Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-09-04
BRYAN SAYS ANY REPUBLICAN
CAN WIN IF DEMOCRATIC PAR
TY HAS BEEN ELIMINATED
IN A SARCASTIC VEIN
Asked What He Thought of Criticism
Of Federal Railroad Ownership From
Democrats Says He Is Always op-
posed From Some Quarter.

Bridgeport, Conn, Sept, William
j. Bryan left for New York on morn
Ing train. He expressed himself as
being in excellent condition for anoth-
er busy day before his departure for
the west
New York, Sept. bryan arrived
from Bridgeport this morning and
went to the Victoria hotel. Until noon
he attended to personal business.
On his way from Bridgeport Bryan
was asked what he thought about the
argument of certain republicans that
President Roosevelt will be the next
logical republican candidate for pres
ident. Mr.. Bryan said that if it were
true, as many republicans had de-
clared, that he had completely de-
stroyed the democratic party, there
ought to be dozens of able republicans
who would be available as candidates,
as it would appear that almost any re-
publican could win with the democrat
-SIc party wiped out. There would then
be$no necessity of giving President
ROOSEVELT what would be regarded by
many as bvactioaHy a third term.
With such ali easy victory for the re-
publicans ahead, why, he asked, should
not somebody else be given chance?
Always Opposed.
When asked what he thought of the
criticism by the democrats of his idea
Of federal ownership of railroads, Mr..
Bryan said he had never advocated
anything that was not opposed in
some quarters. He was told that some
southern democrats seemed alarmed
lest Jim Grow cars should be eliminat-
ed by the adoption of his ideas of fed
eral ownership.
Bryan, In reply to this, said that If
various states owned the lines within
their borders local laws would con-
tinue to be enforced. He was asked if
he meant that negroes and whites
would be separated if the state had a
Jim Grow law, to which he replied that
the state laws would naturally hold
good on local lines. He did not care
at this time to discuss details Of how
the plan would affect the carriage of
whites and negroes on through lines
under federal control Bryan expected
to remain at the Victoria hotel until
2:30 p. m. and then to attend an in
formal reception at the National Dem.
ocratic club. After that he intended
to go to Newark, where he Is SEIZED.
uled to make speech at p. m.
Praises Roosevelt.
New Haven, Conn, Sept. 1.-The no.
table feature in the speech which w.
j. Bryan made here yesterday was his
frankly uttered praise for President
Roosevelt
While discussing arbitration BE-
tween capital and labor Mr.. Bryan
said:
They tell you that arbitration is a
fanciful thing. l tell you that the
President Of the United States has to
his credit a great achievement He
settled the coal strike after loss of
$99.000,000. glory in the fact that he
settled it. think it is one of the
proudest acts Of his official career,
but, my friends, am not satisfied that
we shall have one strike settled after
a loss of $9900O,000. l want a system
that will make it unnecessary for a
man to starve his wife in order to fix
the price by which he can live.
Hard Task for Roosevelt.
Mr.. Bryan made distinctly political
speech, in which he attacked the re-
publican platform. He said:
"The President today is embar-
raised by the fact that you can search
the platform upon which he was elect
ed with a magnifying glass and you
cannot find one single promise of re-
form on any subject. 1t has made the
Presidents task difficult
"The trouble with the President has
been that when he tried to do any
thing he had to whip the republicans
In line with the democratic platform
instead of with the republican plat
form. And the trouble with the repub-
lican party in this campaign is that its
motto is Stand pat, defend what you
have, and don't promise anything
more
They say, stand by the President.