho consideration of pressing domestic problems, but they have humiliated our nation before tho world. They have wasted months in endless debate while other nations have concluded peace, nutting our nation in the position of being unable to get out of the war Thev have denied to our country the great dfs t ncton of furnishing the first president of 'the league of nations after giving to the world the idea of such a league. Tho Republicans, while controlling the senate bv a bare major'tv. are unable to muster a majority for any ratifying resolution and are unwilling to so compromise reservations as to enable the senate to discharge its constitutional dut.v. wme Mr Milligan's election would be a warninc to Renublioan reactionaries wh'le it would insplro Democrats w'th hone as thev enter upon a nresi dontial campaign. Every Domoomtic voter should be at tho polls and vote for Milligan, and Re publicans can, by voting for h'm, serve notoe on 1h Republican loaded that no backward step w'li ho nermUted. l W'sbimc for our candidate and our cause a nnlppdid triumph on the 14th, I am. Vrv trZ yUrS' W- J BRYAN COMMITTEEMEN SHOULD BE PAID ' The members of tho Democratic National Com mittee should be paid traveling expenses and a per diem for time actually g'VGn to committee work; otherwise, only thoso can be coiimittee men who are able totravel at their own expense and give the r time. It fs not democratic to ox oludo deserving members of the partv from tli's important committee by a property line and it is not fair to the masses that onlv rich Dpmn cpotR shall bo eligible. The predatory interests" will have an advantago over the rank and Hie of tho party just as long as the poor are barred by the r lack of means. Now is. a good time to turn over a now loaf and put the organization In harmony with tho voters of the party Hoover in Receptive Mood A Now-York dispatch, dated Feb. 8., Bays Herbert Hoover tonight issued a statement To' fining his attitude toward the presidency u announced that he is not a candidate for the nom nation, and that no one is authorized to bS for hini politically. . If the league of nations i made an issue in the election he says he will vota for the party that stands for the league in response to requests that ho declare allegiance to ether one or tho other of the great political parties, Mr. Hoover says he will wait until it moro definitely appears what the party managers stand for, and will "exercise a prerogative of American citizenship and decline to pledce mv vote blindfold." fa m STATEMENT OF POSITION His statement follows: "In order to answer a large number of ques tions all at once, let me emphasize that I have taken a day off from the industrial conference in Washington to come to New York solely to at tend to pressing matters in connection with the children's relief. I want to say again: I have not sought and I am not seeking the presidency. I am not a candidate, I ave no "organization." No one is authorized to speak for me politically. "As an American citizen by birth and of long ancestry, I am naturally deeply interested in the present critical situation. My sincere and only political desire Is that one or both of the great political parties will approach the vital issues, which have grown out of the war and are new, with a clear purpose looking to the welfare of our people and that candidates capable of car rying out this work should be nominated. FOR PARTY THAT SUPPORTS LEAGUE "If tho treaty goes over to the presidential election (with any reservations necessary to clarify the world's mind that there can be no Infringement of the safeguards provided by our constitution and our nation-old traditions) then I must vote for the party -that stands for the league. With, it there is. hope not only of the prevention of war but also that we can safely economize in military policies. There is hope of earlier return of confidence and the economic re construction of tho world. I could not vote with a party if it were dominated by groups who seek to set aside our constitutional guarantees for free speech or free representation who hope to re-establish control of the government for profit and privilege. "I could not vo'te with a party if it were dominated by groups who hope for any form of socialism whether it be nationalization of in dustry or other destruction of individual initi ative. Both these extremes, camouflaged or open, are active- enough in the country today. Neither of tho dominations would enable these constructive economic policies that will get us down from the unsound economic practices which of necessity grew oujt of the war, nor would they secure the good will to "production in our farmers and workers or maintain the initi ative of our business men. The issues look for ward, not backward. TWO BIG PARTIES ENOUGH . "I dp not believe in moro than two great par ties.. Otherwise, combinations of groups could, as in Europe, create a danger of minority rule. I do believe in party organization to support great ideals and to carry great issues and consistent policies. Nor can any one man dictate tho issues of great parties. It.appears to me that the hope of a great majority of our citizens in con fronting th's new period in American life is that the great American parties will take positive stands on the many Issues that confront us, and will select men whoso character and associations Will guarantee their pledges. "I am being urged by people in both parties to declare my allegiance to either one or the other. Those who know me, know that I am able to make up my mind when a subject is clearly defined. Consequently, until it moro definitely appears what the party managers stand for, I must exercise a prerogative oi American citizenship and decline to pledge my vote blindfold, . "I am not unappreciative of the many kind th'ngs that my friends have advanced on my behalf. Yet I hope they will realize my sincerity, in not tying, myself to andefined partisanship. -I?US- iiifneit, j,j, -ww jufc&ty&