Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-09-13
RAILROADS OR NATION
ASSERTS MR.. BRYAN
~
N a torcefuI Speech In Louisville
NsbFaskan Clearly Explains
His Position.
REFUSES 70 FORECAST PLATFORM
Has No Intention of Forcing His
:. Views Upon the Party But is Pleas.
ed at the Reception Of His Views
on the Great Question of the Day
Watterson Announces the Issue.
(Dy Associated Press. !

LOUISVILLE, KY, Sept. 12.-En.
tcring the Southland for the first time
in two years, William Jennings Bry.
an today was welcomed with spontan-
eous gladness. He seized the occasion
to read statement in explanation OF
his New York speech on government
ownership of railroads.
The meeting at the armory, tonight,
where he addressed 10000 persons
was wildly enthusiastic.
The mass meeting at the armory
constituted Kentucky's greeting on
behalf Of the South and it was re.
preventative southern gathering, grac-
cd by leading Kentucky Democrats.
Prominent Democrats from other
Southern States. and citizens from
Kentucky and Indiana were present.
Mr.. Bryan was welcomed to Ken.
lucky by his whilom opponent, Henry
Wattcrson. who presided at tonight
meeting. The other speakers ut the
Bryan mass meeting tonight were
Senator Carmack, of Tennessee, repre-
senting the South and Senator w. J.
Stone, of Missouri, who introduced the
guest of honor.
When Mr.. Bryan entered the hall Oh
the arm of Mr.. Watterson, there was
q demonstration that lasted ten min.
utes.
Watterson on the Issue.
Mr.. WatterSon spoke In part as fol-
lows:
There is but one paramount issue
for the next presidential battle. and
that is the rescue of the government
from hands that have misuscd and de-
bauched it, and IT'S restoration to the
custody of the plain but sovereign
people.
II rcogenize, as our chieftain In
this approaching conflict the Hon.
William Jennings Bryan, Of Nebras,
ka
1--WE propose to reform, not to rev.
olutionize the government. We pro-
pose to reestablish Democratic insti.
tutions In the nations capital. return
ing to the voters what belongs to the
voters.
We propose to drive from the
Senate those who sit there, not as ser.
wants of the people, but as corpora
ton counsel. We propose to drive
from the floor of the House the speak.
er and his rules committee who have
made an autocracy Of that which was
created a legislative body. In word
we propose to readjust the lost bal.
ance between the people and their law
makers.
"Our jury Is the nation; our proof
the record of the Republican party
our witness Theodore Roosevelt; oul
attorney, MIR. Bryan. of Nebraska"
MIR. Bryan Introduced.
When Mr.. Watterson pointed to Mr.
Bryan and said There he is, God
bless him and give him WISDOM" the
audience yelled for five minutes. Mr.
Bryan spoke In part as follows:
In my speech at the New York re-
ception I made some remarks con
corning the ownership of railroads
and thought that had expressed my.
self so clearly that my position could
not be misconstrued even by those
who desire to misconstrue it. The
New York speech was prepared in adj
vance. 1t was not only written but IL
was carefully revised. 1t stated cx
actly what l wanted to state and
have nothing to withdraw or modify
In the Statement made. What I say
tonight is rather in the nature of an
elaboration of the ideas therein pre-
scented.
Monopolies Indefensibie.
Afer quoting from the Democratic
platform of 1900. that a private mo
nopoly is indefensible aud 1ntolerable