The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1906-09-06
BRYAN's WELCOME HOME.
Most Remarkable Demonstration
Ever Accorded a Private Citi-
zen

less Nebraskan who has Just returned
from an extended tour of the world,
ulder the auspices of the Commercial
Travellers Antitrust League, at Nladi-
son Square Garden in New York City
last Thursday evening. Every avail
able foot of space in the garden was
utalized and twenty thousand people
were packed into it while thousands
crowded the streets, unable to gain adj
mittance. 1t was gala day in New
York City and from the moment Bryan
stepped ashore from the vessel it was
one long continued ovation. Prominent
men from every state in the union were
present. Every person in the garden
had an American flag and the cheers
from twenty thousand throats was ac-
centuated by the wave of twenty thous-
and stars and stripes. The demonstra-
ton accorded Bryan on his return to
his native country is all the more
remarkable when it is remembered that
he holds no official position, is not
naval hero, nor yet great general, but
he is the most popular American citi-
zen of the day, and everything indicates
that he will be the next president of
the United States, for that he will
receive the democratic nomination by
reclamation is conceded. Mr.. Bryan
made great speech, which we regret
is to long for publication in a weekly
newspaper, but we give it in condensed
form, embodying the most important
| features:
INTERNATIONAL POLITICS.
MIR. Bryan states that his foreign
travels have quickened his love for his
native land and strengthened his pride
therein. He has confidence in the
growing sentiment in favor of the
cause of arbitration, and expresses the
belief that many other nations would
follow the United States in making
treaties calling for the submission of
all international disputes to The Hague
tribunal. He suggests that the United
States should announce their national
policy to be opposed to the use of the
navy for the collection of private debts.
He concludes his discussion of interna-
tional politics with the assertion that
our nation has lost prestige by expert
menting with colonialism, and voices
his profound conviction that the Philip
pines should be made free.
DEFECTS OF OUR GOVERNMENT.
Discussing the American system of
government, Mr.. Bryan points out what
he conceives to be two vital defects.
One of these is the fact that Congress
does not meet till thirteen months after
the election; the other, the present
method of electing United States sena-
tors. He advances the idea of con-
stitutional amendment converting the
first session Of congress within few
months after the election, and reiter-
ates his belief that senators should be
elected by a direct vote of the people.
THE INCOME TAX.
The income tax, Mr.. Bryan declares
is fixed part of the fiscal systems OF
many European nations, and has been
Endorsed by the most conservative gov
ernment Of the world. He believes the
people will sooner or later demand a
constitutional amendment providing for
: an income tax that wealth may be com.
PEELED to bear it's share of the burden
of government.
LABOR QUESTIONS.
Arbitration, as applied to labor con.
troversies, Mr.. Bryan believes to be
!, quite as feasible and desirable as it is
in connection with international dis.
putes. He declares that neither EN-
ployer or employe can be trusted to act
disinterestedly and he believes that a
permanent impartial board, which may,
on it's own notion or on appeal of either
party to a labor dispute, institute an
inquiry to ascertain the facts, will do
much to do away with strikes and pre-
serve peace between labor and capital
Government by injunction Mr.. Bryan
denounces as an attack upon the jury
system, but says the Importance of the
subject would be minimized by the
adoption of system of arbitration
{ The discussion Of labor questions is con.
cluded with a vigorous approval Of the
demand for an universal eight-hour law
THE MONEY QUESTION.
On the money subject, Mr.. Bryan as
serts that the unprecedented produc
tion Of gold has brought victory to both
the advocates of gold and the bimetal
, lists, and that the latter are satisfied
with their triumph if the latter are will
theirs.
PARAMOUNT ISSUE.
Mr.. Bryan declares the trusts to b.
the paramount issue and calls attention
to the recent Investigations turnout thu
, country which have revealed the cor