The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-24
Mr.. BRYAN HIRES A
HALL FOR HIMSELF
He Denounces New York Dem.
Ocratic Platform, but Ex.
presses No Choice.

CHICAGO, April 23.-William J.
Bryan addressed a large audience to-
night in the arrnory of the Second in
fantry at Curtis street and washington
boulevard. The place was packed to
its utmost capacity, and large num-
Der of people were unable to get
through the doors.
The meeting was entirely an affair
of Mr.. Bryan's, he having rented the
armory and paid all of the expenses
of the meeting. His subject was 1.-THE
New York Platform" and he repeated
several times that he was discussing
measures only, and not men. In order
that his address might not have the
appearance of being delivered under
any particular political influence, or in
the interest of any special faction, Mr..
Bryan was his own presiding officer
and introduced himself to his hearers.
What Mr.. Bryan Said.
The address was chiefly as follows:
81 have hired this hall and I intro
duce myself because 1 do not care to
speak under the auspices of any club
any particular aspirant for office. My
concern is not about the name or the
personality Of the nominee, but about
the principles for which the Democratic
party is to stand. While many of the
papers seem to assume that the contest
for the Democratic nomination is nee
essarily between Judge Parker and Mr..
Hearst, and that every Democrat must
either be for one or the other, such a
position is illogical and without foun-
dalton. Those who are cIaSsed as re-
organiZerS-and by that I mean those
who would carry the party back to the
position that it occupied under Mr..
CIeveland's administration are not
entirely agreed among themselves as
to the proper candidate upon whom
to concentrate their votes, and so those
who are in sympathy with the spirit Of
our recent platforms may differ as to
the relative availability of those who
represent the progressive element Of
the party.
His Position Neutral.
my own position is one of neutrality.
l regard as available all candidates
who are in favor of making the Demo-
cratic party an honest, earnest and
courageous exponent of the rights and
interests of the masses, and 1 regard
as unavailable all who are in sympa-
thy with, or obligated to, the great
corporations that today dominate the
policy of the Republican party and
seek, through the reOrganiZers, to DOM
mate the policy of the Democratic
party [ have no faVOriteS among those
on our side and no special antagoniSm
to those who represent the reorgani-
zers. l believe that the line should be
drawn between principles, not between
men, and that men should only be con-
sidered as they may be able to adj
vance Or retard the progress of the
Democracy.
When. some two years ago, I be-
came satisfied that ex-senator David
B. Hill was planning to be a candidate
| pointed out the objections to his
candidacy. When the Cleveland boom
was launched | pointed out the objec-
tions to his candidacy, and now that
Mr.. Parker seems to be the leading
candidate (thOugh not the only candi-
date) among the reOrganizers, 1 desire
to present some reasons why he cam
not be considered as an available can
didate for a Democratic nomination,
and l find these reasons. not in his
personality, but in his position upon
public questions.
Objects to Judge Parker.
For a year he has been urged to
speak out and declare himself upon
the important issues Of the coming
campaign, but he has remained SILENT
1t this silence meant that nobody
knew his views, those who have been
loyal to the party in recent years would
stand upon an equal footing with those
who deserted, but it is evident now
that while to the public generally his
views are unknown, they are well
known to those who are urging his
nomination. Whatever doubt may have
existed on this subject heretofore has
been dispelled by the platform adopted
by the New York state convention. and
taking this platform as a text, l am
sanguine enough to believe that l can
prove to every unbiased mind that
Judge Parker is not a fit man to be
nominated either by the Democratic
party or by any other party that stands
for honesty or fair dealing in politics.
If he did not know of the platform in
advance, if he did not himself dictate
1t or agree to it, he has allowed 1t to
go out as his utterance, for the con-
Vention was dominated by his friends
and adopted a resolution presenting
him as the candidate of the party of
the state.
What are the issues before the
country? The trust question is GER
tainly an issue. and yet there is moth
encouragement to the opponents of the
trusts. There is not a word or syIla-
bic that binds a person elected on such
platform to do anything that the
trusts are unwilling to have done The
Kansas City platform stated the par
tvs position on the trust question, but
the New York platform not only fails
to indorse the last national platform,
but also fails to propose any definite
or positive plan of relief.
Nothing on Imperialism.
imperialism is an issue. Our gov
eminent is now administering a colo
NAL policy according to the political
principles employed by George Ill, a
century and quarter ago, and yet there
is not in this platform single word re-
lating to the question of imperialism.
not plank that defines the party's
position on that subject, not a protest
against the surrender of the doctrines
of government. The Kansas City
platform stated the party's opposition
to colonial policy, but the New York
platform not only fails to indorse the
Kansas City platform. but fails to take
any position at all on this important
question.
10 or c,4orfiOx0 = ~ ;oo,,o