The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-12

Tomorrow night William ]. Bryan Will
make his speech-making debut for the
season OF 1904 in this city. During his Euro
iean tour, which was undertaken ostensibly
for the purpose of studying the condition
Of the working classes, he has rubbed up
against kings. pctentates and powers galore,
and obtained materials for a book that
viii probably add considerably 10 the in
come derived from platform lectures. coun-
ty fair gate receipts and the patent medi-
cine advertisements in the Weekly Com
moner. No other postgraduate statesman
in the country has as many irons in the
fire as Mr.. Bryan, and still he manages to
find time now and then to draw a will for
a friend who wishes TO make him large
bequest.
There is generally an Interior motive in
whatever Mr.. Bryan does, and probably
that is the case with his making his first
speech of the season in the West and in
State where there is still a sort of Bryan
organization. Whatever influence he has
will be thrown in favor of holding the next
Democratic national convention in the
West. 1t was in the West that his boom
was started. and here he hopes to revive
it. In an interview just after his arrival
in New York he said emphatically that he
was opposed to holding the national con-
vention there. 1T should be held nearer the
center of the country he said, mot at one
side" He added that IL there is as much
money in New York as he was given to I'M
derstand, New Workers can afford to travel
west little way to a convention" From
this it appears likely that the first measure
of strength between the Bryan and anti
Bryan forces will be on the question of
holding the convention in New York or in
some city in the middle West.
In the interview referred to Mr.. Bryan
denied sending the wireless message signed
with his name and read at the Mcclellan
dinner a few nights ago. and said he did
not know who sent it. This the mes
sage which closed by enjoining the dining
Democrats mot to forget the Western
Democrats, who polled 6.500OOo votes in
1900" If Mr. Bryan had sent the message
he could hardly have made such mistake
tOldI DcIuOSidliC NONS VI 1JOV was
only 6,35S, 7S9, and Western Democrats did
not cast half of that 1t may be added
that in 1892 Grover Cleveland received the
electoral vote of California, Illinois, Indi-
ana, Michigan, North Dakota and West
Virginia, 60 electoral votes altogether, of
which Mr. Bryan in 1900 did not get one.
There is reason to believe that Mr..
Bryan's speech tomorrow night will be a
protest against making any concessions to
the Democratic 'deserters" of 1896 and
1900. and an appeal for the reaffirmation of
the Kansas City platform. When he was
asked about the Kansas City platform the
New York Tribune reports him as saying:
"It is not outworn- 1 know of nothing that
should be abandoned, and 1 don't know
just now what should be added" In reply
to the same question the World reports him
as saying: "The Kansas City platform is
all right. 1t is not outworn and will stand
another campaign" Solomon says: Though
thou shouldst bray a fool in Il mortar
among wheat with a pestle. yet will not his
foolishness depart from him." Bryan has
been brayed in the mortar twice and has
brayed countless times himself, yet his 10
toll foolishness has not departed from him.
He will probably dispense some of It in his
speech tomorrow night.