Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1904-04-26
USES NO GLOVES.
BRYAN HANDLES POLITICAL
QUESTIONS IN a MOST DE.
clDED MANNER.

was Chairman of His Own Meeting
ana introduced Himself to His Audi
ence-Is Rather Rough on Parker
and the New York Democrats.
Chicago, April 25-William J. Bry-
an addressed a large audience Satur-
day night in the armory of the Second
infantry. The meeting was entirely
an afralr of Mr.. Bryan, he having rent
ed the armory and paid all of the ex-
penses OF the meeting. He was partic-
ular to have it understood that his ad-
dress was not in favor or against any
particular aspirant for the democratic
nomination for the presidency. His
subject was The New York Platform, !"
and he repeated several times during
the course of his address that he was
discussing measures only, not men.
IN order that his address might not
have the appearance of being deliver
ed under any particular political influ-
ence, or in the interest of any especial
faction, Bryan was his own presiding
officer and introduced himself to his
hearers.
He characterized the platform adopt
ed at the recent state convention in
New York as ambiguous, uncertain,
evasive and dishonest declaring that
it would disgrace the democrats of
the nation to adopt such a platform,
and it ought to defeat as an aspirant
for democratic nomination any man
who would be willing to have it go
forth as declaration of his views on
public questions. His address was in
part as follows:
1 Bryan Starts With An Explanation.
AS it is somewhat unusual for a
political speech to be made as this one
is tonight let me preface my remarks
with an explanation. l have hired this
hall and l introduce myself because I
did not care to speak under the aus
pices of any club or organization which
is committed to any particular aspi-
rant 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.
Il while many Of the papers seem to
assume that the contest for the demo-
cratic nomination is necessarily be-
tween Judge Parker and Mr.. Hearst,
and that every democrat must either
be for one or the other, such a position
is illogical and without foundation.
Those who are classed as reorganizers
'-and by that mean those who would
carry the party back to the position
that it occupied under Mr. Clevelands
administration-are not entirely agreed
| 10 f1o
candidate upon whom to concentrate
their votes. and so those who s.-'e 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.
Position a Neutral One.
"My position is one of neutrality.
regard as available all candidates who
are in favor of making the democratic
party an honest, earnest and courage
Gus exponent of the rights and inter
| est of the masses and | regard as un
available all who are in sympathy with
or obligated to the great corporations
, that today dominate the policy of the
republican party and seek. through the
reorganizers, to dominate the policy
of the democratic party. l have nc
favorites among those on our side ant
no specal antagonism to those WHIT
represent the reorganizers. l believe
y that the line should be drawn betWeel
principles, not between men, and tha
men should only be considered as the.
: may be able to advance or retard th'
. progress of the democracy.
= when some two years ago be
, came satisfied that ex-senator Davi
: B. Hill was planning to be candidat
+ I pointed out the objections to his cal
: didacy. When the Cleveland boor
. was launched pointed out the objet
q tions to his candidacy and now tha
e Mr.. Parker seems to be the leadin
e candidate (though not the only cand
J. date) among the reorganizers, / desir
to present some reasons why ne cal
not be considered as an available cal
Ididate for democratic nomination
q and find these reasons, not in hi
= personality, but in his position upo
: public questions.
Ie| Parker's Silent Attitude.
- - "For year he has been urged
?, speak 'out and declare himself upo
! the important issues OF tne comm
! campaign, but he has remained silen
= If this silence meant that nobod
knew his views, those who have bee
loyal to the party in recent yea
would stand upon an equal footir
with those who deserted, but it is e
q ident now that while to the public ge
orally his views are unknown, the
are we'll known to those who are ur
=, ing his nomination. Whatever dou
. may have existed on this subject b
- fore has been dispelled by the pie
20 20 form adopted by the New York sta
20 convention and taking this platform
10 IL text am sanguine enough to belle,
N that 1 can prove to every unbiast
10 mind that Judge Parker is not
man to be nominated either by Il