VOL. 21, NO. 6
10
The Commoner
Democracy's Oppor
tunity IFrma Tfce Ofefo State Jowrai May .)
A ptea for dfaff&aM& by acnw f P
aifetev fcy oxumplcv IjT iry, ctared a
s91b to wfckfc WBJfene Jato Bry, thrice
caiadMaftr Sr pmWnl ok tfcft democratic
t'cflie, auME for J jwr? a foadtar in the Deno
cratic &rfy. brroogjitt a nMNwags of hope and
chrr to S naabx3 of the Je-tferwwK club
sU tbtffr ptcafc lit Olentcagy Prt yrdy
afternoon.
"H ttajroM am preach the 0pI of hope it
if the una who ha been renrrctd so BMtay
time that dmtUi mb comnoDplatt," Bryan
said In reference to hhr appearance.
Leading dfreetJy to hit vnbject. "Democ
racy: Opportnnity" Bryan menttoucd ffre
mediants, now oceapyfag the public mind,
through wh.eb the Democratic party might line
to ffncceaiv la point of order named they are a
national balleihc Sor the diava-miaation ot an
haised political information, reduction of taxet
a proper aligning; of monopolies and disarmament
a a feature of fvtnre worn peace.
"The moat crying need o.r the country Lx&T
Ut the maintenance of impcllatad channel of
Information, so that the public maj know what
Is going on at Washington," he said.
Bryan suggested a tentatire plan for his pro
posed national bulletin.
NOT PLEASED WITH OHIO
Turning to the issue of prohibition Mr. Bryan
said:
"The Democratic party cannot avoid the part
it has had fa bringing prohibition to this country.
I am proud of its part. But I ant not proud of
the pert ft has played in Ohio."
With shaking voice Mr. Bryan shouted:
"I hope you people here will cut loose from
the brewers and distillers and represent the
homes of the state."
NO EXCUSE FOR MONOPOLIES
Discussing monopolies, Mr. Bryan said that
where there was an excuse for the existence
of one it should be taken over by the govern
ment. Plutocracy, he said, was the breeding
place ot revolution.
Mr. Bryan's chief hopes for the future of the
Democratic party lies in the matter of taxation,
he said yesterday. And it is there, he said, that
he expected to see a new leader of the party
arise.
He weni as close as possible to prophesying
the downfall of the Republican party, for a time
at least. In the matter of taxation.
FARMER DEFLATED
"You don't have to talk to the farmer about
deflation," he said. "The farmer is deflated
already. He is getting leas or no more for his
products today than he got 10 years ago. And
yet I paid 20 ecnts for an egg this morning
on a dining car. I know where I could buy
any number for 20 cents a dozen. And don't
forget that the farmer is one-third of the vote
of the country. How fs he going to feel to
ward the Republican party in a year or so?"
"Already the Democratic party is making
itself fk. although controling less than one
third of congress," he said.
"If the Democrats take a firm stand for the
rights of the common man, the man who pays
for wars and fights them, too, then they cannot
help but go back into power with a bigger land
slide than they went out with," he said.
PEOPLE AGAINST ARMAMENTS
Turning at last to the subject of peace
Bryan said that he felt the problem would not
be as troublesome as taxation, stating that the
people of the country were solid against heavy
armaments.
"We have just come out of one war 'pre
pared' and we don't want to be 'prepared for
another one," he said.
It was at this point that Mr. Brvan unfolded
his idea of the stand the United States should
take on disarmament.
BRYAN'S BELIEF
"I believe, and there are a few others who
believe with me, that we should stand for dis
armament by agreement if possible and by ex
ample if necessary.
'By this I do not mean that we should scuttle
every ship we have right now. What I mean is
that we should start with a 10 per cent reduc
tion and call attention of the world to the fact
that we are doing so in the interest of society
Then if the governments of the Trorld will not
follow our lad, the peoples of the world will
overthrow their governments and follow us in
disarmament." Mfr,
Bryan was the gueet while here of Dr. Henry
Miller and H. L. Boyd. He was late in arriving
at the Nell House, where Jefferson club mem
bers met, and late in leaving for Zanesville,
where he spoke last night. Mr. Bryan stopped
in at the Statehouse to pay his respects to Gov
ernor Davis. .
Those who had not seen the Democratic lead
er in some time remarked on his youthful ap
pearance. He seemed to have lost considerable
weight and to have achieved it very becomingly.
His voice was as clear in tone as it ever h&3
neea.
MP. BRYAN AT COLUMBUS
(Columbus, Ohio, Citixen, May 24.)
William Jennings Bryan's heart is no longer
la the grave," to which place he, himself, con
signed it following disappointments at the Demo
cratic national convention in San Francisco last
year.
At least, if his heart is still there, he doesn't
show it.
The' commoner "came to town" Monday with
his old time campaign smile, same old campaign
bat and an old-fashioned political speech, with
19 J I "trimmings," to attend the rally and out
ing of the Jefferson club in Olentangy Park
Monday afternoon at which he is the headliner.
Bryan displayed plainly that he is still full
of political enthusiasm and launched into a com
prehensive djscuseion of modern issues as he
addressed the outing crowd on "Democracy's Op
portunity." Discuss.'ng the question of leadership in his
party. Bryan in an interview said:
"When bosses ruled, the definition of leader
ship was quite different from the Democratic
idea of leadership. The Democratic idea is that
the leader thinks WITH the people but a little
bit ahead. But the bosses' ideas of leadership
is that the leader thinks FOR the people and
does not care how far the people are behind
or where they are.
ISSUES IMPORTANT
"Issues make campaigns and raise up leaders.
You never can tell very far ahead what the
paramount issue will be or who will be the
leader. If you will pardon reference to myself,
my experience shows how difficult it is to look
very far ahead in politics. The Chicago conven
tion made me the leader of the party and I held
that position for many years, not because of
any personal reasons, but because I took the
people's side and, because they knew me and
regarded me as an exponent of their rights and
interests, my influence continued.
"Anyone can secure influence in this way if
he has two things: First, the people must know
hrm; second, they must trust him.
"The fight in Washington mav make some is
sue paramount and during the discussion of
that issue some man may become known and
win the confidence of the people. There is a
very important fact that is not fullv under
stoodthat is. that leaders deriv'e more
strength from a great cause than they give to
WHERE STRENGTH LIES
One man can do but little compared to the
multitudes that act with him. but the fact that
the multitudes know him gives him credit be-
?h?t JV mtnand' therefore, strength beyond
that which he has actually earned."
MR. BRYAN IN OHIO
niJLT? quarter f a century since William Jen
nings Bryan contracted the habit of coming to
Ohio to make speeches. He has been coming at
frequent intervals through the years. Hewll be
here again today and will speak at a political
XLV? thiS City Probab no he? man has
spoken to so many people in the nation He has
llTtroreTsy TJ ". y subjeof
tirfn SI i he has aroused intense opposi
tion he has also won the love of millions of
Americans. He has an enormous follow a
great army proud to follow the banner he car
nes. to espouse the cause he advocates ml
somewhat erratic political career h?s many ?e!
feats, have not disrupted his army of followers
fK as ,hefn active in other fields, many of
them. He had won more than local tkmell an
attorney when he took up politics DpniJJi
great ambition, he has been a forcefu? advo
and exerted a powerful influence on 2
thought. Advocating reforms tw P !S
made the law of the land. He has been a gTi
leader for social reforms that contemplate bet
terment for mankind. He has been a t ea
speaker for the churches, could have been I
leading minister, has been a great lay evangelisL
Not from politics alone has his strength cone
It has come from the uprightness of the man
his clean life, his moral integrity, his high snsa
of right that he has never failed to declare
and make plain. Columbus, Ohio, State Journal,
A COUPLE OP COJDEENTS
William Jennings Bryan, the Great Commoner
was in our esteemed midst, Monday. The pa.-s.ng
years are writing their lines upon him. he has
become softer and more genial of carriac. but
is still the matchless orator. And what a won.
derful man he is. He hasn't had any c r in
stances of great fortune, or high political rct.
tion to give him circumstance, but he i- "-, L
nutably the most conspicuous, the most inf.io
tial private citizen the country has ever kmwn.
And of him let this be said in ail candor and
truth, he has always stood out bodily for tliat
which he honestly esteemed would mak3 the
world better, and he has never compromise! h:s
principles for political advancement. Ports
mouth Times.
Now that's fine and it's the truth. And with
the statement made, we are in accord with our
esteemed contemporary. But now listen to thi3
from the same paper:
"Everybody is till talking about what a fina
man and wonderful speaker Bryan is. Yp. it
was always his fortune to get much praise and
few votes."
Mow that's what we call a bonehead statement
and in variance with the facts. In every cam
paign, something like 6 millions of citizens have
voted for Mr. Bryan. Do you call' 6 millions a
few votes? And mark you this had it not
been for the preying, predatory, profiteering in
terests of the country who used their ill-gotten
gains to purchase thousands and thousands ot
votes against him, he would easily have been
elected President more than once. Yes. Mr.
Bryan has had much praise to which he was
justly entitled and at the same time, with a un
polluted election, has commanded more votes
and sincere supporters than any other man in
the history of parties or politics. And here's an
other pointer. These same millions are still hi3
friends and loyal followers. And finally, we just
want to add, that these same friends of Mr.
Bryan have no sort of use for the so-called Dpmo
crat who sneeringly refers to the Great Com
moner as a "has-been." Circleville, Ohio, Demo
crat and Watchman.
BRYAX
. (Columbus, Ohio, Citizen, May 23.)
On a sultry July day 25 years ago there
flashed over the wires the story of a wonderful
speech. The Democratic national convention at
Chicago was in a deadlock. Then arose a young
man from Nebraska, an ex-congressraan he was,
but little known, and thrilled the delegates with
the now famous '.'crown of thorns, cross ot
gold," defense of the free coinage of silver and
the double standard of monetary value. Quickly
followed the nomination of the orator for the
presidency.
He was defeated by McKinlev at the November
election. Pour years later, in 1900, the Nebras
kan was again chosen, unanimously, by his party
convention as its national standard bearer. Again
followed defeat, as before, by McKinley.
In 1904 the Democrats put Alton B. Parker,
champion of the single or gold standard, at the
head of their ticket, with the result that they
suffered, at the hands of Roosevelt, the worst
defeat in history up to that time.
Four years later the "Great Commoner" was
again drafted to lead his party against Taft.
Again defeat for the "Orator of the Platte."
Another four years elapse and we find the Xe
oraskan, still great in the councils of his party,
aominatmg the national convention of the Demo
crats and forcing the nomination of Woodrovv
v uson who, after his election, made his cham
pion secretary of state.
nflnu-years have fled since that famous fight
at Baltimore and
Rrl!,dayMClurabU3 entertains William Jennings
2ce a form'dable candidate for the
greatest office within the gift of a free people,
Sini r ?!!-emier "teaman of his land, still the
.m D8 of Amercans, one of the world's
f n.f xt oratora' chsen by his local admirers
ht mSH8e8 t0 leaa them out ot tb w"dernesa
iy pointing out "Democracy's Opportunity."
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