The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-05-24
BRYAN IN MISSOURI.

Bryan Is lldUlo W pO Guy WHERE anu
at any time. The fact that he has
turned editor does not seem to interfere
with his devotion to politics on the
rostrum. Last week he was in Missouri
in. Vernon county. and it is said
that, while he had a great audience,
the leaders Of the Democratic hosts
were conspicuous BY their absence: !
But as is the custom with Mr.. Bryan
when he goes cunning he had his war
paint on and talked straight from the
shoulder to that branch Of the party
trying to get away from the Kansas
City platform. On this point he said
"Beiug unable to win in an open
fight, the reorganizers resort to deceit
and fraud. :. Were they to prepare a
platform and submit it 70 a primary
vote of /: the : Democracy !. they would
scarcely :. carry "a precinct s1l in :. the
United States, but they work in the
dark, and are backed by the great
Democratic daily newspapers and all
the corporate interests of the country. 3"
As Mr.. Bryan puts the...cas if the
Democratic reorganizers are given
control sit will be notice served
that the Democratic party is moving
toward the, Republican .. q position. .
He denounces this change of front as a
retreat. that "would discourage. and
disgust the real Democrats who.gvote
the ticket, not because they want Office
or expect pecuniary profit, :. but. be-
cause they honestly believe. in Demo
cratic principles, . e .-.-l.r "a. .s
Commenting upon Mr.. BIyan's posi-
ton, the ST.. Louis .Globe-Democrat
says that a year ago the Democratic
dailies Of Missouri would have given a
prominent place to a. speech by Mr..
Bryan anywhere in the state, but his
movements now are chronicled in OBJ
scure corners s.and his Two hours
speech summarized in forty lines of
the smallest type. They are afraid of
his outspoken ways and anxious to find
a way to get rid Of him. Yet when
they see that the Democratic masses of
Missouri are still interested in him,
and give him immensely larger audi
ences than any other Democrat can at
tract, these trimming newspapers pro
coed with caution. < Not so with Mr..
Bryan. He strikes from the shoulder.
He says the reorganization attempted
sis not So much a change in the per
sonnet of the organization as a change
in the principles Of the party. lie
declares :, that the reorganizers 49,. are
working for the trusts, and...that.. the
trusts have more power in the Demo.
cratic party today than they have had
at any time since 1896. = =, : = =
But it is not on the platform that
the.l%.zDemocraticss opponents of Mr.:
Bryan and the Kansas Citya@platform
are willing to--try Conclusions .at""pre-
sent. He is still, by. long odds, the
most popular speaker in the party:
No reorganizer would venture to stand
up against him-aain joint debate. in
Missouri. This strategy decided on
is to. weaken. him by secret :. means,
trusting that time will relax his hold
upon the Democratic crowds. 80. ... Mr..
Bryan will not be quiet. under this
diplomatic :. operation: By tempera..
mentas he. is. aggressive. He makes
speeches with exceptional facility, and
has physiqaessto undergo unlimited
mixing: zsHes.ha the ear Of the
Democratic. multitude. What he.will
doswith. his power over the party, and
what the party Twill do in disregard of
his views and personality, remainssto
be seen. His speeches in Missouri in
dictate that he intends to assert him
self boldly along his accustomed lines.