Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-11-10
Nebraskan Declares Con-
serVatism Was Fa-
tai Mistake.
POLICY IN FOUR YEARS
Radical Appeal to the Public
Conscience a Path to
Success.

Lincoln, Neb., Nov. 10.-William J.
Bryan last night gave out a statement
concerning the election which is in
| tended To serve as his comment on
the result and as an answer TO the re-
ports connecting him with the move
ment looking to the formation OF a
new party:
Not Personal One.
Bryan says Parker's defeat should
not be considered a personal one. He
was the victim of unfavorable condi-
tions and of mistaken party policy.
"So-called conservative democrats
charged the defeats of 1S96-190O to the
party's position on the money question
and insisted that victory could be wor
| by dropping the coinage question en-
| tirely. The convention accepted this
| theory and the platform made no ref
erence to the money question. but Par
ker felt that it was his duty to an
nOunce his personal adhe"ences to the
gold standard. His gold telegram. as
| it was called. while embarrassing to
| democrats of the west and south, was
applauded by the eastern press. He
had the cordial endorsement of Cleye-
land, who certified that the party had
returned to safety and sanity he had
| the support of the democratic papers
which bolted in 1896 and he also ha,
the aid of nearly all of those who
were prominent in the campaigns of
| 1S96-1900, and yet his defeat is appar-
emily greater than the party suffered
in either of those years"
Party Was Too Conservative.
Bryan calls attention TO the reOr-
ganizers being in complete control and
| that they had the support of those who
left the party on two previous cam
paigns as well as those who remained
with it then.
SILVER" he says. Cannot be blamed
for the defeat. nor can it be charged
to condemnation of the trusts for the
trusts were not assailed as vigorously
as four years ago. 1t is evident the
campaign did not turn upon the ques
| tion of Imperialism.
THE result was due to the
fact that the democratic party at
| tempted to be conservative in the pres
ence of conditions which demand rad
ical remedies. 1t sounded a partial
retreat when it should have ordered a
charge all along the line" He charges
| that the republicans had the support
| or plutocracy and said the democrat
| &c party has nothing to gain Ey cater
| ing 10 organized and predatory wealth
1t must not only do without such sup
port but it can strengthen itself by
| inviting the open and emphatic op-
position of those elements"
! THE democratic party" he contin-
ued. IF it hopes to win success. must
take the side of the plain common peo-
pie.
Must Be More Progressive.
'The election" says Bryan has
opened the eyes of hundreds of thous-
ands of honest well-meaning demo-
Gratis who few months ago favored
the reorganization of the party. These
men now see that they must either
go into the republican party or Join
with the democrats of the west and
south in making the democratic party
a positive, aggressive and progressive
reform organization. There is no mid
die ground"
He urges that the democratic army
be put once more upon a fighting bas-
is. and promises 10 assist in the or
ganizing for the campaign of 1905
The party he says. must continue
to protest against a large army and
navy, favor Philippine independence.
loppose high tariff, renew the demand
for an income tax. maintain a posi-
ton in favor of bimetalism.
Must Oppose All Trusts.
The trust question. Bryan says
presents the most acute phase of the
contest between democracy and plu-
tocracy. 50 far as economic issues are
concerned. After taking up allega-
ton that trusts contributed TO the re
publican campaign and intimating that
they did. Bryan declares it will be to
the advantage of the democratic party
if it will begin the next campaign with
The announcement that no trust con
tributions will be accepted and then
r prove its sincerity by giving the pub
: | lie access to its contribution list
/ H.