Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1900-01-25
Pertinent POINTS
From Mr.. Bryan's Speech to the
Kentucky Legislature.
More Virtue in the People than Finds
Expression Through representatives

remember that he does not speak tor
himself as an individual, but for those
who have trusted him; that he does
not act for himself, but for those who
elected him; in other words, that
every public officer is a public servant
and the man who forgets for one mo-
ment that he is a public servant does
not deserve to be a public servant for
one moment longer, There are two
IDEAS that prevail among the people.
One Is that the people slect man to
think for them, and the other TINT the
people elect a man to act for them
| believe in the latter doctrine, that
the people are to think for themselves,
and elect men to carry out their thou-
ghts, and put into law their interests
That that is the Democratic doctrine
is perfectly evident from the fact that
we have platforms, and that when
men are elected upon platforms they
are expected 60 conform to the doc
triues Land down in those platforms.
If m'n are simply elected as superior
being, to think for the people, they
would not he hampered by platforms.
| believe in platforms. l believe in
instructions. | believe that there 10
more virtue in the people than ever
fnd- expression through its represen-
tatIves. applause
But, my friends, / believe that the
mistakes that are made are made lar
gely because we neglect to apply some
fixed, well.defined. fundamental prin
cipIe to a new question. There is
principal which l want to submit to
your consideration, and that is the
principle taken from the Declaration
of Independence, if you will pardon
me for taking anything from that
Declaration which, until recently, was
so highly honored in this county, and
which, | trust, will be more popular
in a year than it is now. (Applause)
"That all men are created equal"
If there is one foundation principle
which lies deeper down than any
other in this country, it is tina doc
trine, and Jefferson condensed that
doctrine into a maxim equal
rights to ALL and special privileges to
none" and if the members IF legis-
lative bodies would take that maxim
of Jefferson and apply it to every pro-
poaed act of legislation, do not be-
lieve that the Legislature which does
it could make a mistake.
LOBBYISTS DENOUNCED.
One ofthe great influences that we
have to contend with is the lobbyist
II has become R part Of every legisla
tive sessiou-the lobby has. | do not
mean to say one word against the
man who comes to explain bill that
he favors, or explain HIS objection to
one which he opposes. | do not mean
TO say word against the man who by
open and fair argument, presents
either the reason3 Tor measure or
the objections to it. The lobbyist
against whom | aim my objection is
the man who comes. and instead of
openly presenting his reasons takes
The legislator of in a dark corner and
Ines to cOnvic0 him that will he to
his personal advantage to violate-hS
oath which he took when he entered
upon the duties of the Office Zap !
pause Itis the LOBBYIST VIII, in
'resd of directing bis argument to the
brain and to the heart, addresses it to
The pockeubook, or to the selfish IN
crest of the Representative (spplause)
This argument is not always in the
orm of cash in hand. 1t is often in
he form of inAueuce. And one of
he great difficulties that We have had
n these recent years is that great cor
,orations are able to @ tn men and
hreaten that If they do not do so ard {
o, the influence of the corporation
will be thrown against them when
hey come up for reelection.
TINE TO CALI. A HALT.
/ believe the time has come when
We need legislation to protect the leg
slator against the unfair influence of
aggregated wealth. (Applause
Im not going to suggest many laws,
nut | am going to suggest one law.
M. .....z..oAs..x = l.. r. I