The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-11-12
Says Party Must Be Radical
AS There Is No Chance to
Make Wealthy People It's
Friends-Declares Election
Proves This.
Thinks 1t Should Oppose High
Tariffs, Trusts, and Imper-
lalism, and Let All Who Do
Not Like It's Course Go to
the Republicans.

AAA<NCLlN, NeD. NOV 9.-W. J.
Bryan tonight gave out an extensive
statement concerning yesterdays elec-
1iOn.
Mr.. Bryan said ne would not at
tempt to deny all the reports circulated
as to his future political action, but
would let his statement serve to ex-
plain his position
He says: The Democratic party has
met with an overwhelming defeat in
the national election. AS yet the re-
turns are not sufficiently complete to
permit analysis. The questions for
= consideration at this time are what les
son does the election teach. and what
0f the future? The defeat Of Judge
Parker should not be considered a per-
sonal one. He did as we'll as he could
under the circumstances; he was the
victim of unfavorable conditions and
OF mistaken party policy.
Could Not Overcome Odds
He grew in popularity as the cam
pa1gn progressed and expressed him.
self more and more strongly upon the
trust question, but he could not over
come the heavy odds against him. The
so-called tariff Democrats charged the
defeat Of 1896 and 1900 to the party's
position on the money question and
insisted that a victory could be won
by dropping the coinage question en-
tlrely. The convention accepted this
theory and the platform made no ref
ererce to the money question, but
Judge Parker felt that it was his duty
to announce his personal adherence to
the gold standard. His gold telegram,
AS It was called, while embarrassing to
the Democrats Of the west and south,
was applauded by the eastern press.
He had the cordial Endorsement of Mr..
Cleveland, who certified that the party
had returned to safety and sanity;
hn "a Of fh1 81
papers which bolted in 1896 and he also
had the aid of nearly all Of those who
were prominent in the campaigns of
1896 and 1900. and yet his defeat is ap-
parently greater than the party suffer-
ed In either of those years.
Defeat Is General.
1T is unquestionable that Judge Par
kers defeat was not local but general,
the returns from the western states
being as disappointing as the returns
= Lrdus the. Ea st..sa
complete controls OF the party they
planned the campaign and carried 1t on
according to their owr views and the
verdict against their plan is unani-
NOUS one. Surely nobody can be blam-
ed for this defeat, for the campaign
was run on a good basis. Neither can
the defeat he charged to emphatic con-
dennation of the trusts, for the trusts
We're not assailed as vigorously this
year they were four years ago. 1t
Is evident that the campaign did not
turn upon the question Of Imperialism,
and 1t is not fair to consider the result
as a personal victory for the president,
although his administration was the
subject of criticism. The result was
due to the fact that the Democratic
party attempted to be conservative,
IN the presence Of conditions which de-
1nand radical remedies. It sounded a
%;o1 rYrl,~ ~1,~ boy
dered q charge all along the line.
Line Drawn ia 1896.
I'm 1886 the line was drawn for the
first time during the present genera
ton, between plutocracy and Democ
lacy and The party's stand for Democ-
racy alienated a large number of plu-
tocratic Democrats who In the nature
ct things cannot be expected to retuSn,
and it drew to itself Il large number Of
earnest advocates of reform. whose at
+achment to these reforms is much
stronger than attachment to any party
name. The Republican party occupies
the conservative position. That is, it
defends these, who having found un-
fair advantage through class legisla-
ton, insist they should not be disturb
ed no matter how oppressive their ex
actions may become. The Democrat
ic party cannot hope to compete Sue
cessfu7ly with the Republican party for
this support. To win the support of
the plutocratic element Of the country
plutocratic than the Republican party,
and it could not do this without losing
several times as many votes as that
course would win. The Democratic
party has nothing to gain by catering
to organized and predatory wealth. It
must not only do without such support,
but it must strengthen itself by invit-
ing the open and emphatic opposition
of these elements
Cannot Co k'iate "Despots."
The campaign just closed shows
that it is as inexpedient from the
standpoint of policy as we'll as it is
wrong from the standpoint of principle
to attempt conciliation with the indus
trial and financial despots who are
avenues of wealth. The Democratic
party, If it hopes to win success must
take the side of the plain, common
people"
Mr.. Bryan says for two years he has
Dointed out the futllity OF any attempt
10 compromise with wrong or to patch
up a peace with the great corporations
which are now exploiting the public,
but the southern Democrats who were
Ro alarmed by the race issue that they
listened rather reluctantly, be it said
to their credit, to the promises OF sue
cess held out by those who had con-
tributed to the defeat Of the party in
the two preceding campaigns.
He continues: 1.-THE experiment has
been 2 costly one and it is not likely
to be repeated during the present gen.
Grafton. The eastern Democrats were
also deceived. They We're led to be-
lieve that the magnates and n1onopo-
lists who coerceG the voters in 1896
and supplied an enormous cam paign
fund IN both 1886 and 1906, would help
II the party would be less radical. -,
Press Aided Deception. < 80
"!rhe Democratic papers aided in this
deception and ever: the Republican pa
pars profsssed an unseldshs desire to
The election mas opened the eyes OF the
(, Cont nttnued Or pnse. fous.