The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1905-04-07
BATTLE OF 1908.
BRYAN URGES CONTROL BY THE
RADICAL. ELEMENT.
DON'T NEGLECT THE PRIMARIES
Gays There Should Be Harmonious
Effort, to Begin at the
Bottom.

Lincoln, Neb., April Sit is a get
ting together of the aggressive Gle
NETS Of the party in active pre!imin.
airy work for the great battle of 1905"
is the way W. J. Bryan explained his
recent activity in connection with the
reorganization Of the, Democratic
party. Mr. Bryan returned yesterday
from Des MOines, and it was in par
ticular reference to the meeting held
there Saturday night at which he
made the principal address that he
spoke. Mr.. Bryan explained that the
DeS MOines meeting, like the one held
at Topeka late in February, was to
| further movement for the OrganiZa-
ton of Democratic clubs and thereby
place the machinery Of the party in
the hands Of those who meant it well.
Il know he said, ethe same plan
has been adopted as in Kansas" with
both of which he is in hearty SYM
pathy.
Reorganization" said Mr.. Bryan,
is hardly the way to express it. be-
cause the party does not need reor.
9anizatiOn. There is no factional divi-
sion calling for separate efforts, but
the movement is to get back to the
people, to put the radical and pro-
gressive element in more complete
control that there may be united, har-
monious effort for the, compaign of
1908. The purpose is to begin at the
bottom, letting the rank and file have
a voice in the national convention
by writing the platform at home for
the national convention to ratify."
Mr.. Bryan said he was not trying
to hold faction or to change the Or
ganizatiOn further than that he want
ed the progressive men of the party
to take the lead The conservatives,
he said, had dominated the last ma
tional convention, and the party had
met with defeat. He believed the |
rank and file of the voters was for
progression and radicalism. if need |
be. Mr. Bryan continued:
THE work should begin at the pri-
maries, and every Democrat should |
vote. 1t remains with the rank and
file OF the Democratic party to say
what the party's course shall be. No
one will for moment doubt the
course, which will be adopted by
the rank and file of the party if they
avail themselves Of the duty to reg
lister their preference at the prima-
rleS. But systematic effort will be
necessary in order that Democrats
may be impressed with the import.
ance of participating in their partys
councils. The enemies of good gov.
the beneficiaries of class
legislation act as one man with unlim-
tied means at their disposal. The
people have only their votes, and
they must cast them together or suf-
fer defeat. Democrats, who believe
their party should be a party of the
people, have it in their power through
systematic organization to so shape
their partys politics and govern its
environments for the campaign that
It will command the support of all
men who have grown weary of the
exactions made because of special in
erests."
Mr.. Bryan in conclusion quoted his
of several weeks ago
or the organization of the party, say.
ng the plan does not rest upon the
paramount importance of any one is
ue, but it recognizes the right of the
Democratic votes to control the pol
cy of the party and to demand its po- .
ition upon public questions.
Mr.. Bryan presided last night at the
Meeting in st. Paurs NJ. E. church and
Introduced Ballington Booth, who .
lade an address in behalf of the Vol =
nteers OF America.