Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-07-13
STATEMENT FROM MR. BRYAN.

lne nOmlntto vi lnO uCnVNi"''S
convention. and shall do 50 for the fol
lowing reasons
"First-Because the democratic ticket
stands for opposition to imperialism,
while the republican ticket stands foi
an imperislistic policy. On this ques-
ton. which was the paramount issue
in 1900, and which must remain an i'm
portant issue so long as an attempt Is
made to hold colonies under the Ameri-
can flag-on this issue the convention
was unanimous, the platform emphatic,
aud ] have no doubt that the candidate
will carry out the platform.
"Second-Mr. Roosevelt is injecting
the race issue into American politics,
and this issue, if it becomes national,
will make it impossible to consider Geo.
nomic questions that demand solution.
The election of tie democratic ticket
will put quietus upon this attempt and
permit the race question to work itseli
out without the bitterness which Mr..
Roosevelts conduct has engenuered.
"Third. Mr.. Roosevelt stands for the
spirit of war. His friends present him
as a man ofbloOd and iron. He believes
in strenousness and inculcates love for
warlike things. The democratic ticket
stands for peace, for reason and for ar
bitration rather than for force, conquest
and buster.
"Fourth. The democratic platform de-
clares in favor of the reduction of the
standing army, and as this plank was
unanimously adopted there is reason to
believe that a democratic success on this
subject would bring some advantage to
the people.
"For these four reasons / feel justified
in supporting the ticket, but | shall not
misrepresent the situation or appeal for
votes for the ticket upon false grounds.
A democratic victory will mean very lit
tie, ifany, progress on economic ques'
tions so long as the party is under the
control of the Wall street element. On
the money question Mr.. Parker is as
thoroughly committed to the side OF the
financiers as Mr.. Roosevelt. If he does
not 90 so far as the republicans would in
retiring silver dollars, in establishing
branch banks, in enlarging the powers
of the national banks, and in the sub
stitution of an asset currency for thu
present currency, it will be because he
| is restrained by the democrats in the
House and Senate. Nothing good cal
be expected of him on the money ques
ton.
"On the trust question the democrati
platform is very much better than to-
republican platform, but the nominatioi
of Judge Parker virtually nullifies tn
antitrust plank. Unless in his letter
acceptance he commits himselfto attemp
antitrust legislation We need not expec
him to puruse different course iron
that pursued by President Roosevelt
$50 far as the labor questions are con
cerned, we must await Judge Parker
letter before we shall know whether tn
laboring man has anything to expec
from his election. The labor plank a
prepared by Judge Parker's friends o
the subcommittee was straddling
meaningless plank. In thefull committe
planks we're adopted in favor of arbitra
ton, the eight-hour day and agains
government by injunction also planl
on the Colorado situation. If Judg
Parker is silent or ambiguous on thes
subjects it will mean that the financia
influence back to him will not permit hin
to take the labor side of these disputed
questions.
'On the tariff, question some little
progress may be hoped for, but tn
Parker men on the committee wer
necessarily in favor of very conserva
tive tariff plank, and it remains to b
seen whether Judge Parker will carr
out the positive and definite plank whic
was submitted by the full committee
This is the situation.
"Judge Parker stands for enoug
things that are good to justify me !
giving him my vote, but, as have trle
to point out for several months, th
triumph of the Wall street element
the party denies to the country any hop
of relief OH economic question. hav
nothing to take back. | have nOthin
to withdraw of the things that hay
said against the methods pursued to ac
vance his candidacy. 1t was a plai
and deliberate attempt to deceive th
party.
'If he had sent to the Albany cor
vention the telegram that he sent to tn
st. Louis convention he would have ha
yerv few instructed delegates from til
South, and no possible chance for th
v nomination. But he and his manager
adroitly and purposely concealed h
\ nosition until the delegates had bee
corraled and the nomination assure'
Then his friends attempted to secure
r cold plank, which was overwhelming
t defeated in the committee.
"After the party had rejoiced over q =
harmony secured by the omission OF q q
question, and after he had securea u
nomination, he injected his views uup'
p the subject at time when he could n
be taken from the ticket without gre
decentralization. The nomination W
= secured, therefore, by crooked and ino
p fenslble methods, but the democrat vi
= loves his country has TO make his decl
ions upon conditions as he finds theI