The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-11
Severely AraIgns Those Who Have Criticized His Re-
 cent JtteranCGS,
WOULDN'T TAKE CAMPAIGN
 FUNDS FROM THE TRUSTS
Says Those Who Have Called Him Die tator for Wanting Kansas City Plat form Reaffirmed Have Sug-
 gested Nothing Better.

Notwithstanding the indictment weather William J. Bryan spoke to a packed house at the Bijou theatre yesterday afternoon cn the subject of Political Morality" and from the frequent burst of applause it was evident that the crowd was im- pressed with the earnestness and sincerity of his idea.
 Mr. Bryan kept very cloae to his sub ject throughout the address though he took occasion at the beginning to reply to some of the criticisms that have been "heaped" upon him as a result of his suggestion that the party reaffirm the Kansas City platform.
 Ire former democratic leader exooriated the leaders of that wing of the party whcm he styles "re-organlzers'' in terms that at times almost grew bitter.
 Kansas City Platform.
 T have been severely criticized as dictator" said MT. Bryan. because sug- gested that the democratic party should ieaffirm the Kansas City platform. If had said that it should not be reafrirmed would have been a great statesman In the eyes of these critics, but on the con- trary, when I, as plain citizen say that I think the principles embodied in the Kansas City platform should be re- affirmed, they say that it is my purpose to wreck the party.
 Now, these critics or reorganizers don't raise any protest whatever against the attempted dictation of republican newspa- pers as to what we should do. Just so long as the dictaticn agrees with their desires there Is no objection, but the minute I assert what I think to be right they begin to attack me as being dic- tator and wrecker of the party.
 Not Candidate.
 "The real trouble' continued MT. Bryan, lis not that they object to my saying it but because they object to it being said. They object to anything that is against plutocracy and in the inter- est of the common people. am not candidate for office and l have nothing to give. If did many of those who are criticizing me would be following me-"
 MT. Bryan then went into 8 lengthy dis cussion of the subject of dictation and thoroughly thrashed out the administra- ton of Grover ( eland whose dicta- tion to The party and surrender to the private monopolies, he said, had been re- sponsible for the greatest defeat the dem- ccrstic party had ever experienced. He referred te' the congressional election dur ing MT. Cleveland's second administra- tion.
 MT. Bryan told a story of a child who went into a room where were assembled a band of thieves He said if this child had read them the commandment, "Thou shalt not steal" it would have been term ed a dictator.
 'sThese men don't intend to be honest" said the speaker, "and don't want to be reminded of 1t. am anxious for success but the best way to secure it is to de- serve it."
 Not Satisfactory Answer.
 Mir Bryan said that he had frequently asked persons who criticised his sug- gestion that the Kansas City platform be reaffirmed what the platform should contain, but as yet had not received satisfactory answer. Some will suggest one rate of tariff and some another but after all they don't get down to the bot tom," he said. "I notice the newspapers all over the country have been trying to frame platforms but none of them have succeeded. If they can show me anything