Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1900-09-22
W.J.BRYAN'SLETTER
Formally Accepts Democratic Nom
ination for President.
APPROVES KANSAS CITY PLATFORM.
Candidate Pledges Himself Not 90
Stand for Second Term II Elect-
ed-yiews ON Finnncc-Oth-
er Issues Diseased.

er Issues Diseased.
Hon. James d. Richardson. Chairman.
aud Others o. the Notification COM
mittee OF the Democratic National
Convention:
Gentlcmen:-ln ACCEPTING the nominal
tion rendered ~ you on behalf OF the
democratic party. beg ~ assure you OF
my appreciation OF the great honor con-
venttcn assembled. and by the voters who
save instruction TO the delegates.
em sensible Of the responsibilities
which rest upon the chief magistrate OF
80 great u nation, and realize the far
reaching effect Of the questions involved
In the present contest.
In my letter OF acceptance OF 1876. i
made the following pledge:
80 deeply am i impressed with the
magnitude OF the power vested by the
constitution in the chief executive OF the
nation and with the enormous influence
which he can WELD for the benefit or in
the office, II elected, free from any per-
sonal desire. except the desire to prove
worthy OF the confidence OF my country
men. Human judgment Is fallible enough
when unbiased BY selfish considerations.
and. In order that may not be tempted
TO use the patronage of the office TO ad-
vance any personal ambition. l hereby
announce. with all the emphasis which
WotuS NApTcSS, lily
tion not. under any circumstances. to be
candidate for reelection. In case this
campaign results In my election.
Turther reflection and observation con-
Strain me 10 renew this pledge.
The platform adopted ut Kansas City
commands my cordial and unqualified APP
proval II couraceously meets the Issues
now before the country. and states clear
" and without ambiguity the party's poo
siu0n on every question considered:
Adopted by n convention which assembled
on the anniversary Of the signing OF the
declaration OF independence, IL breathes
the spirit OF candor. independence and
patriotism which racterizes those who.
mt Philadelphia In l7,6 promulgated the
creed OF the republic.
Having In my notification speech dis
cussed somewhat ut length the paramount
issue. imperialism. and added some OBJ
servatlons on rilitarisrr and the BOer
war. II is sufficient nj this time TO review
the remaining planks of the platform.
Trusts.
The platform very properly gives prom
inencc TO the trust question. The nppal-
ling growth OF combinations In restraint
OF trade durin. the present administra-
tion proves concluslvely that the repub-
lican party lacks either the desire or the
ability to deal with the question effective
Y. H. rs may be fairly assumed from
the speeches and conduct OF the repub-
lican leaders, that party does not intend
60 take the peoples side against these
organizations. then the weak and quail
fled condemnation OF trusts TO he found
In tho republican platform Is designed TO
distract attention while Industrial des-
potism Is completing Its work A private
monopoly has always been an outlaw.
No defense can be made of an industrial
system In which one, or few men. can
control for their own profit the output
or price Of any article Of merchandise.
Under such system the consumer SUI
fers extortion, the producer Of raw mate.
Ntol hn, t,,,N a pVN1 Qall
at the arbitrary price fixed: the laborer
has but enc employer, and is powerless
TO protest against injustice. either In
wages or In conditions OF labor; the small
stakeholder Is ut the mercy OF the spec
ulator, while the travelling salesman con-
tributes his salary to the overgrown
profits OF the trust. Since but small
proportion of the people can share In the
Il follows that the remainder OF the peb-
pie are not only excluded from the benc-
fits, but are the helpless victims OF every
monopoly organized. II Is difficult TO
overestimatc the immediate Injustice that
may be done. or to calculate the ultimate
effect OF this injustice upon the social
and political welfare OF the people. Our
platform, after suggesting certain spe-
ciic remedies. pledges the party TO an I'M
ceaslng warfare against private monop-
oily In nation, state and city. | hartily
approve OF this PROMISE: II elected, II
shall be my earnest and constant en-.
10 1uIIlll the PROMISE III lcIlcT anu
spirit. ! shall select an attorney general
who will. without fear or favor, enforce
existing laws: | shall recommend such
additional legislation rs may be neces-
eary &c dissolve every private monopoly
which does business outside OF the state
OF Its origin: and II. contrary to my be-
lief and hope, constitutional amendment
ts found 10 be necessary ] shall recon- |
mend such an amendment rs will. without
impairins any OF the existing rights of
the states. empower congress TO protect
the people OF all the states from injury
at the hands OF individuals or corpora
lions engaged in interstate commerce.
The platform accurately describes the |
Dinglcy tariff law, when II condemns u
rs u trust breeding measure. skillfully
devised TO give to the few favors which |
the many burdens which they should not |
bear" Under its operation trusts can
plumber Tire people OF the United States, |
while they successfully compete In for |
other countries. Even those who justify |
the general policy OF protection viii find |
Il difficult to defend a tarif which en- |
ebles q trust to exact an exorbitant toll |
from the citizen.
Corporations in Politics.
The democratic party makes no war |
upon honestly acquired wealth: neither |
engaged In legitimate business. but II /
does protest against corporations enter
Ing politics, and attempting 10 assume /
control OF the instrumcntalities OF gov /
eminent. A corporation Is not organized /
Tor political purposes. and should be com L
PEELED TO confine itself to the business de- /
scribcd In Its charter. Honest corpora |
tons, engaged In an honest business. will /
ind IL to their advantage to aid in the /
enactment OF such legislation as will pro- /
tect them from the undeserved odium Il
which Will be brought upon them by those /
corporations which enter the political
arena.
Interstate Commerce.
The republican party has persistently /
refused TO comply with the urgent request /
of the Interstate commerce commission
for such an enlargement OF the scope OF
the interstate commerce law as Will en-
able the commission TO realize the hopes
aroused by its creation. The democratic |
party Is pledged TO legislation which will
vlduals and communities from dlscrimina-
tion. and the public at large from unjust
and unfair transportation rates.
The Financial Plank.
The platform reiterates the demand
In the Chicago platform for an
American financial system made by the
purpose OF such a system Is TO restore
and maintain a bimetallic level OF prices,
and In order that there may be no un-
certainty rs 70 the method Of restoring
bimetallirm. the specific declaration in
favor OF free and unlimited coinage at
the existing ratio OF l6 to /. independent
OF the action of other nations, Is repeat
ed. In 1895 the republican party recog-
mixed the necessity for bimetallism by
plejging the party to an earnest effort
to secure an international agreement for
the free coinage OF silver, and the pres |
ident, Immediately after his Inauguration,
by authority Of congress, appointed
commission composed Of distinguished
cltizens to visit Europe and solicit for
oign aid. Secretary Hay, In q letter writ
ten TO Lord Alderman In November, 1885 |
and afterwards published In England, de-
clared that at that time the president and
4 majority Of his cabinet still believed
In the great desirability OF an interna-
tional agreement for the restoration OF
the double standard. but that Il did not
iust then The financial law enacted
Jess than q year ago contains q conclud-
Ing section declaring that the measure
was not intended TO stand IN the way