The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-09-18
Bryan and the Capitol Steps.
(Naw York Tribune

That was very well conooeted little
scheme that was put up BY the Deep
down cunning statesmen who are en-
gagged in running the Bryan show, and
exhibiting him throughout the country
as the Boy Orator of the Patte and the
Wonder of the World, when they requested
Vice President Stevenson and Speaker
Reed-who have the authority to grant
or refuse such requests the privilege
OF using the Capitol steps and the Capt.
tai grou Dds for the purpose of mass
meeting to be addressed by the Boy Ora
tor himself Cunning it was and subtle
and lots OF possibilities of making CAPT.
tai out of it. OF Vice President Steven.
sons consent they were reasonably well
assured at the outset. What they had
hopes ofswas that Speaker Reed, who to
their minds is the embodilnent of des-
potism and tyranny, would rise up and
say, mo, not by any manner of means.
Ihe Capitol grounds shall not be used for
partisan political purposes. They knew
ne might we'll make this answer. and in
making 1t simply assert a truth and a
principle that could not be gains aid.
But they hoped to be able to make capt.
tai out of the refusal by setting it up as
another indication of the disposition of
Republicans to restrict the privileges of
the masses and bar them out from the
use OF the government grounds, which
are the common property of all the
people. 1t wai hot a new trick, by any
means, for Coxey and his gang had al
ready tried it once and come to grief
But 1T was thought that it would serve.
Unfortunatly for the project, the
Hon. Thomas B. Reed, not having been
born yesterday. and having had some
rather useful experience in meeting and
cireumventing just such tricks, did not
fail In with the plan. He evidently saw
through it. Without any hesitation he
added his consent to that of Vice presi-
Gent Stevenson, leaving the cunning
Bryan conspirators without any pretext
iof complaining ut being debarred from
the Tree use of the Capitol grounds, and
WITH entire freedom to hold mass meet
1ngs and listen to the eloquence of the
Boy Orator from the Capitol steps. Ii
"as 4uApo oFiueHb Gnab the readiness of
this concession did not doveuail with
their plans. For SO soon as it became
known that their request was readily
granted, they held consultation abont
1t at ST. Louis, where the Boy Orator
happened to be in the course Of his Sec
ond speechmaking tour. The result of
the council was announced in the BRYAN
organ in this city Monday morning. in
these words: 'Mr. Bryan tonight eSun-
day night decided, after mature deliber-
alton, that he would not make sneech
from the steps Of the National Cant
toll. He is of the opinion that both good
taste and wisdom forbid any such an.
tion' also that ne thinks that a we'll
established law should not be broken IN
his favor even by consent of the Vice
President of the United States and the
Speaker of the House of Representative. -
What a gauzy trick this is so be sure
The Vice President of the United
States and the Speaker of the House had
not consented to the violation of we'll
established law" They had simply, in
the exercise of the authority vested in
them as custodians of the Capitol and
grounds, complied with the request of