Daily Arizona silver belt., 1907-02-27
MIR. BRYAN UP TO DATE

only Democrat with a strong support for the presidential nomination next year, his present views on the political questions before the country are mat ter of general interest.
 In speech before the Iowa legisla. ture last week Mir. Bryan discussed many of these questions with his ac- customed frankness. In view of the character of the party platform upon which this candidate for the presidency has been twice rejected by the people and of the possibilities of his nomina- tion for a third time, it will be we'll to remember the opening declaration of his Iowa speech, that "the platform is coming to be more and more specific and I regard the betrayal of platform as the betrayal of public trust" This is certainly fair notice to the Demo. crats to be careful what they put into their next platform and plain warn ing to the people not to vote for Mir Bryan, if he shall be the candidate, unless they desire to see an honest at tempt to put theories into practice and to carry out his promises.
 Taking up the questions of the cleo tion of senators by the direct vote of the people, the initiative and refer endum and the direct primary, Mir Bryan repeated the familiar arguments in their support. But these he freely admitted, are not party issues, as they are favored by both Democrats and Re pubieans. Speaking of the convention system, he said, Git gives the boss too much opportunity" Proelaiming him. self "a party man," and saying he would like to see every citizen mem Der of some party, MT. Bryan added: "And then I would like to see every member of every party so indepnedent that he will never allow his party to do his country any injury" Nearly member of every party so independent to precisely this degree in 1896 and again in 1900. It behooves the Demo cratic party-or Mir. Bryan, if he shall again be installed as its dietator-not to invoke the same spirit of independ- enee in 1908, if they have any real de sire and hope to win.
 Turning to the discussion of the evils and danger of corporation rule, Mir. Bryan praised President Roosevelt, Governor Cummins and Senator La Fol lette for what they have done to curb and regulate corporate power. He ex- pressed the hope that congress will arm the interstate commerce commission with power to find out the value of the railroads" with a view to aseer- taining what reasonable rate" is. The president has been credited with the intention of asking power to make this investigation. If he shall succeed in this, another portion of MT. Bryan s "elothes" will have been appropriated by his astute and audacious opponent.
 The Nebraskan likewise expressed his gratitude to the president, "be- cause since he commenced to point out the dangers of swollen fortunes I get only about half as much abuse as I used to-he is now sharing this abuse with me-" A quite palpable hitl He said he was glad the president has rec commended an inheritance tax,' all though giving it as his belief that this would be Ca temporary remedy only. " A permanent remedy must be sought, in his opinion, in "the abolishment of the privileges of franchises, where they are reaping where they have not sown."
 Whether this means the government ownership of public utilities can only be inferred. The speaker made no direct reference to the issue with which he again disturbed the country and divided his party, in his so-called "keynote
  speech" in New York last summer. It is eonceivable-indeed it is probable that Mir. Bryan would make a strong run against what Representative Long worth styled "reactionary" Repub- lican. He would profit by the strenu- ous education in radical government which Mir. Roosevelt has been giving to | the country. But against represent ative of the presidents policy like See retary Taft, who is in character, train ing and purpose progressive conserv- ative, MT. Bryan would stand little chance of an election, unless business and the public feeling shall greatly change before next year