The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-31
Globe-Trotter Returns Con.
vinced that People Should
Control Railroads.
Trusts the Chief Issue Of the
Day, Declares Noted
Democrat.

New York, Aug. 31.-The following is
an abstract Of the address delivered at
his homecoming. reception in Madison
Square garden last night by William
Jennings Bryan: nc, = sa.Et,,E
Like all travellers who have visited other
lands, l return with delight to the land Of
my birth, more proud of it's people, with more
Sa En IN Ids and Ira % tho ITO
United States. My national pride has been in
creased because of the abundant evidence l
have seen of the altruistic interests by Ameri-
cans IN the people Of other countries. No
other nation~can show such a record Of benevo-
lence and disinterested friendship.
My love for our form of government has
been quickened as 1 have visited castles and
towers and peered into dark dungeons, and
am glad that our nation, "proiting by the ex-
perience OF the past and yet unhampered by
traditions and unfetteredg by caste, has been
permitted to form Il, news center of vilization
on new soil and erect here Ella government Of
the -, people, BY the people and for the peo-
also return moress deeply impressed than
ever before with the responsibility which rests
upon our nation as an 5exemplar among the
nations, and more solicitois that we, avoiding
decay, may present higher ideal than has
ever before been embodied in a national life
and carry human. progress to "a higher plane
than it has before reached. 49,
to the American officials who have every
where shown us all possible courtesy and kind
ness. .s
believe that if our nation would pro-
pose to make with every other nation treaty
providing that all questions In dispute should
be submitted to The Hague court or some
other imperial international tribunal for In
vestigation and report before any declaration
of or commencement of hostilities. 1t
would find many nations willing to enter into
such compact. l am sure from the pubic
utterances Of the present prime. minister OF
Great Britain, Sir. Henry Campbell Bannerman
that such treaty be made between the
two great English-speaking nations, and their
example would be followed until the danger OF
war would be almost if not entirely. removed.
To take the lead in such a movement would
establish our position as sa4svorld power in the
best of the term. And, that argument
can be advanced against such action by the
United States. a.
Navy as Big Stick. !.
Another subject connected with our foreign
relations; 1 venture to suggest that we may
mot only promote peace, but also advance our
commercial interests by announcing as ma.
tional policy that navy will be used FOR the
collection of private debts. While protecting
the lives Of our citizens everywhere and guarall-
teeng the personal safety of all who owe allie
glance to our flag. we should, In my judgment,
announce that persons engaging in business ana
holding property in other lands for business ,pur
poses must do SO subject torthe laws OF. the
countries. ~ ~ -
E5sdany profitable heldsaof investment are now
are afraid Of lnvests,shts Ing foreign 'capttal
will be an excuse for foreign Invasion. Sever
al times on this trip this fact has been brought
to my attentions and / am convinced that for
every dollar we could secure the American III.
| yestors by an attempt to put the government
back 'of their private claims we would lose
many dollars by closing the door to investment.
u BEFORE leaving y1aternati99nslr v,poltfs let, me
add that our nation has lost prestige rather than
gained it by our experiment in colonialism We
have given the monarchist chance to ridlcule
our Declaration of independence: and the scofer
has twitted with the Inconsistency. A tour
thru the Philippine --islaaas, has deepened, the
conviction that we should, lose no time in an
nouncing purpose to deal With the Filipinos
AS we dealt with the Cubans Every considera'
.tion. commercial and political, leads to this
conclusion. e., "a,
Such ground as we may need for coaling OF
| for naval base will be. gladly conceded by
the Filipinos, who simply desire an opportynitS
| to work out their own destiny inspired by oul
example and aided by our advice.
! In 50 far as our efforts have been directed
| toward the education of the Filipinos we have
| rendered them a distinct service, but in edncat
ing: them. self government with ultimate inde,
| universal education in the philippines.
| In several Of the nations Of Europe leglsa'
tive department of government is more usually
responsive to public sentiment than Is our con
!
respects. it has one defect. namely. that con
| gress does not often meet in regular session
| until thirteen months after the election Dur
| ing this period there is uncertainty. long draw
| out which to the business community IS Otter
more damaging than change of policy prompt
ly carried into effect. Would not the situation
be improved by a constitutional amendment con
vening the first session5of congress within &
few months after the election and compelling tho
second session to adjourn several days before the
following elections?
Such a change would not only serve legi innate
business interests and give. the public the bene
At of more relief thru remedial legislation
but it would protect the people from the 1ob
that are usually reserved for the short session
which is now held after the election and whe1
many of the members feel the less respons1bllt!
because Of defeat at the polls.
On United States Senators.
return more convinced than before of thu
Importance of change In the method OF elect
ing United States senators. There IS noticeable
everywhere a distinct movement toward democ
racy, in its broadcast sense. In the United State
this trend toward democracy has taken tn
| form Of a growing demand for the election O.
United States senator's by a direct vote OF tn
people 1t must be too, difficult TO oVer.estl
mate the strategic value Of this reform
for since every bill must receive. the sancti'l
of the senate. as, we'll as of the house Of TIT
representatives before It can become law III
important legislation OF national characte
Is possible until the! senate Is brought int
harmony with the people.
! I am within the limits Of the truth when
say that the senate has been for some year
4. the bulwark of predatory wealth and that !
even now contains so many members VINO ow
their election to favor-sceking corporations ant
are so subservient to their masters as to pre-
vent needed legislation. Tho popular. branch 0
congress has four times declared In favor o
this reform by twc-thirds vote and more thai
two-thrds Of the states have demanded 1t an
yes9the senate arrogantly and 1mpudently block
the liSsv. .H ..
T.ia income tax. which some in our coun
try have denounced as a socialistic attack upo
wealth. has. am pleased to report, the IN
dorsement Of the most conservative countries II
the old world. 1t is permanent rart OF tn
many places graded tax the rate being high
est upon the largest incomes. England de
pended upon the income tax for consider
able part Of her revenues and an English com
mission is now investigating the nroposition
change from uniform to a graded tax
| I have been absent too long to sneak Wit
any authority on the public sentiment In th1
Of the justice Of the income tax that I fee
sure that the people will. sooner or later de
mand an amendment tosthe constitution. Whlc
Will specifically authorize an income tax an
thus make it possible for the burdens OF tn
federal government tozbes apportioned; among tn
people ! In proportion tor their.E ability Ito bea
them. q A-S =
4 It Is little short of "a disgrace to our countr
that while 1t is able to- command the lives o
+ its citizens In time of war. it cannot. even !
the most; extreme emergency ecompel wealth t
ment which protects Fl ss[s:
In advocating aarbitfatioT of differences be
tween large corporate employers and their en-
ployees j. believe we are defending the h1shes
interests of ;7the three parties to the disputes
vaz;.$ the employers, the employees and the pull
| uc.-3 n sSss ;if3 SR&5s T.-ss: - ~ X )
The employees cannot be turned over to: tn