Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-08-16
All for BRYAN.

All for Bryan.
The significance of the Endorsement
given By the anti-imperialistic con-
vention ct Indianapolis for Bryan
cannot be overestimated. Every time
mis- name has been mentioned since
the great convention assembled the
delegates have stamped and cheered
and sometimes stood upon chairs and
yelled. Edwin Burritt Smith, of
Chicago, who was temporary chair
man of the congress, started a lovely
BRYAN demonstration when he spoke
of the possibility of the congress in
dorsing the Nebraskan, but the anti
imperialistic enthusiasm reached high
water mark when ex-Gov. Boutwell,,
Of Massachusetts, exclaimed: Il am
for Bryan" 1t was some time before
the man who had grown gray in the
service of the republican party could
proceed with his speech.
In his letter to the congress W.
Bourke Cochran came out boldly for
the man he fought four years ago.
Gen. John Beattie, of Colum bus,
one of the most prominent repu Bill
cans of Ohio, stood up before the
cheering delegates and told them he
would vote for Bryan.
Judge HalIett. of the United States
district court of Colorado, came out
for Bryan in his speech.
Edgar II. Bancroft, of Chicago, well
known in that city as a repu blican,
did not say he would vote for Bryan,
but he made a speech in which he de-
clared tie repub lican party had abaL-
doned the fundamental principles of
rePublicanism.
Gamelial Bradford. of Boston, n
gold-standard repu blican, who worked
and voted for Mckinley in 1896, de-
clared that if the anti-imperialists
wanted to defeat Mckinley that they
should vote for Bryan.
a telegram from the republican
Senator Wellington, of Maryland, was
read, in which he offered his services
to the anti-imFerialists to help defeat
Mckinley.
Gen. William Birney. of Washing
ton. lifelong republican. sent word
he would do everything possible Ito
overthrow the man in the White
House"
Capt. Patrick O'Farrel, of Washing
ton, VINO did much campaign work
for Mckinley in 1896, is here advis-
ing the anti-imperialists to put
plank in their platform declaring for
Bryan.
j. j. Valentine, of San Francisco,
president of the Wells Fargo Express
company, sent a telegram in which
he urges the congress TO declare for
Bryan and Stevenson. Mr.. Valentine
is strong gold man, and has written
several pamphlets in support of the
gold standard.
The position of the republican and
gold democrat antrim perialists is
that taken by w. Bourke Cochran as
indicated by his letter. which was
read. This letter is 20 be sent all
over the country by the American
Anti-Imperialist league, for it is re-
garded As one of the strongest liter
ary contributions made 70 the anti
i'm perialist cause. MIR. Cockran's let
ter in part was as follows:
The issue of imperialism having
been squarely rails co between the two
great parties, it must be plain that
the only way in which q citizen can
exercise any direct influence upon the
result is by voting for the repI blican
candidate who supports it or the
democratic candidate who opposes il.
Nothing can be accomplished by the
nomination of third candidate that
cannot be accomplished equally by
abstention from the polls.
1T cannot be denied that while
anti-imperialistS unanimously APP
prove Mr.. Bryan's position on i'm
perialism, many of them hesitate to
vote for his election to the presidency
because they regard his views upon
other questions with distrust and ap-
prehension.
Whatever may be the result of
this election, the senate will remain
repu blican for two years certainly
and probably for four. Even if the
people raised Mr.. Bryan to the presi-
dency in November the democratic
party cannot possibly achieve any
power of legislation during the eX-
istence OF the next congress, aud with
ont legislative sanction no change in
the standard of value, no reorganiza-
ton OF the supreme court, no moiiii-
cation whatever of our financial. in
dustrial or political systems could be
Since the election Of Mr.. Bryan is
certain to deliver the country from
imminent peril Of Imperialism. can
the liberty convention hesitate to sup
port him because of lmpalpsble dan
ger arising from his opinion on sub
lects with which as president he can |
not possibly deal? The democratic |
party declares that imperialism is the
paramount issue of the campaign, and