Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-13
BRYAN NSPEAKSATLOUISVILLE
Nebraskan is Welcomed to the Falls City
by Henry WattersOn.
EXPLAINS HIS VIEWS ON RAILROADS
Statement That when He Advocates
Government Ownership He Is
Speaking for Himself
Alone,

spShkhbH lot htmhehI
Alone,
LOUISVILLE, KY, Sept 12-on the oc-
casion of his entry into the south, where
his recent declaration as to government
ownership of railroads has aroused the most
opposition, William ]. Bryan tonight made
more explicit statement as to his position
in the matter In dead silence he read
lengthy statement celebrating his position,
but declared that "the making of plat
forms rests with the voters of the whole
party and 1 never have and never will
attempt TO force my opinions or those of
any few men on the people"
While thus indicating that the doctrine
of the government ownership is in the
hands of the voters. Mr.. Bryans speech
indicated plainly that nothing has yet
occurred to shake his belief in the ultimate
efficiency and necessity of it. He declared
that he would gladly make any sacrifice
in exchange for, the assurance that regula-
tion instead OF government ownership
would answer the needs OF the people. but
he expressed grave doubts as to whether
regulations would ever suffice. He also
took pains to present arguments to con-
vince his hearers that government owner
ship of trunk lines and state ownership of
state lines, not only preserve the rights
of the states. but will permit the people
of each to adopt government ownership
when they are ready for IT."
tremendous yell arose when, at the
finish of the statement, Mr.. Bryan with all
the emphasis he could muster recalled
to his hearers that: whenever | have
seen a danger threatening the people
have spoken out without asking anybodys
permission or querying what the effect
might be TO me-"
Great Welcome for Nebraslxan.
Entering the south land for the first time
in two years, William J. Bryan today re-
ceived a welcome that in warmth and spon-
taneity has not been surpassed by any
of the greetings given him since his return
from his tour of the world. His arrival
in the city provoked a great outburst of
acclamations from thousands of marchers
and yet more thousands on the streets His
reception at the armory tonight, where he
addressed a crowd Of 1900 people, was
nothing less than a volcanic eruption of
enthusiasm Although the attendance of
southern notabes was smaller than at first
expected, on account of Mr.. Bryan's recent
acceptance of numerous invitations from
other southern cities, still the mass meet
ing at the armory was a representative
southern gathering. graced by the Ken
| lucky leaders of democracy, number of
prominent democrats from other southern
states, and gyeat mass of citizens from
Kentucky and Indiana. Mr.. Bryan was
welcomed to Kentucky by his whilom op-
over the meeting. The other speakers
preceding Mr.. Bryan were Senator Car
mack OF Tennessse, representing the south,
and Senator w. ]. stone, of Missouri who
introduced the guest of honor.
When Mr.. Bryan entered the hall, leaning
on the arm of Mr.. Watterson, there was
demonstration that lasted ten minutes,
thousands of flags being waved in unison
with the surges of cheers that swept over
the throng.
AS soon as the noise had subsided Mr..
watterson began his address of welcome.
MIR. WattersOn's Address.
Mr.. Watterson spoke in part as follows:
There is but one paramount issue for the
next presidential battle, and that is the
rescue of the government from hands that
have misused and debauched 1t and its
sovereign people. The parties to IL are,
upon the one hand, standing army of
trained politicians, held together not alone
age, but by a Community Of interests as
unyielding as 1t is unthinking, richly ca
amd ON ON he a oheP han the and
body of those who hew the wood and draw
the water and pay the taxes, undrilled, un-
in the dark; sometimes misdirected by di-
vided counsels always lacking the re-
sources by which results are reached and
dangers turned, but, never yet united eX-
cept to conquer II Is veteran troops
against the raw militia, an unequal though
fields in days of old bears witness. Give
us but half the discipline of the regulars
and tithe of their equipment and we shall
a,-i.t tAa..a hnfn
of criminal wealth, though led by Theo-
dore Roosevelt himself.
L recognize our chieftain in this ap-
preaching conflict the Hon. William Jen-
nings Bryan OF Nebraska
1t costs me no sacrifice either OF per-
sonal preference or pride OF opinion TO
make this declaration. MIR. Bryan and
have not always agreed as to the means;
we have never disagreed as to the end. The
appeaI TO the moral nature of the people,
which he has made with SO much elo-
quence with power, 1 was making when he
was a boy. He grew to manhood under
my teaching If at times | have raised the
warning finger of the schoolmaster-even
threatened the rod-he was % pig enough %oIh ana "a
stand IL, and 10 survive 1t, and has thriVed
In spite of it-may be by reason OF II ana
In any event he has quite outgroWn II, l,
too have lived and learned apace, ana one
of the things l have learned has been 10
look more TO the objective poinL ana Tess
agree to disagree with my comrades ana
friends, on great occasions and In great al
rear the better TO march abreast against
the common enemy
We purpose to reform, not to revolutions
ize the government; we purpose to re-es-
tablish democratic institutions in the ma
tion's capitol, returning TO the voters what
belongs TO the voters We purpose TO drive
from the floor of the senate those VINO SIT
there not as servants Of the people, but
as CORPORATION counsel. We purpose 10
drive from the floor OF the house the
sneaker and his rules committee, who have
made an autocracy of that which was
created a legislative body. In word, We
purpose to readtust the lost balance be-
tween the people and their lawmakers.
our Jury is the nation; our proof, the
record of the republican party; our wit
ness, Theodore Roosevelt our attorney
Mr. Bryan of Nebraska.
Mr. Wattersons speech touched of the
pent up enthusiasm almost at the start,
and when at the close he pointed to Mr..
Bryan and said, Here he is, God bless
him and give. him WISDOM" the audience
yelled for five minutes. Mr.. Watterson
finally commanded silence long enough to
introduce Senator Carmack of Tennessee.
Senator Carmack was followed by Senator
w. ]. Stone of Missouri, who in a few
words introduced Mr.. Bryan. The demon
stration that greeted Mr.. Bryan on his
entrance to the hall was renewed as the
Nebraskan arose TO speak.
Bryan Reads Statement
Mr. Rryah announced that he would