The Van Buren press., 1901-07-20
Mr.. Bryan Comments ON ONO
Platform.

LINCOLN, NEB. July l8.-W. ]. Bryan
will devote all of the first page Of mex,
Fridays ''CommOner to. an editorial
on the Ohio Democratic convention.
His comment Is mild for Mr.. Bryan.
and his criticism Of the convention less
harsh than was the convention of him
self
Mr.. Bryan begins by declaring the
convention the political event OF last
week and comments On part OF the
platform, especially the handiwork o.
Mayor Tom l.. johnson on municipal
issues. The labor plank and that
referring to railroads he declares excel
lent, but the plank condemning inper-
islism, he says. criticises Republican
policies without pointing out remedy.
Mr.. Bryan says:
1.-THE convention not only failed but
refused to indorse or resffirm the Kan
sas City platform. and from the manner
in which the gold element has rejoiced
over this feature of the convention
one would suppose that the
main object Of the convention was
not to write new platform but to
repudiate the one upon which the last
national campaign was fought. Gen.
Finley was right in insisting upon a
vote on his resolution indorsinR the
Kansas City platform, but he made a
mistake In including In his resolution
complimentary reference to Mr.. Bryan.
Mr.. BRYAN is not y candidate for any
Office and mention Of him might have
been construed by some as an endorse
ment of him for Office. The vote should
have been upon the naked proposition
10 indorse the platform of last year, and
then no one could have excused his
abandonment of Democratic principles
by pleading his dislike for Mr.. Bryan.
The cause ought not to be made to bear
khe sins OF an individual. Mr.. Bryan
will endure without complaint punish
ment which the Democracy of Ohio
may see fit to administer to him, but he
does not want his name used to the
injury Of a good platform.
1.-The gold papers assume that the
convention refused to adopt the Kansas
City platform because 1t cantained
silver platform. II so, 1t would have
been more courageous to have declared
openly for the gold standard. II the
gold standard ia good it ought to have
been indorsed, II bad 1t ought to have
been denounced. To ignore the subject
entirely WAS inexcusable. The money
question Is not yet out OF politics.
Every session Of congress will have tt
deal with It.. Republicans declare thai
II is dead, but they keep working at It.
At the last session Of congress they
tried to make the silver dollar redeem
able In gold and when that Is accom-
plished they will try to limit the legal
lender qualities Of the dollar. The gold
standard will not he complete until gold
Is the only legal tender money and bank
notes the only paper money. Then our
supply Of primary money will be con
trolled by foreign Ananciers and our
supply Of credit money by domestic
6nanciers.
nThis plan has been developed grad
nslly and every step has been taken
secretly and stealthily. The republican
leaders have been In this movement for
years; Ss soon as the Democratic party
found that some OF Its leaders had Joined
che conspiracy the leaders were de-
posed. II looks now as II the reaction
AIRY influences were once more trying to
secure control. II they succeed In Ohio
or elsewhere II simply means another
gigantic struggle, such rs was witnessed
in 1895.
"The Democratic party cannot be
made q plutocratic party, even II there
was rOom In this country for two such
parties. There was u time under the
Cleveland regime when party leaders
used ambiguous phrases to deceive the
voters, but that scheme cannot be
worked again. We cannot expect the
voters To have confidence In the party
pnless the party has confidence IN the
voters, and II the party has confidence
IN the voters II will state Its position
on VII the important questions before
the country and invite judgement.
Mr.. Bryan calls attention TO the fact
chat the present campaign In Ohio In.
wolves q United States senator, and
wonders why John r. Mclean, whom
he regards Nc a candidate, did not de-.
tnand candid and honest dealing with
khe money question. On this point he
says; ibid the leaders ignore the
money question In order TO please those
who bolted, or does Mr.. Mclean want
TO be left free to affiliate with the Re
publicsns on financial questions In case
vi his electionf''
he concludes by praising Col. XII
bourne, the gubernatorial nominee and
urging oil Dsmocrsts 10 support the
tictet.