The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1900-07-12
BRYAN'S MISTAKE.

BRYAN's MISTAKE.
Bryan is charged with being a dicta-
tor and an imperialist Of the most OBJ
jectiOnable sort, because he insisted
that his own views and personality be
respected in the drafting of the Kan
sas City platform
Mr.. Bryan did not demand that the
Kansas City platform should contain a
16.t l plank, or any other specific de-
mand. Such was not his position. Such
demand would have been imperial
istic, autocratic, dictatorial.
Mr.. Bryan merely declared that he
would not run on a plute platform or
one that did not voice in unmistakable
terms the reforms for which he had for
four years publicly battled.
In this position Mr. Bryan was right,
and such action, rightly understood,
will command the respect Of every hon
est and candid man.
Mr.. Bryan in this particular instance
showed honesty, sincerity, manhood and
courage, for which every Populist will
give him credit. :
Mr.. Bryan, stands for liberty, and
when q presidential candidate cannot
decline to run on a platform not in har-
mony with his own views, liberty is
dead.
If the Democratic party was in a po-
cffinn w hod 1oh
date other than Bryan, it was the mis-
fortune of the party rather than one Of
Bryan's sins.
There are numerous instances where
private opinion and the right of choice
Of the individual must be preserved.
The individual must be left free in the
choice of matrimonial partner, part
ner in business or the employing Of
trusted servants. "A president selects
the members of his cabinet and all
these individual selections rest upon the
same or similar flduciary relations and
for such reason cannot be left to public
choice.
The vice-president, even more than a
cabinet officer, occupies a fiduciary re-
lation to the president.
1t is the vice-president who makes
up the senate committees and shapes
the legislation of that house. It is the
vice-president who, in the senate, is the
trusted servant of the administration to
carry through its measures. It is the
vice-president whose relation to the
president is nearest akin to a legal part
nership and for this reason Mr. Bryan
should have voice in his selection.
Here, again, Mr.. Bryan could
have been consistent and escaped the
role of a dictator by simply declining a
partnership distasteful to him, as he
would in the other avenues of life
1t was right here that Mr.. Bryan fail
ed in Judgment in courage or in hon
esty and made his fatal mistake.
I Stevenson was the senate tool of the
Grover Cleveland Democracy Steven
son made up the senate committees,
through which Grover Cleveland
coerced congress in 1893 and forced the
unconditional repeal of the Sherman
purchasing act.
1t is generally understood that the
chairman of an ordinary political con-
vention, the chairman of the house of
representatives and the president of
appointments of committees, are almost
wholly responsible for the acts of such
deliberate bodies.
Stevenson was vice-president and pre-
Grover Cleveland congress, the worst
congress ever in session in this coun-
try.
If Bryan is elected, this man Steven
son will again preside over the senate.
God save the country.
Bryan must, as a public man, be
presumed to know fully Stevenson's
record in the senate during Cleveland's
administration.
Mr.. Bryan knew Stevenson's environ
ments at the corporation and banking
center of Chicago.
He knew that Stevenson was satisfac-
tory to the money power of the East
and the bourbon Democracy of the
South.
He knows that it Is an absolute i'm
possibility for any vice-president as
presiding officer of the senate to serve
the monied interests of Chicago, Ohio
and the Northeastern states and be sat
isfactory to those states and at the same
time serve the reform elements of the
West and honestly stand by Mr.. Bryan
and his platform demands.
What does Mr.. Bryan mean? What
IL any Significance shall we attach to
the closing words Of his telegram Of
congratulation to Mr.. Stevenson on his
nomination? What was in the mind Of
Bryan when he telegraphed Stevenson,
accept congratulations upon your
nomination. It was deserved recogni-
ton Of party service"
Does Bryan have in mind Stevenson's
services in the Cleveland congress in
1893? Does he have in mind his serv-
ices as a member of that junketing COM
mission that Mckinley sent over to