Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1904-04-29

Points Out It's Defects. Says He Has
No Favorite Candidate and Hints at
Dark Horse.
In Chicago, before a crowd of people
who filled the Second regiment armory
until the police for safety reasons would
permit no more to enter, William Jen-
nings Bryan, twice the standard-bearer
of the Democratic party in national cam
paigns, spoke his disapproval of David
Bennett Hill, Judge Alton B. Parker and
the recently adopted New York platform.
Mr.. Bryan had said he would not take
sides with any particular candidate for
the honor of carrying the banner Of Dem
ocracy in the coming battle Of national
ballots, but he did not say he would not
take sides against particular candidate
and he did not deviate from his expressed
purpose; he did not take sides with any
one, but he most decidedly took sides
against Judge Parker ct al.
Mr.. Bryan said in part:
''As it is somewhat unusual for a po-
litical speech to be made as this one is,
let me preface my remarks with an ex-
PLANTATION. / have hired this hall and
introduce myself because l do not care
to speak under the auspices Of any club
or organization which is committed to
any particular aspirant for office My
concern is not about the name or the per-
sonality of the nominee, but about the
principles from which the Democratic
party is to stand.
"Now that Mr.. Parker seems to be the
leading candidate G. though not the only
candidate tho
sire to present some reasons why he can
not be considered as available for
Democratic nomination and I find these
reasons not in his personality, but in his
position upon public institutions.
''F'or year he has been urged to speak
out and declare himself upon the impor-
tant issues of the coming campaign, but
he has remained silent. Whatever doubt
may have existed on this subject hereto
fore, has been dispelled by the platform
adopted by the New York State conven-
ton 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 par
ty or by any other party that stands
for honesty or fair dealings in politics.
This platform can fairly be regarded as
his declaration upon public questions and
what does the platform say?
''The laboring men have been before
the committees of Congress endeavoring
to secure three important measures One
is the arbitration of differences between .
corporations engaged in interstate com
merce and their employees. Both the
Chicago and Kansas City platforms de-
pIa rod of orhitro tiOn Inf fho
New York platform not only fails TO re-
fer to the arbitration plank Of these plat
FORMS but it fails to write a new plank
covering this subject.
''No reference is made to the measure
now before Congress to melt UP nearly
$6OO,OOO,OOO legal tender silver dollars
into subsidiary coin that is only limited
legal tender. Nothing is said about the
assets currency which is a part Of the
scheme of the financers. Nothing is said
about the Aldrich bill which proposes to
subsidize the banks into opposition to tax
reduction by loaning them the sum from
the treasury. There is no condemnation
of the corruption that such a system
would lead to. The platform does not
antagonize the proposition now before
Congress to limit the amount Of paper
money. In other words, there is not
line in the platform that is written in
behalf of the people; not a line that will
excite criticism i'll Wall street
1.-THE platform ignores the income tax;
it fails to indorse the election of Senators
by direct vote, and also omits the plank
Of the Kansas City platform denouncing
corporate domination in politics.
'"The submission of such a platform
to the voters of a State is an insult to
their intelligence, for it is intended to
deceive them.
Il had expected that q platform pre-
pared by Mr.. Hill for Judge Parker
would be eXasive and lacking III frank
ness, but l did not conceive that any
body of men calling themselves Demo
Gratis would present such platform as
a recommendation of a candidate.
"No one can defend the Democratic
party without defending it's principles,
and it's principles ought to be SO clearly
set forth as to be easily understood. The
New York platform is ambiguous. UNI
certain, evasive and dishonest. 1t would
disgrace the Democrats of the nation to
adopt such a platform and it ought to
defeat as ali aspirant for Democratic
nomination any man who would be will
ing 10 nave IL go loTlIl as Il uecldIdtioH o1
his views on public questions. The re-
organizers scheme begins with the decep-
ton of the rank and file of the party. It
is to be followed up by the debauching
Of the public with a campaign fund Sc
cured from the corporations and it is to
be consummated by the betrayal OF the
party organization and of the country
into the hands of those who are to-day
menacing the liberties Of the country by
their exploitation Of the producers Of
wealth.
Short News Notice.