Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-10-01
NOTHING TO TAKE BACK.
usw viii Bryan Explain His Hoe
Siiifr TO Rarkcrg

Uew viii Hryan Explain His Hos-
siiity TO Parker!
william Jennings Bryan has been on
ciaIly engaged by the Democratic Ma
uonal Committee TO make speeches IN
New YORK. Indiana and other places.
The former candidate for the presidency
has something Of a reputation as an
agile political confortioaist. but he will
have the time of his hfe explaining bis
record during the present campaign. Mr.
Bryan has been on q good many sides OF
a good many different questions. and yet
he lives 10 tell the tale But just bow
he proposes 10 advocate the election Of
Parker Is mystery.
Bryan Was opposed TO Parker before
the convention met at St Louis He was
opposed to Parker every day during tie
sessions Of that inhsrmonious gathering.
When Parker sent his telegram supple
nlenting the Democratic platform Mr..
Bryan rose from bed Of sickness to de-
nounce che nominee as a traitor and 4
dictator. and his dramatic appearance on
that Saturday night was one of the most
extraordinary episodes OF an ertrsordi-
nary convention. Bryan lashed Parker
and he dared the convention to send
telegram to the nominee demanding bis
honest opinion on other well-known Dem
ocratie principles.
Later on Mr.. Bryan. In his own paper,
the Commoner. while the events IN the
convention were fresh before him, openly
charged that Judge Parker was a party
10 a corrupt attempt 10 deceive the con
yention and that his nomination had been
secured by improper means. II was then
that the former candidate for the presi-
dency put himself on record By saying in
the Commouer Of July 13, less than
week after the nomin nstion: Il have moth
ing to take back"
IL seems 9 curious thing TO fnd man
who has nothing TO take back" appear
ing on the stump fayorins the election OF
Alton y. Parker for the presidency. II
Mr.. Bryan has nothing TO take back,
be should In common honesty when he
appears on the stump In Indiana and
elsewhere, repeat TO his audiences exactly
what he said In the Commoner OF July
i3. which was printed exactly one week
after the Democratic convention was
called to order and only four days after
Judge Parker was nominated for the
presidency and had sent hi, telegram
Fepud!aung the Democratic platform
In this issue OF the Commoner Mr..
Bryan said;
70 deceive the party. The New York
platform was vague and purposely SO.
because the advocates OF Judge Parker
were trying 20 secure votes from among
the people who would have opposed his
views had they known them. The nom
instion was secured. therefore, By crook
81 and indefensible methods"
As an exhibition of political gymnas
tics Bryan's campaign speech for Par
ker ought TO be worth going miles to
hear. IL. as be says. he has nothing
70 take back" how will be explain mat
tiers 10 the peoplef What did be mean
when be said in the Commoner: "Tse
nomination Of Judge Parker virtually
nullifes the antitrust plankf" Was il
true on July Is that Parker's nomination
had been secured by crooked means"7
IL IL was true then Is II not true now7
Mr.. Bryan in the Commoner said; II
shall not appeal for votes for the ticket
on false grounds" How can he appear
on the stump. therefore. and seriously
ask the workingmen of the country 10
vote for the Democratic nominee after
the COumoner had declared that THE
labor plank as prepared by Judge Par
ker's friends on the subcommittee was
a stradiling. meaningless plankT'
W Nas MT bf@AH istug Nnen ne ta1a IN
his paper. "A Democratic victory will
mean very little. IL any. progress SO long
as the party is under control Of the Wall
street elementY'
IL the party was under the control OF
the Wall street element when Mr.. Bryan
wrote that editorial. is il not just as
much uRder the same control while he is
on the stumpy
Perhaps Mr.. Bryan can explain away
these things. Perhaps lie can answer
these questions.
Perhaps not